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Education in the Democratic Society

Jennifer Swiger, Robin Schrader, Tasha Shumaker Shelley Lagano, and Priscilla

Foster

ED 210March 8, 2005

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What is Democracy and is the American Government a True

Democracy???

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Democracy is…

Direct Rule by the People it Governs Through Universal Suffrage

The American Government is…

NOT a True Democracy! The American Government is a Representative

Democracy, meaning that a select few are chosen by the whole to represent the ideals of the whole.

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What aspects of American Education are Supported by

a Democratic Government???

self-reflection tolerance power sharing critical thinking decision making individual responsibilityleadership opinion formationsocial responsibilitysocial connectness

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Self-Reflection

Democracy promotes freedoms that allow individuals to think freely and for themselves

The First Amendment of the Constitution Protects…

Freedom of ReligionFreedom of SpeechFreedom of PressFreedom of Peaceful AssemblyFreedom to Petition the Government

Voice Complaints

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ToleranceHow do teachers lead as examples of tolerance???

Multicultureism – encouraging interests into many cultures within society rather than only the interests of the mainstream culture.

Peter Johnson suggested that toleration represents ‘the intricacy of permitting and allowing...in the face of human freedom and choice. ’

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Power SharingCo-operative teaching (team teaching) teaches students co-operation and negotiation with others by example.

Leads to the ability of working towards a common good for society as a student and then as an adult.

Incorporated into group activities, student council, sports, and other extracurricular activities.

A democratic government that functions through a sharing of powers must thereby teach its citizens and future leaders how to share power, this

process is more often than not learned in an educational environment.

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Critical ThinkingThe disciplined mental activity of evaluating arguments or propositions and making judgements that can guide the development of beliefs and actions.

Can be taught within all subject areas of study.

Teaches students to individually analyze problems and situations before coming to a conclusion.

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Decision Making

By applying classroom learning and critical thinking, students can make better informed decisions.

Planning Building/design Morality discussion Allowing students to take governing roles

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Individual Responsibility

Learning how to participate in a democratic society builds student responsibility.

Civics classes teach the structure of our government Students demonstrate with student governments Kids voting programs get students interested and involved

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Leadership

A good leader... Is willing to take on responsibility Stimulates others through leadership Has good listening skills Considers how their decisions will impact others Makes wise, well thought out decisions Has confidence in self and others

Education supports leadership through... Student council, sports, clubs and organizations, national

honors society, honors classes, and through the examplary actions of teachers and school administration.

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Opinion Formation

Democratic education teaches students to formulate personal opinions through critical thinking and decision making on various topics.

Individuals are permitted to have an opinion on everything, and are never told what to believe.

Democratic society permits citizens to freely formulate opinions.

Opinions are formed as a result of self-reflection, study, beliefs, values, and interactions with others.

Politics Entertainment Health Life-style choices

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Social Responsibility

Civic Humanism – Bruni, c. 1400 A.D. ~ Italy Responsible citizenship

Idea that citizens should take a vital role in their governments rather than sitting back and letting others run the government.

Democratic Education supports and teaches its students to vote and take part in their government.

Through class, student council, etc. Students learn that they can have an impact on their

society not only in the future, but now.

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Social Connectedness

Education gives students the ability to communicate freely and effectively with others in a group

Four Types of Communication InteractionExpression of Needs and WantsInformation TransferSocial ClosenessSocial Etiquette

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What Other Aspects of American Education are Supported by a

Democratic Government???

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Additional Aspects of American Education

Cultural LiteracyTeacher and Student DiversityDiversity in Subject MatterDesegregation of Schooling“No Child Left Behind”

VouchersTitle IX – No Discrimination by GenderFurthering of EducationFreedom of Career Choices for all Students

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Cultural Literacy

Democratic Education attempts (or should attempt) to transfer a shared common knowledge to all students.

Shared basic facts, ideas, concepts, etc. That allows students to carry on knowledgeable conversation

Transcends generations, social groups, and social class.

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Student & Teacher Diversity

Democratic Society Promotes Diversity Teachers are no longer primarily female Women have broken into administration Desegregation of schooling Greater amounts of minorities in nearly all districts Greater diversity within subjects

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Diversity in Subject Matter

Original Subject Matter with Ohio Academic Content Standards:

English Language Arts Mathemtics Science Social Studies

The Ohio State Board of Education Adopted Academic Content Standards for these on December 9, 2003.

Arts Foreign Language Library Technology

Subject Matter without Academic Content Standard: Health

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Desegregation

In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Brown vs Board of Education that segregating schools based on race was illegal.

The court found that the schools were not equal, and that black schools were far under-supported.

In 1969, a federal judge ordered the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district to use bussing to speed integration.

State-by-state, schools are ending bussing because it is a financial hassle and has statistically not integrated communities.

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“No Child Left Behind”This bill was signed by George W. Bush in 2002.

