Document Type
Article
Abstract
State statutes require students to engage in patriotic exercises and to learn the concept of patriotism. Through emphasis on ceremonial exercises, requirement of specific document study, framing of patriotism as a character trait, and language regarding civic engagement, state statutes promote various conceptualizations of patriotism. Rarely fitting into a dichotomic framework of either authoritarian or democratic patriotism (Westheimer, 2006, 2009), statutes emphasize varying levels of maintenance of status quos or acknowledgement of societal flaws. Identified were four patriotism statute categories related to the degree to which they maintain status quos or acknowledge societal flaws: active maintenance of status quos; ceremonial maintenance of status quos; shallow critique; and less-shallow critique. Implications for educators are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Wellenreiter, Benjamin R.
(2021)
"Legislated Love and Loyalty: An Analysis of State Patriotism Statutes,"
The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies: Vol. 82:
No.
2, Article 2.
Available at:
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/the_councilor/vol82/iss2/2
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