Democracy and Education - Essay Example

Democracy and Education What is your overall reaction in regards to the meaning and significance of democracy and education to you as a person? At first it needs to determine what democracy and education are. Democracy is “Grounded in a way of life in which all can develop their qualities and capacities...Democracy is a moral ideal requiring expanding opportunities for direct participation” (Carr, W. and Hartnett, A., 1996). So, democracy, as I suppose, gives more possibilities for people to get significant education than any other social system, as democracy can make appropriate conditions for people living in democratic countries. The purpose of education today as well as earlier is “To initiate individuals into the values, attitudes and modes of behaviour appropriate to active participation in democratic institutions” (Carr, W. and Hartnett, A., 1996). Democracy is the most progressive contemporary social system and the best way to achieve the purpose of education. In our days democracy can offer many ways for people to get information they need, such as computer, Internet, etc., while these ways wouldn’t be offered in non-democratic societies as broad as in democratic ones. Democracy implies high level of communication between people, as Dewey underlined: “Men live in a community in virtue of the things they have in common; and communication is the way in which they come to possess things in common” (Dewey, J., 1916, p. 4). 2. How does this understanding contribute to your education? Has it had an impact on how you understand your formal education up until now? How so? Has it effected how you perceive or act in other classes? This understanding of democracy and education affected my education as well. The United States is one of the most democratic countries in the world in the field of education, and it needs to support this tendency: “It is a moment to rededicate ourselves to the historic, central mission of public education: to school American citizens in the history, principles, and practices of political democracy” (Democracy: teach it, 2003). Democratic principles had influenced my educational process: I can choose my own field of knowledge, study at any educational institution I wish and then use my knowledge in practice. Thanks to the democratic system I have access to numerous informational and educational resources and can even get on-line education. In addition to that, democratic principles influence the educational process: students and teachers are able to express their own points of view and use other advantages of democratic principles in education (no matter what class they perceive or act). 3. Did it stimulate you to think about and reflect on the purpose of public education in a society that aspires to be “democratic?”… And the notion of “democracy”? How so? There are many countries where there are no democracy and as follows no democratic principles in education. Dewey wrote that “a democracy is more than a form of government; it is primarily a mode of associated living, of cojoint communicated experience” (Dewey, J., 1916, p. 87). In a society that aspires to be “democratic” the purpose of education must approach democratic norms and give people the possibility to express themselves in educational process and get positive results from it. Educational standards in such societies need to be adapted and improved according to the contemporary educational standards and norms in education. Governments should pursue appropriate reforms which could raise the educational system to the higher level. But firstly the main changes should be provided in political system – these changes would approach the society to the democratic principles, as “Such a society must have a type of education which gives individuals a personal interest in social relationships and control, and the habits of the mind which secure social changes without introducing disorder” (Dewey, J., 1916, p. 99). 4. Has this understanding contributed to your ability to understand and to think critically about education – the world in general – about connections between various aspects of society, and among nations? – About your own life? Did it assist in empowering you to act at any level, in any way? Of course, there are some lacks in educational system of any state or any society and nation, even in democratic countries. There are some democracy controversies which affect the educational process in democratic countries, such as numerous discussions “whether condoms should be distributed, whether young children should be exposed to the issue of homosexuality, whether books offensive to parents should be required reading,” (Education vs. Democracy). In addition to that, in democratic societies the power of money is too strong, and sometimes money is one of the most decisive factors for people choosing one or another way of education; the lack of money couldn’t allow to study at prestigious colleges and universities, and “Non-payers can be excluded from the schoolhouse” (Education vs. Democracy). As for me, I found ways to overcome this problem, and it assisted me in empowering to act at any level and in any way. In Islamic societies the educational process is influenced by dogmatic religious educational programs and classes and doesn’t support students to get appropriate knowledge. In closed and ideologically-oriented societies, such as China, former Soviet Union and other socialist countries, educational process is totally under state and ideology control – it doesn’t allow students to think critically and free, and the educational process is too unilateral. 