10 Essential Elements of Education For Democracy10 Essential Elements of Education For Democracy

BySarah VanHook, Chad Beanblossom,

Zakiya Tate, Angie Kessel, and Eric Hanks

BySarah VanHook, Chad Beanblossom,

Zakiya Tate, Angie Kessel, and Eric Hanks

IntroductionIntroduction

What are the essential elements of a good education for democracy?

Why should these elements be at the core of the curriculum in schools?

Through research these elements are found to be necessary qualities of a good education for democracy.

What are the essential elements of a good education for democracy?

Why should these elements be at the core of the curriculum in schools?

Through research these elements are found to be necessary qualities of a good education for democracy.

First Essential ElementFirst Essential Element

Teaching and Learning knowledge of democracy, democratic government, and democratic society.Standards and criteria of a democracyPeople’s representatives are accountable to

the peopleConstitutional protection for individualsFreedom House

http://www.freedomhouse.org/

Teaching and Learning knowledge of democracy, democratic government, and democratic society.Standards and criteria of a democracyPeople’s representatives are accountable to

the peopleConstitutional protection for individualsFreedom House

http://www.freedomhouse.org/

Second Essential ElementSecond Essential Element

Teaching and Learning knowledge of the Constitution and institutions of the democratic government and civil society.Principles of the ConstitutionInstitutions of government under this

ConstitutionNongovernmental institutions that

constitute the civil society

Teaching and Learning knowledge of the Constitution and institutions of the democratic government and civil society.Principles of the ConstitutionInstitutions of government under this

ConstitutionNongovernmental institutions that

constitute the civil society

Third Essential ElementThird Essential Element

Participate competently in a democracy.Development of student’s capacity to use

and apply knowledge of democracy.Basic knowledge of democracy

PrinciplesPracticesHistory

Civic and Political events of the past and present.Cognitive skillsParticipation skills

Participate competently in a democracy.Development of student’s capacity to use

and apply knowledge of democracy.Basic knowledge of democracy

PrinciplesPracticesHistory

Civic and Political events of the past and present.Cognitive skillsParticipation skills

Third Essential ElementThird Essential Element

Cognitive SkillsAllows student to identify, describe,

organize, interpret, explain, and evaluate.To make sense of experiences and to make

decisions based on this experience.

Participation skillsCooperation with others in order to

influence decisions of government.Make representatives accountable to them.

Cognitive SkillsAllows student to identify, describe,

organize, interpret, explain, and evaluate.To make sense of experiences and to make

decisions based on this experience.

Participation skillsCooperation with others in order to

influence decisions of government.Make representatives accountable to them.

Fourth Essential ElementFourth Essential Element

Development of civic virtue Development of behavioral dispositions

of a good citizen.Subordination of personal interest to the

common good of the community.Traits of morality of democratic citizenship.

Temperance, courage, fairness, prudence, compassion for others, hope, honesty, civility in dealing with others, tolerance, and respect to humanity.

Development of civic virtue Development of behavioral dispositions

of a good citizen.Subordination of personal interest to the

common good of the community.Traits of morality of democratic citizenship.

Temperance, courage, fairness, prudence, compassion for others, hope, honesty, civility in dealing with others, tolerance, and respect to humanity.

Democracy in AmericaDemocracy in America

Alexis de TocquevilleAuthor of Democracy in America.Impressed by the democratic disposition of

Americans.Citizens gave money, time, and other resources

to work towards common good.

“ A country with the very best constitution, institutions, and laws will not have a sustainable democracy unless the habits of the heart are firmly implanted in the character of the citizens.”

Alexis de TocquevilleAuthor of Democracy in America.Impressed by the democratic disposition of

Americans.Citizens gave money, time, and other resources

to work towards common good.

“ A country with the very best constitution, institutions, and laws will not have a sustainable democracy unless the habits of the heart are firmly implanted in the character of the citizens.”

