Educating with Democracy

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Recommended: reforms in the EDUCATION SYSTEMs of THE USA

America’s Education system has long been a source of disagreement in the United States. In fact, the issue is so inherently ideologic that separating the rhetoric from the classroom. I will examine the major literary issues, problems and proposed solutions presented two course readings; “The Case for Democratic School” by James Beane and Micheal Apple, and Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed. In my second section I will be examining an alternative model of United States education presented in, “Central Park East Secondary School: the Hard Part Is Making It Happen” by Deborah Meier and Paul Schwarz. Finally, I will reflect on the author’s main arguments and highlight a few areas that were not addressed.

The United States K-12 education system is a canyon. On one side a plethora of officials, elected or otherwise, make ideological choices about what American education is and how it will be run. On the other side of this canyon are the students, teachers and parents who take place in the day-to-day of Democratic education. More and more Americans are feeling a disconnect between those they elect and the representation that they receive (Beane, 203). At the same time the authors speak of education as both democratic and an obligation (Beane, 203). Part of this problem is the overuse of standardized testing (Beane, 209). The testing issue is just one aspect of the current ethnocentric view of American Education that is underpinned with fears and long-lasting prejudices.

In the same article, Beane and Apple explore different concepts and educational practices that attempt to piece together problems within K-12 public education. The authors repeatedly call for active and empowered individuals (Beane, 204). Those involved in the ed...

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...and a set of one-size-fits-all requirements? Central Park East Secondary School is one possibility. By placing the power in the hands of the teachers, students and staff, room is created in which learning can actually take place. Instead of strangling our students with standardized, regurgitated education why not give students the opportunity to direct their own education? There will come a day when the United States finally realizes that education is not just for the middle of the Bell curve. Difference of opinion and variation of ideas need to exist in order for our population exist and exist with purpose. It is my sincere hope that a serious and critical examination of the education can lead to actual change and redistribution of power. Democratic education should tear the blinders off our children and force them to see their world for what it is, whatever it is.

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