Request for a DVC on Civic Education

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000545 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR IIP/G/EA - SPRIETO; EAP/PD - AGRIMES; EAP/ANP - DRICCI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP NZ SUBJECT: Request for a DVC on Civic Education ¶A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Post requests a DVC with a spokesperson from the Center for Civic Education in Calabasas, CA, to discuss aspects of civic education, a topic relatively new to this country. ¶B. PREFERRED DATE AND TIME OF PROGRAM, FISCAL YEAR, QUARTER: Requested for September 19 (5:00pm Washington DST = 9:00am NZ the following day)(3:00pm California = 10am NZ the following day). One hour; Fourth quarter; FY2006. ¶C. JUSTIFICATION OF PROGRAM: People in New Zealand's Parliament, government, education, and community circles are interested in policy development, professional development, and publishing in the field of citizenship education. Select committee inquiries' reports to Parliament show some of the local interest, and 2005 citizenship education networking focused on how citizenship education could contribute to managing and advancing cultural diversity locally. Interested New Zealanders have an interest in learning how other countries address such issues -- and internationally some may be interested in knowing more about approaches taken in New Zealand. A video conference that gives interested New Zealanders a chance to connect with a distinguished American specializing in civic education would be most useful. Post would welcome the opportunity to discuss local approaches to citizenship education, particularly: - policy formation and professional development; - appropriate educational techniques; - creation and distribution of relevant resources. ¶D. MPP THEME AND EXPECTED AUDIENCE: MPP GOAL 07-03 Mutual Understanding. Embassy Wellington's political, civic, academic, and media contacts. ¶E. NAME OF SPECIALIST REQUIRED: Suggestions in priority order are: ¶1. A spokesperson from the Center for Civic Education 5146 Douglas Fir Road Calabasas, CA 91302 Ph: 818-591-9321 Email: wright@civiced.org ; projectcitizen@civiced.org ¶2. A spokesperson from the National Alliance for Civic Education (NACE) Institute for Philosophy & Public Policy Maryland School of Public Affairs 3111 Van Munching College Park, MD 20742 email: Gary Homana ghomana6@wam.umd.edu Please note: NACE is a network of diverse members from around the country without a central office. Administrative tasks are handled by the Institute for Philosophy & Public Policy at the Maryland School of Public Affairs (pl. see above). ¶3. William A. Galston, Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution. Formerly Executive Director, National Commission on Civic Renewal; Visiting Fellow, The Brookings Institution, where The mission of the Governance Studies Program is to explore the formal and informal political institutions of the United States and other democratic regimes to assess how they govern, how their practices compare, and how citizens and public servants can advance sound governance. Contact details: Governance Studies Program The Brookings Institution 1775 Massachusetts Ave., NW Washington, DC 20036 Ph: (202)797-6090 7 Fax (202)797-6144 Email: wgalston@brookings.edu BIO: http://www.brookings.edu/scholars/wgalston.ht m OR ¶4. Deborah Both, Senior Advisor, CIRCLE Co-Director, Center for Democracy & Citizenship Email: dboth@excelgov.org Deborah Both serves as Senior Advisor to CIRCLE. She also co-directs the Center for Democracy and Citizenship at the Council for Excellence in Government, with former Congressman David Skaggs. She focuses on working with candidates and politicians to engage youth in politics and voting. ¶F. POST PROJECT OFFICER: Control officer: Christine Vivian Office phone: 644-462-6112 Fax: 644-499-0490 Email: cvivian@actrix.gen.nz & vivianc@state.gov TECHNICAL OFFICER: Ola Thorsen Office phone: 644-462-6015 Fax: 644-499-0490 Cell: 6427-451-2535 Email: thorseno@state.gov TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND LOCATION - as this will be off-site, we will provide ISDN numbers later. Coord. Line for Conference: to be advised Venue: Parliament House U.S. Embassy Wellington has a polycom viewstation. 384K. ¶G. Please advise soonest. Thanks and regards, McCORMICK