Foundations of the Program
Overview
The foundation of the Culture and Citizenship in Québec program is based on sociology and ethical philosophy, which describes culture, in a general sense, as all the symbolic and material manifestations of life in society.
Pedagogical Stance
The CCQ program is taught and experienced according to a non-moralistic paradigm. Rather than focusing on giving students the correct answers, the goal is to lead them through a contemplative process that considers multiple potential answers.
It can be valuable to engage in self-reflection prior to discussing cultural or ethical topics.
Questions to consider may include:
"What are my personal beliefs about this issue?"
"How have my background and upbringing shaped my perspective?"
"How can I prevent my biases from influencing my teaching and provide a balanced overview of the situation?"
Recommendations
Create a classroom climate conductive to dialogue.
Remain attentive to non‑verbal behaviours and prioritize the expression of different points of view.
Use professional judgment to determine appropriate behavior.
NOTE: Classroom discussions may not always be as dynamic as you would like them to be.
Keep your pedagogical stance and keep going! Be kind to yourself!
Sociology
“Sociology is a social science that studies the relations between individuals and between groups. Therefore, this field includes the study of the different forms of culture.”
(Culture and Citizenship in Québec, pilot project version)
Sexuality Education
Sexuality has several dimensions:
biological
psych affective
interpersonal
socio-cultural
ethical
Recommendations
Value the positive aspects of sexuality which includes fostering egalitarian relationships as well as feeling of well-being with themselves and in their relationships.
Use inclusive language that takes body, cultural, sexual and gender diversity into account.
Continue to take a scientific approach.
Epistemology
The CCQ program defines critical thinking as a process of assessing and rationalizing information to make sound judgments and unbiased decisions. It involves self-correction and relies on diverse sources to determine logical actions or beliefs.
Structure & Concepts
Elementary: The learning content is often more concrete.
Secondary: The program is organized around concepts.
The acquisition of concepts prepares students for college-level studies and for the exercise of citizenship.
Ethics
The CCQ program is taught and experienced according to a
non-moralistic paradigm.
This implies that the aim is not to furnish students with definitive solutions, but to help them navigate a reflective process that considers various potential solutions, prompting students to cultivate their decision-making abilities and develop critical analysis capabilities.
Reflection
Reference Points
In the CCQ program, a point of view is defined as a “set of related ideas that can be held on a question or subject. These ideas are based on different reference points.”
(Culture and Citizenship in Québec, pilot project version)
