Updated 2020-02-13

Laying the Foundations for Democratic Behavior – A Comparison of Two Different Approaches to Democratic Education

This article investigates the question: In what ways and to what extent can alternative models of education support the development of democratic skills in children?
Viola Huang author
Huang, V. (2014). Laying the Foundations for Democratic Behavior - A Comparison of Two Different Approaches to Democratic Education. Journal of Unschooling and Alternative Learning, 8(15), 29-68. Retrieved from https://jual.nipissingu.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2014/06/v81152.pdf

Description

A democracy is a society in which everyone has equal rights and is able to participate in decision-making processes. Consequently, in a democratic society, democratic behavior is essential. This work investigates the question: In what ways and to what extent can alternative models of education support the development of democratic skills in children? To explore this question, the author analyzes and compares two different approaches to democratic education: The Sudbury approach and the democratic free school approach. The study is based on qualitative research: participant observation and open-ended interviews conducted at different Sudbury and democratic free schools in the US.

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