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It may be that the idea of participatory democracy can also be adapted to participatory education. In fact, it will have to be done in order for a citizenry to understand the process. From the very earliest years of education, dialogue between those teaching and those being taught, between those administering and those being administered, will be essential to form the basis of a truly educated, informed citizenry that is familiar with participating in the decisions that most directly affect it. At the same time, this lessens the stress on those "in charge" by sharing their burden in a collective, collaborative effort. This is not to say that students know everything they should be taught; the choices and decisions of professional educators remain essential to the teaching process. It is to say that students can deal with how the school itself is organized; its values; its decision-making; its process as an institution. This is a basis for changing from a top-down, authoritarian structure where decision-making is done for us, to a more horizontal social/educational organization where we actively participate in and influence the decision-making that affects us. Students trained to obey commands and follow orders (no matter how caringly paternalistic) cannot be expected to succeed with collaborative decision making. Such a change in thinking requires careful preparation, training and participation.
The following links and sites show some schools and other organizations dealing with these issues.
1. The National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation. www.thataway.org
See its Happenings page for several education-related
sections.
2. Teaching
Democracy.org
A project of Dr. James Knauer at Lock Haven University right here
in central Pennsylvania.
3. http://www.victoria.tc.ca/~yj383/oakandorca.html
Empowering children to create fundamental social change towards
more fulfilling and ecologically sustainable communities. One of
the most exciting and innovation school projects of which I'm aware.
4. http://www.ncrel.org/cscd/pubs/lead41/41views.htm
Articles about educating students in a democratic environment.
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