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Abstract

This article will attempt to sketch what are considered to be the necessary conditions for the advancement of democratic citizenship in society today. The pivotal role that education plays in this process will be examined and, for that purpose, particular reference will be made to two very influential educationalists, who have written extensively on the nature of the educational project, especially in its relation to democratic citizenship. The capacity for such a project in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) will be examined, particularly in the light of those same educationalists. It is anticipated that this examination will help to unveil, what this author considers to be, educational ‘limit-situations’ in the RoI’s schooling system. It is suggested that such situations inhibit the full-flourishing of democratic citizenship there. The article will conclude with an outline of potential ‘limit-acts’, from an educational perspective, which could help to counteract the aforementioned ‘limit-situations’. In that respect, particular attention will be drawn to the potential of service-learning for pre-service teacher educators.

Keywords

citizenship democracy equality Maxine Greene Paulo Freire social justice

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the civic remit of educational practice in the Republic of Ireland

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