Rescuing Reason

Name: Rescuing Reason
Price: 69.99 AUD
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ISBN: 9781487543242

How History Education Can Help Save Democracy

Alan Sears, Carla L. Peck

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Hardback

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English

University of Toronto Press
01 April 2026

Educational strategies & policy; Curriculum planning & development; Teaching of a specific subject; Educational: History

Series: UTP Insights

Rescuing Reason tackles the pressing crisis of civic engagement and public deliberation, drawing on Canadian and international examples, with a particular emphasis on Canada's democratic landscape. The book argues that K-12 public education has become too narrowly focused on utilitarian aims

such as financial literacy and job preparation

at the expense of the humanities, especially history. Educators Alan Sears and Carla L. Peck contend that this shift has undermined the cultivation of well-rounded citizens equipped for meaningful participation in civic life.

This book proposes that a renewed emphasis on history education, taught with depth and rigour, can foster civic reason, empathy, and a shared sense of civic truth. Through detailed frameworks and practical approaches, the book outlines how history can be taught to develop students' abilities in civic reasoning and engagement, ultimately strengthening democracy.

Rescuing Reason makes a compelling case for the vital role of history education in nurturing civic competencies. The book offers a clear, actionable plan for educators, policymakers, and the public to reorient education towards preparing students not just for the workforce, but for active, thoughtful citizenship in a complex democratic society.

By: Alan Sears, Carla L. Peck
Imprint: University of Toronto Press
Country of Publication: Canada
Dimensions: Height: 235mm, Width: 159mm, Spine: 23mm
Weight: 500g
ISBN: 9781487543242
ISBN 10: 1487543247
Series: UTP Insights
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 01 April 2026
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Alan Sears is a professor emeritus in the Faculty of Education at the University of New Brunswick. Carla L. Peck is a professor in the Faculty of Education and an adjunct professor in the Department of History, Classics, and Religion at the University of Alberta.

Reviews for Rescuing Reason: How History Education Can Help Save Democracy

“This is a brave, insightful, and challenging book. Its chapters cover a very well-integrated relation between social sciences, civic, and history education, providing specific answers to urgent problems of present societies. Nowadays democracy is really in danger, and this book provides valuable ideas about how history education could contribute to overcome this situation. Focused on Canadian cases, the content of this book is also very relevant for many other nations in the world.” -- Mario Carretero, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and Researcher, FLACSO-Argentina “A passionate, thoughtful and timely book for historians and educators alike. Rescuing Reason demonstrates the foundational importance of history education in crafting civic knowledge and participation.” -- Anna Clark, Professor of Public History, University of Technology Sydney