5. How has this understanding affected your interest in, or commitment to, pursuing a career in the field of education (if at all)? Be specific if you can! This understanding of democracy education specifics affected my interest in pursuing a career in the field of education I have chosen. The interest for my field of education inserted me to find appropriate ways for some problems overcoming. Democratic society features give many possibilities for people to get appropriate education even in case of the lack of money. I had to work to be able to pay for my education. I live in a democratic country and use all the advantages of our society. It is interesting for me to study different connections between various aspects of society, and the understanding of such connections and differences predetermined my career in the field of education I have chosen. 6. If you were to develop a class with the course title “Democracy and Education” what would the format and climate of the class be like – in that you were more the “subject” of the educational process (as contrasted to being more the “object” of the process)? Would you encourage participation? If I were to develop a class with the course title “Democracy and Education”, the format and climate of the class would be democratic first of all. As the subject of the process I would explain the nature and essence of democracy, and underline the place of education in democratic countries. A very important thing is that the format of the class would be free and easy, as “A positive atmosphere created by the teacher, typically including such qualities as respect, attention, care and approval, shows the student that he or she is valued. This leads to a positive self-concept and, above all, positive self-esteem” (Advancing inclusionary practices in post-secondary education). The most appropriate format of the class is discussion - everybody can express his or her own ideas and share them with others. As the subject of the process, I would encourage participation by the positive evaluation of the students’ activity and react positively to their activity and participation. 7. What topics/actions/etc. would you explore? What things would you avoid? Try to develop some analysis around your responses. The most important topics I would explore are: the nature and essence of democracy; features and priorities of educational process in democratic societies; similarities and differences of educational process in different social, political and economic structures, negative and positive sides. The most important actions I would explore are: giving of different examples of educational systems and programs in different countries and nations; all-round analysis of democracy as the most convenient political and social system for constant education growth. There are also some things to avoid: direct prevalence of one social and educational system over the other; authoritative attempts of overwhelming wrong ideas and views; ignoring of opposite points of view on democracy and education. 8. In the development of such a class, what would be its strengths – its weaknesses? After a thorough evaluation would you suggest for additions, shifts of emphasis, etc…? If you were creating this class, how would you do it? Why would you do it that way? In the development of such a class its main strengths could be the following: the necessity of such discussion and objective interest towards the topic discussed; the positive attitude and trends towards the understanding of the topic; the democratic and easy format and climate of the class. Its main weaknesses can be: inner natural and political contradictions of democracy and other social systems; the prevalence of one-side tendencies while discussing the problem. According to the situation after a thorough evaluation I would suggest for additions, shifts of emphasis, etc. If I were creating this class, I would do it in the format of free discussion where I would just determine the main direction of the discussion – it is the most appropriate way to analyse such problem as democracy and education. 9. If you were a student in this class that you created what questions would you pose? State them and respond to them If I were a student in this class, I would pose different questions, the main of them are: why is democracy the most appropriate social system for education process realization? (see above) What is the difference between democracy and other social-political systems? (see above) What is the purpose of education? (see above) What are the main features (positive and negative) of democratic education? (see above) And many others. 10. In this essay I have argued that democracy is the most suitable social system for education process realization. This view will become increasingly dominant in the coming century, as many countries aspire to be democratic. Many of these issues can never be resolved to everybody’s satisfaction, but in the long run the thesis’s validity will be proved and it will lead to the betterment of all involved. Finally, increased global cooperation and cultural understanding between nations and peoples will confirm the priority of democratic education. Sources Advancing inclusionary practices in post-secondary education. Canada – European Union Project. Teacher Researcher. News and events. (http://www.cc.jyu.fi/tuope/ilmoitukset.html) Carr, W. and Hartnett, A. (1996) Education and the Struggle for Democracy. The politics of educational ideas, Buckingham: Open University Press; pp. 43 – 45. Democracy: teach it. Embargoed until (September 9, 2003). The Albert Shanker Institute. (http://www.shankerinstitute.org/Downloads/EfD-release.html) Dewey, J. (1916). Democracy and education. New York: Macmillan Sheldon Richman. Education vs. Democracy. Liberty Haven. Reprinted with permission from The Freeman, a publication of the Foundation for Economic Education, Inc., November 1995, Vol. 45, No. 11. (http://www.libertyhaven.com/politicsandcurrentevents/democracy/educationdemo.shtml) Westheimer J. and Kahne J. Reconnecting Education To Democracy: Democratic Dialogues. Online article. Phi Delta Kappan. The Professional Journal for Education. (http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/k0309wes.htm) Willinsky, J. (2002). Education and Democracy: The Missing Link May Be Ours (draft). Harvard Educational Review, 72(3), 367-392 (http://research2.csci.educ.ubc.ca/eprints/archive/00000010/01/Democracy.pdf) Read More