A revitalizing way to look at democracy as education

books:


	• Revolutionizing America's Schools (Jossey Bass Education Series) Carl D. Glickman Jossey-Bass, 1997 - 224 pages average customer review:based on 1 review view larger image
	for more information click here

A revitalizing way to look at democracy as education

Three important points this book makes:

Reclaim a Democratic Vision: Our forefathers founded this country on democratic principles which seemed to have gotten lost in the mist. Yet, in order to regain the vision, education must look back to these principles and revolutionize its pedagogy in the same manner as Jefferson, Hamilton, Franklin, et al. did for their countrymen. Education as democracy results from "decisions guided by justice and equality for all in striving for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." (p. 180).

Democratic Schools Do Better: Practicing democracy in teaching leads to a better foundation for students. This is evidenced in many studies (Aiken's 'eight-year study', Newmann's research on "active learning" developed in schools making democratic efforts, Sharan's work which reveals that democratic-process teaching creates twice the learning as passive lecture, etc.).

Democracy is the overriding, unifying principle; all else is secondary: It is the foundation for change. It is both the means and the end. "It is a means insofar as equality, liberty,and fraternity are used to make decisions; it is an end when changes achieve greater equality, liberty, and fraternity in the learning experiences of all the students in a classroom, school, or community" (p. 167-168). Democracy becomes the overriding purpose behind education and the practice of democracy will be the thrust behind change in our schools and communities.

Revolutionizing America's Schools urges us to revolt yet one more time. Today's heresy is actually yesterdays' revolution. The wheel has come full circle.

Sandie Miller, Pepperdine Educational Technology Doctoral Student

for more information click here

Revolutionizing America's Schools is provocative, personal, and right on the mark. It should be read by anyone who believes our schools can better educate our young and who is committed to making the effort to improve them.

-- Paul Schwarz, Principal of the Jackie Robinson Complex, and Co-director of Central Park East Secondary School, East Harlem, New York City

With this insightful, practical collection of personal essays, Glickman tackles education's most urgent questions. Who should govern schools? Whose values should schools represent? How should teachers teach? How does democratic change occur? Glickman directly addresses issues of race, culture, gAnder, and religion and reveals how understanding these issues can contribute to purposeful change, and he connects democratic rhetoric to action -- covering such practicalities as student grouping, curriculum selection, and school leadership.

Introduction: A Vision of Democracy

Part One: On Democracy

1. Democracy -- What Is It?

2. Democracy and Education

3. Ambiguity and Informed Minds

Part Two: On Pedagogy

4. Powerful Learning

5. School Structures for Teaching

6. Teacher Education and Public Schools

7. Governing for the Future

Part Three: On Getting Beyond

8. Wealth and Welfare