Critera:Schools must produce state and district report cards to show school progressSchools must provide supplimental help (ie. tutors) if there has been no progress (school report card unacceptable)Schools can use federal funds as they choose (ie. increase teacher salaries, technology) as long as it benefits the students’ achievementFunding research and promotion of effective teaching methodsParents are allowd to choose alternate public schools for their children.

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Title IXTitle IXIn 1972, this amendment was added to Consitution

No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

athletics, college acceptances, science fairs, etc.

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Furthering of Education

Today... More students graduate from highschool.

Including minorities More caucasians and minorities are continuing

through college. It has become easier for students to break into

‘gender opposite’ professionsWomen in architectureMen in nursing

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Freedom of Career Choices

The large variety of magnet schools each with a different theme of study allows parents and students the freedom of choice:

Medicine Law Environmental Science Communications Humanities Technology Aviation Oratory Broadcasting Writing Skills

Students are encouraged to pursue fields of interest in a democratic environment.

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Changes in Education as a Result of Democracy

1960 vs. 2005ThenThen

1. Open prayer was permitted

2. Cultural Literacy of higher quality

3. Segregation of African Americans and whites

4. Fewer male teachers

5. Male dominance in administration6. Not as many “elective” classes

offered; lack of much diversity in subjects

7. Teachers could legally paddle students for misconduct

8. Females were considered “too frail”, or lacking the intellectual capacity, for science and math

9. Student dress codes more strict10. Less gender equality11. Smaller number of graduates

Including minorities

NowNow

1. Expression of religion (prayer) expressed personally

2. Still stress cultural literacy, but perhaps of less quality than before

3. Students of all racial/ethnic backgrounds are legally integrated

4. Gender among teachers has achieved greater balance

5. More women in administration6. More “elective” classes offered;

greater diversity in subjects “Cafeteria Schools”

7. No longer permitted to paddle students for misconduct; other modes of discipline

8. Females are increasingly accepted in math and science

9. Student dress codes are less strict10. Greater gender equality11. Increased number of graduates

Including minorities

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Resources(Text)

Hirsch, Jr., E. D. (2001). Hirsch, Jr., E. D. (2001). Literacy and cultural literacy.Literacy and cultural literacy. In F. In F. Schultz (Ed.), Schultz (Ed.), Notable selections in education Notable selections in education (pp. 13-23). (pp. 13-23). Guilford, CT: McGraw-Guilford, CT: McGraw- Hill/Dushkin.Hill/Dushkin.

Ravich, D. (2001). Ravich, D. (2001). From 1945-1980.From 1945-1980. In F. Schultz (Ed.), In F. Schultz (Ed.), Notable Notable selections in educationselections in education (pp. 3-12). Guilford, CT: McGraw- (pp. 3-12). Guilford, CT: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin.Hill/Dushkin.

Spring, J. (2001). Spring, J. (2001). The great civil rights movement and the The great civil rights movement and the new culture wars.new culture wars. In In F. Schultz (Ed.), F. Schultz (Ed.), Notable selections in Notable selections in educationeducation (pp. 68-76). Guilford, CT: (pp. 68-76). Guilford, CT: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin.McGraw-Hill/Dushkin.

Zakaria, F. (2003). Zakaria, F. (2003). The democratic age.The democratic age. In In The future of The future of freedom: freedom: illiberal democracy at home and abroad.illiberal democracy at home and abroad. (pp. 13- (pp. 13-27). W. W. 27). W. W. Norton & Company.Norton & Company.

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Resources(Web)

Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools. Education for Democracy. http://civicmissionofschools.org/campaign/educating.htmlCritical Thinking: An overview. Educational Psychology Interactive. http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/cogsys/critthnk.htmlGoals of Augmentative Communication. http://www.cs.wright.edu/bie/rehabengr/AAC/goals.htm Learning to Learn. Becoming a Leader in a Group.

http://www.polyu.edu.hk/learn-to-learn/student/html/GroupProject/leader.htm

Nikki Katz. About.com. “What you need to know about Title IX”

http://womensissues.about.com/cs/discriminatio2/a/titleix.htm?terms=Title+IX NPR News. NPR. “The Legacy of School Bussing”.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1853532 Office of Education for Democracy. http://www.uni.edu/coe/orava/officeed/Ohio Department of Education. Academic Content Standards. http://www.ode.state.oh.us/academic_content_standardsSocial Structure and Opinion Formation. http://www.hpl.hp.com/research/idl/papers/opinions/opinions.pdfSoundout.org. Students as Education Decision Makers.

http://www.soundout.org/decision-making.htmlThe Practice of Toleration and Education.

http://www.ed.uiuc.edu/EPS/PES-Yearbook/94_docs/PRATTE.HTM#fn2 The US Constitution Online. http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am1U.S. Department of Education. ED.gov. “No Child Left Behind”.

http://www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml

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Resources(Interviews)

Wolaver, Audrey E. Personal Interview. 31 Jan. 2005Wolaver, James F. Personal Interview. 31 Jan. 2005Wroda, Michelle E. Personal Interview. 31 Jan. 2005

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The End

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