schools and democracy

What role should schools and schooling play in the United States? In democracy? Although things have changed since schools were first developed, educating students to be good citizens is one of the standing beliefs still held. While there is debate on what subjects and information to be instructed there is an understanding that in public schools we need to teach our students to work together, critically thinking and solving problems.

“As it turns out schools are the ideal sites for democratic citizenship education(Parker3)”. Public schools unlike home life for individual students can bring a mixed interaction of various races religions and social classes. If students are able to interact with one another in a classroom setting it can be a new and enlightening experience for each individual. Once there is interaction their can be discussion and debate on topics that are concerns for all the students regardless of their differences. As it applies to the country as a whole, we all have problems and concerns that are surpass individual differences.

Being able to deliberate on common concerns, as Parker says produces a community to weigh out the pros and cons and come together in decision. School can also provide answers and knowledge for students’ inquiry and debate to be substantial and meaningful. Without the proper facts answers and assumptions may be uneducated and incorrect. There is always more than one way to look at a situation, and by having information to support these ideas different values and cultural perspectives can become new knowledge to different students. .

As in his title “Teaching against Idiocy,” Parker shows the importance of our society working democratically together in order to keep our freedoms intact. With idiocy there is self interest and concern rather than concern for the whole. Following this type of idiotic lifestyle is not only detrimental to the group, but to the individual as well. Because schools produce the perfect setting for democratic interaction, they play a vital role in democracy. If we start with the ideals of communicating and coming to conclusions with children of worldly differences, hopefully these democratic values can be progress later in life.