Democratic Education

Freedom for All What comes to mind when you think of democracy? For many people, the word democracy elicits thoughts of freedom and autonomy from government or at least full choice in governmental decisions. The concepts of choice and control are at the heart of democratic education. Choice, the ability to have autonomy in the direction of one's own educational path, and control, the ability to decide how to approach major educational needs, are the two main principles of democratic education. Students are given choice and control over their own educational careers. Logistics of Democratic Education It is easy to say that students should have choice in their educational paths and control over their own educational goals, but what does that mean in the actual classroom? In the most democratic classrooms, teachers should creatively engage students in activities that are of the students' choosing. For some students, this may mean quiet worksheets, but for many, this is most likely hands-on manipulative work. Students should be allowed to choose an area of study, and the entire educational plan should revolve around that subject area. (For instance, if the students like space and vote on having a space unit then all subject matter should pertain to space.) Class schedules should be open for debate and vote so that all students in the class feel as if they have had a voice in the decision-making process of day-to-day educational tasks. If it is feasible, students should be allowed to work to their own schedules, but if not, a class vote to decide on time tables will suffice. From a school-wide perspective, democratic education takes the form of student body government with real power to make decisions for the school in areas such as educational planning and programs to be offered. Benefits of Democratic Education The most important benefit of democratic education is student ownership of their education. When people own their choices, they are more engaged in making those choices work to their own benefit and good. When a choice is pushed on a person without consent, the person does not have a sense of ownership, and thus, does not always feel compelled to work to make the situation a success. However, when they have chosen a path, they do not want to fail because they own the choice, and thus, will own the failure as well. Ownership leads to engagement, which leads to success in education, and that is the goal of every educational approach. Other, more objective, benefits are: Higher attendance Greater participation in educational activities Higher student achievement Increased intrinsic motivation Finally, democratic education teaches students the value of being a true participant in one's own environment and making sure one's own voice is heard. This prepares students for a future in a democratic state. By teaching students that their voices are important and can make a difference, you raise adults who believe that they can change the world as long as they are prepared to be involved in the process. Concerns in Democratic Education The greatest concern for any educator considering creating a democratic education environment is authenticity. If students are asked to voice their opinions, or even take a vote on a topic, and then their decisions are not responded to, they will lose all faith in the process. To truly have a democratic education environment, with all the benefits it offers students, the adult educators must be fully signed on to the process. When students vote for something, that vote must count for action. Only then will students be invested in the outcome. It is also imperative that students are taught he lesson of responsibility in democratic education. With choice and control comes the responsibility of following through with the choices that are made. Some students may not understand this at first, but as they see the results of true, authentic democratic education, they will come to understand that their choices have power to mold their educational futures. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Create your account Register to view this lesson Are you a student or a teacher? I am a student I am a teacher What is Democratic Education? - Principles & Forces Related Study Materials Related Recently Updated Popular Explore Subjects Create an account to start this course today Try it risk-free for 30 days! Create An Account Like this lesson Share Explore our library of over 75,000 lessons Search Search Courses & Lessons Browse Browse by subject × Study.com Study.com FREE – on Google Play INSTALL Download the app Products Student Solutions Teacher Solutions Enterprise Solutions Study.com for Schools About Us Blog Careers Get Your School Listed Teach For Us Press Center Support Contact Support FAQ Site Feedback © copyright 2003-2019 Study.com. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved. Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   DMCA Notice   ADA Compliance   Honor Code For Students Supp

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Repetition

Repetition Definition of Repetition Repetition is a literary device that repeats the same words or phrases a few times to make an idea clearer and more memorable. There are several types of repetition commonly used in both prose and poetry. As a rhetorical device, it could be a word, a phrase, or a full sentence, or a poetical line repeated to emphasize its significance in the entire text. Repetition is not distinguished solely as a figure of speech, but more as a rhetorical device. Types of Repetition The following examples of repetition are classified according to the different types of repetition used, both in literature and in daily conversations. Anadiplosis: Repetition of the last word in a line or clause. Anaphora: Repetition of words at the start of clauses or verses. Antistasis: Repetition of words or phrases in opposite sense. Diacope: Repetition of words broken by some other words. Epanalepsis: Repetition of the same words at the beginning and the end of a sentence. Ep...
Read more

Simile

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things in an interesting way. The object of a simile is to spark an interesting connection in a reader's or listener's mind. A simile is one of the most common forms of figurative language. Similes can be found just about anywhere from poems to song lyrics and even in everyday conversations. Similes and metaphors are often confused with one another. The main difference between a simile and metaphor is that a simile uses the words "like" or "as" to draw a comparison and a metaphor simply states the comparison without using "like" or "as". An example of a simile is: She is as innocent as an angel. An example of a metaphor is: She is an angel. Similes in Everyday Language Similes are used in literature to make writing more vivid and powerful. In everyday speech they can be used to convey meaning quickly and effectively, as many commonly used expressions are similes. For example, wh...
Read more

Anaphora

Anaphora Anaphora Definition In writing or speech, the deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect is known as Anaphora. Anaphora, possibly the oldest literary device, has its roots in Biblical Psalms used to emphasize certain words or phrases. Gradually, Elizabethan and Romantic writers brought this device into practice. Examine the following psalm: “O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?” The repetition of the phrase “O Lord,” attempts to create a spiritual sentiment. This is anaphora. Common Anaphora Examples It is common for us to use anaphora in our everyday speech, to lay emphasis on the idea we want to convey, or for self affirmation. The following are anaphora examples: “Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better.”...
Read more