5th ELEMENT5th ELEMENT

Education in DemocracyEducation in Democracy

The 5th essential element for education in democracy is the systematic connection and

integration of basic knowledge, skills, and dispositions in the curriculum and instruction

presented to students

The 5th essential element for education in democracy is the systematic connection and

integration of basic knowledge, skills, and dispositions in the curriculum and instruction

presented to students

Basic knowledge, skills and dispositions must be combined and connected continually in order to have an effective education for democracyThe necessary components of an

education for democracy are knowledge, skills, and disposition.They must be continually connected

through the persistent practice of skills and disposition.

Implementing one component more than another component is a flaw that negatively effects the teaching and learning about the theory and practice of democracy

Basic knowledge, skills and dispositions must be combined and connected continually in order to have an effective education for democracyThe necessary components of an

education for democracy are knowledge, skills, and disposition.They must be continually connected

through the persistent practice of skills and disposition.

Implementing one component more than another component is a flaw that negatively effects the teaching and learning about the theory and practice of democracy

6th Element6th Element

Education for democracyEducation for democracy

The 6th essential element of a good education for democracy is to teach knowledge, skills, and dispositions of

democracy throughout the curriculum of the school.

The 6th essential element of a good education for democracy is to teach knowledge, skills, and dispositions of

democracy throughout the curriculum of the school.

Teaching and learning the knowledge skills and disposition of democracy should begin in the primary school and continue until the completion of high school.

Democracy should be taught in various school subjects There should be

separate courses in the subjects of civics and government

History of democracy should be taught in all history classes

Teaching and learning the knowledge skills and disposition of democracy should begin in the primary school and continue until the completion of high school.

Democracy should be taught in various school subjects There should be

separate courses in the subjects of civics and government

History of democracy should be taught in all history classes

Continuing the teaching of the basic components

Continuing the teaching of the basic components

As students progress to higher grade levels they should study more complexly and deeply the same ideas, skills, and dispositions that embody the core of a good education for democracy

As a result, these ideas, skills, and dispositions are mastered by the time they graduate

As students progress to higher grade levels they should study more complexly and deeply the same ideas, skills, and dispositions that embody the core of a good education for democracy

As a result, these ideas, skills, and dispositions are mastered by the time they graduate

Seventh Essential ElementSeventh Essential Element

Learning Democracy by :

Student Organizations Student Government Extracurricular Activities Team Sports

Leads to involvement in democracy

Learning Democracy by :

Student Organizations Student Government Extracurricular Activities Team Sports

Leads to involvement in democracy

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Seventh Essential Component Continued…Seventh Essential Component Continued…

When involved in Team Sports:

Sense of ownership TEAMWORK Competitiveness Feelings of Self-worth, Self

Confidence

Leads to a well-rounded individual that participates in the democracy

When involved in Team Sports:

Sense of ownership TEAMWORK Competitiveness Feelings of Self-worth, Self

Confidence

Leads to a well-rounded individual that participates in the democracy

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Eighth Essential ElementEighth Essential Element

Education:

- Teacher led discussions

- Classroom Unity- Open forum to discuss

current events- Freedom to express

ideas

Creates democratic ethos

Education:

- Teacher led discussions

- Classroom Unity- Open forum to discuss

current events- Freedom to express

ideas

Creates democratic ethos

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Eighth Essential Element Continued…Eighth Essential Element Continued…

Knowledge of Current Events:

1. 9/11 Panel’s Final Report

2. Oil Prices3. Bush’s Address to the

Nation (100 days into Second Term)

Knowledge is POWER!

Knowledge of Current Events:

1. 9/11 Panel’s Final Report

2. Oil Prices3. Bush’s Address to the

Nation (100 days into Second Term)

Knowledge is POWER!

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THE NINTH ESSENTIAL ELEMENT

THE NINTH ESSENTIAL ELEMENT

TEACH ABOUT DEMOCRACYTEACH ABOUT DEMOCRATIC CITIZENSHIP

COMPARATIVELY

TEACH ABOUT DEMOCRACYTEACH ABOUT DEMOCRATIC CITIZENSHIP

COMPARATIVELY

THREE MAIN TYPES OF COMPARISONS

THREE MAIN TYPES OF COMPARISONS

WARANTED CATEGORIES AS CRITERIA BY WHICH TO DISTINGUISH A DEMOCRACY FROM NONDEMOCRACY

JUSTIFIABLE CATEGORIES (CONCEPTS) TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST VARIOUS DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES

COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE CONSTITUTIONS, INSTITUTIONS, AND PARTICIPATION OF CITIZENS IN VARIOUS DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES

WARANTED CATEGORIES AS CRITERIA BY WHICH TO DISTINGUISH A DEMOCRACY FROM NONDEMOCRACY

JUSTIFIABLE CATEGORIES (CONCEPTS) TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST VARIOUS DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES

COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE CONSTITUTIONS, INSTITUTIONS, AND PARTICIPATION OF CITIZENS IN VARIOUS DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES

TENTH ESSENTIAL ELEMENT

TENTH ESSENTIAL ELEMENT

PREPERATION OF TEACHERS TO BE EFFECTIVE IN TERMS OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND VIRTUES OF DEMOCRATIC CITIZENSHIP

THE CIVIC MISSION OF SCHOOLS

PREPERATION OF TEACHERS TO BE EFFECTIVE IN TERMS OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND VIRTUES OF DEMOCRATIC CITIZENSHIP

THE CIVIC MISSION OF SCHOOLS

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSIONMAINTENANCE OF ANY COUNTRY THAT HAS

IT AND WANTS TO KEEP ITCURRICULUM OF SCHOOLSNEW GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN

MAINTENANCE OF ANY COUNTRY THAT HAS IT AND WANTS TO KEEP IT

CURRICULUM OF SCHOOLSNEW GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN

WORKS CITEDWORKS CITED DAHL, ROBERT A. ON DEMOCRACY. NEW HAVEN, CT:

YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1998. GIBSON, CYNTHIA, PETER LEVINE AND OTHERS. THE

CIVIC MISSION OF SCHOOLS. NEW YORK: CARNEGIE CORPORATION, 2003.

HOWARD, DICK. THE SPECTER OF DEMOCRACY. NEW YORK: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2002.

NEIMI, RICHARD, AND JANE JUNN. CIVIC EDUCATION: WHAT MAKES STUDENTS LEARN? NEW HAVEN, CT: YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1998.

PATRICK, JOHN J. TEACHING DEMOCRACY GLOBALLY, INTERNATIONALLY, AND COMPARATIVELY: THE 21ST CENTURY CIVIC MISSION OF SCHOOLS. <http://www.civiced.org>

PERRY, MICHEAL J. THE IDEA OF HUMAN RIGHTS. NEW YORK: UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1993.

DAHL, ROBERT A. ON DEMOCRACY. NEW HAVEN, CT: YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1998.

GIBSON, CYNTHIA, PETER LEVINE AND OTHERS. THE CIVIC MISSION OF SCHOOLS. NEW YORK: CARNEGIE CORPORATION, 2003.

HOWARD, DICK. THE SPECTER OF DEMOCRACY. NEW YORK: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2002.

NEIMI, RICHARD, AND JANE JUNN. CIVIC EDUCATION: WHAT MAKES STUDENTS LEARN? NEW HAVEN, CT: YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1998.

PATRICK, JOHN J. TEACHING DEMOCRACY GLOBALLY, INTERNATIONALLY, AND COMPARATIVELY: THE 21ST CENTURY CIVIC MISSION OF SCHOOLS. <http://www.civiced.org>

PERRY, MICHEAL J. THE IDEA OF HUMAN RIGHTS. NEW YORK: UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1993.

Q & AQ & A

1. Do you feel that knowledge of the consitution is vital in education for democracy?

2. What are the two skills that must be used together in order to act competently in a democracy?

3. What do you feel the basic components of education for democracy are?

4. Do you agree or disagree with the concept of utlizing current events in the classroom at an early age will help educate citizens in a democracy?

5. Is it important to know the constitutions of other “democratic” countries?

1. Do you feel that knowledge of the consitution is vital in education for democracy?

2. What are the two skills that must be used together in order to act competently in a democracy?

3. What do you feel the basic components of education for democracy are?

4. Do you agree or disagree with the concept of utlizing current events in the classroom at an early age will help educate citizens in a democracy?

5. Is it important to know the constitutions of other “democratic” countries?