Democracy in Education

Concept of Democracy

• A form of government in which

people choose leaders by voting.
• An organization or situation in which
everyone is treated equally and has
equal rights.
• DEMOCRACY is derived from two Greek
words ‘DEMOS’ and ‘KRATIA’ which
means People and Power respectively.
• DEMOCRACY – POWER OF THE
PEOPLE
• DEMOCRACY – “ the government of the
People, by the People and for the
People.
Democracy may refer to any of the
following political arrangements:
It may involve direct participation of
the members of a society in deciding
on the laws and policies of the society
It may involve the participation of
those members in selecting
representatives to make the decisions.
 Emphasizes the worth and dignity of
the individual and declares that every
human being is to be considered as
an end not as a mean.
 “Sovereignty of the living
individual” projects the human
individual as the ‘unit of judgment
and responsible action’.
Democratic Education
The Institute for Democratic Education
in America (IDEA) defines democratic
education as "learning that equips every
human being to participate fully in a healthy
democracy.
For Education to be
Democratic it must be:

• A holistic education, not

proscriptive, and not limited to
the four walls of the classroom.
For Education to be
Democratic it must be:
• It must be developmentally and
culturally appropriate and it must be
participatory.
• It helps a child develop a love for
learning and critical thinking. It must
also be equitable so that all have
access to it.
Education is Democratic when:

• It is acceptable to a wide variety

of people.
• It recognizes that students are not
passive beings but have to be
engaged as critical thinkers.
Education is Democratic
when:
• The parents need to be treated as
active participants in the
educational process and not merely
as consumers of it.
• It has a sense of public
accountability and a commitment to
addressing broader public and
social goals.
Democratic Education
 Democratic education is where people
listen to one another and where children
are the source of learning for teachers.
 There is a way to help children learn and
at the same time listen to them.
 Teachers do not feel diminished, and
they construct with the children and
respect them, which is something
important to learn.
 Democracy and Education
In 1916 John Dewey wrote powerful book
which was written within the framework
of how education was to fulfill the needs
of society. The book entitled Democracy
and Education defined democracy as a
way of defining culture.
 Democracy and Education
Dewey viewed democracy as a way of
government that allows the members of
society to enjoy freedom in a well
organized civilization. He refers to the
countries that do not use technology and
mass elections to govern themselves as
"savage".
John Dewey
According to John
Dewey, "the object
and reward of learning
is continued capacity
for growth." However,
in order that all people
may be allowed the
opportunity to expand
their capacities for
Dewey believed that mass John Dewey
education, at least in terms of
this definition of education, can
take place only in societies
where there is mutuality, and
where there is adequate
provision for the reconstruction
of social habits and institutions
by means of wide stimulation
arising from equitably
distributed interests.
Dewey's Vision of Education
Dewey’s vision of
education is directly
connected with the
question of preparing
people for active
citizenship in a
participatory
democracy.
 The Promotion of Democracy
Through Education
Currently, the leading hypotheses for the
promotion of democracy through education are:
 Education increases the benefits of political
activity because it increases human capital
 Education lowers the costs of political
activity because the citizens are better able to
make decisions
 Socialization hypothesis- education affects
socialization equally, including its
manifestation in politics.
 Why does democracy need
education?
Education is a universal human right. It
is also a means of achieving other
human rights and it is an empowering
social and economic tool. Through the
Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, the world's nations have agreed
that everyone has the right to
education.
 Why does democracy need
education?
• Every society transmits its habits of mind,
social norms, culture, and ideals from one
generation to the next. There is a direct
connection between education and
democratic values: in democratic societies,
educational content and practice support
habits of democratic governance.
 Why does democracy need
education?
• This educational transmission process is
vital in a democracy because effective
democracies are dynamic, evolving forms
of government that demand independent
thinking by the citizenry. The opportunity
for positive social and political change
rests in citizens' hands.
 Why does democracy need
education?
• Governments should value and devote
resources to education just as they
strive to defend their citizens.
• Literacy enables people to stay
informed through newspapers and
books. Informed citizens are in a better
position to improve their democracy.
 Why does democracy need
education?
• Democracies encourage students to
develop reasonable arguments based on
careful research and a clear
understanding of history.
• Private and religious groups should be
free to create schools or parents may
choose to teach their children at home.
 Why does democracy need
education?
• Government - run schools must be equally
accessible to all citizens regardless of their
ethnic or religious backgrounds, gender, or
physical disabilities.
• Democratic norms and practices should be
taught in order for people to understand and
appreciate their opportunities and
responsibilities as free citizens.
 Why does democracy need
education?
• Education for democratic citizenship
includes knowledge of national and world
history and of basic democratic principles.
• School curricula in democracies include
history, geography, economics, literature,
philosophy, law, the arts, social studies,
mathematics, and science courses available
to all students -- girls and boys.
 Why does democracy need
education?
• Students should also be free to organize
clubs and activities where democratic norms
can be put into practice. For example,
 Student government gives pupils
experience in the democratic process.
 Mock elections teach students about
citizen participation and encourage in
them lifelong voting habits
The researchers also find that established
democracies are more likely to survive if the
population is more educated.
 Dewey’s Assumptions
• The John Dewey’s assumption is that the
aims of education should be oriented
towards preparing young people to be full
and active participants in all aspects of
democratic life.
• The skills and dispositions needed to
actively participate in all aspects of
democratic life include:
 Dewey’s Assumptions
• The ability to think critically, a sense of
efficacy, a commitment to
compassionate action, and a desire to
actively participate in political life by
engaging in local decision-making
processes, voting, etc., as well as the
basic need to be able to read, write and
do arithmetic.
 What must Education be to
become Democratic?
• It must be accessible for everyone. It
means every human being has access
to quality education and has their
basic needs met. This means
addressing social issues such as
poverty and others that affect people's
ability to learn.
 What must education be to
become democratic?
• For education to be democratic,
every person must be valued,
listened to, and participate actively
in their learning and in the
decision making processes.
 EDUCATION FOR
DEMOCRACY
• John Dewey formed the basis for the reform of
the American educational system, which started
paying attention not only to the education of
narrow technical skills but:
 To broaden the democratic consciousness of
every student.
 With the goal of shaping a responsible
democratic public life.
 How can we measure
Democracy?
A democratic society may be measured
 Firstly, by the extent to which the
interests of a group are shared by all
its members, and
 Secondly, by the extent to which
groups may freely interact with each
other.
 How can we measure
Democracy?
A democratic society may be measured
 Firstly, by the extent to which the
interests of a group are shared by all
its members, and
 Secondly, by the extent to which
groups may freely interact with each
other.