http://thepolity.net/wordpress/2009/12/10/a-manifesto-for-educational-democracy/ Toward more sustainable ways of connecting citizens and government Tue, 04 May 2010 12:37:53 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://thepolity.net/wordpress/2009/12/10/a-manifesto-for-educational-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Tamara Mancuso Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:41:29 +0000 http://thepolity.net/wordpress/?p=175#comment-40 It is very hard to create an education system that provides equal opportunity for all. The USA in itsself is in a very odd position. The public education system allows for everyone to get an education. However, it is not the same education everywhere but is close. The problem with this is that it promotes education being a hand out from the Government. This is one of the reasons (other then people have a right to choose to spend their money on a better education) that there are also private education institutions in the USA as well. Either way (expecially with the private institutions) a class system ends up created because the youth from less privilaged areas who are able to rise do not return to their home towns to help benefit them. This would be changed if democray was practiced in all schools. As stated in the Democracy Begins at Home paragraph of A Manifesto for Educational Democracy, " If democracy entails some substantial measure of sharing in the making of history or decision-making through everyday life rather than when an election rolls around, then schools need to be democratized so that all a school’s participants – including students, teachers, administrators and custodians, cafeteria workers, etc. – participate together, routinely in school decision-making large and small. " This would bridge any social gaps and allow so that anyone who is having difficulty, wether a student, a teacher , or even the lunch lady could address concerns in a way where everyone could become involved. This would not only promote democray and increase dramatically the understanding of democracy and the USA, but create opportunity for eveyrone to be successful and content. It is very hard to create an education system that provides equal opportunity for all. The USA in itsself is in a very odd position. The public education system allows for everyone to get an education. However, it is not the same education everywhere but is close. The problem with this is that it promotes education being a hand out from the Government. This is one of the reasons (other then people have a right to choose to spend their money on a better education) that there are also private education institutions in the USA as well. Either way (expecially with the private institutions) a class system ends up created because the youth from less privilaged areas who are able to rise do not return to their home towns to help benefit them. This would be changed if democray was practiced in all schools. As stated in the Democracy Begins at Home paragraph of A Manifesto for Educational Democracy, ” If democracy entails some substantial measure of sharing in the making of history or decision-making through everyday life rather than when an election rolls around, then schools need to be democratized so that all a school’s participants – including students, teachers, administrators and custodians, cafeteria workers, etc. – participate together, routinely in school decision-making large and small. ” This would bridge any social gaps and allow so that anyone who is having difficulty, wether a student, a teacher , or even the lunch lady could address concerns in a way where everyone could become involved. This would not only promote democray and increase dramatically the understanding of democracy and the USA, but create opportunity for eveyrone to be successful and content.

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