The belief in citizen participation, along with the values of liberty and equality, have shaped the U.S. character and are reflected in the nation's institutions and behavior. This participation is manifested by electoral participation, citizen action, citizen involvement, obligatory participation, volunteer service, and mutual self-help. To take refuge in commitment to one form of participation to the exclusion of others is shortsighted citizenship behavior because it weakens the system as a whole and limits an individual's impact to one arena. While citizenship participation and education are inextricably bound, the nation must be clear about what sort of society it has in mind as a goal before it can decide on the processes and functions of that educational system. The ultimate goal of citizenship education should be to engender within as many people as possible a willingness to participate in public life in a manner that combines reasonableness, fairness, tolerance, and respect. The key to unlock the capacity of youth for citizen participation is to encourage practices of democratic indoctrination, dialogue, and discovery. Schools of the 21st century must promote numerous opportunities for students to participate in the governance of the school, and the school must be more intimately connected to the people and social life of the community. Sixteen references conclude the paper. (PPB)