democratic education
Learner-led school model
Democratic education is an approach to schooling where students participate meaningfully in decisions about their learning—what to study, how to spend time, and sometimes school governance itself.
The philosophy treats children as capable of directing their own education rather than receiving instruction passively: At democratic schools, students vote on rules alongside teachers.
Summerhill in England and Sudbury Valley in Massachusetts are well-known models.
Controlled by the learner
- unschoolingSelf-directed home education
- opt-inActively choose participation
- self-regulationManaging one's own behavior
- electiveChosen, not mandated
Independent management of affairs
- votingFormally registering a choice
- consensusGeneral group agreement
- assemblyConstructing from components
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
conflict-resolution · agenda-setting · proposal · representation · facilitation · dialogue · forum · stakeholder
Jointly operated enterprise
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
- trustConfidence in another
- belongingState of fitting in
Lacking ordered authority levels
- anti-authoritarianOpposing absolute governmental control
- power-sharingJointly held governmental authority
- inclusiveCovering all members
- accessibleAble to be reached
non-discrimination · anti-elitism · egalitarian · parity · integration · belonging
Ontario city, mining center
- MontessoriChild-led educational philosophy
- child-centeredFocused on children's needs
- holisticAddressing interconnected wholes
- constructivismActive knowledge-building theory
self-paced
Controlled by the learner
- unschoolingSelf-directed home education
- opt-inActively choose participation
- self-regulationManaging one's own behavior
self-governance
Independent management of affairs
- votingFormally registering a choice
- consensusGeneral group agreement
- assemblyConstructing from components
deliberation · conflict-resolution · agenda-setting · proposal · representation · facilitation · dialogue · forum · stakeholder · engagement
cooperative
Jointly operated enterprise
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
- trustConfidence in another
non-hierarchical
Lacking ordered authority levels
- anti-authoritarianOpposing absolute governmental control
- power-sharingJointly held governmental authority
- inclusiveCovering all members
accessible · non-discrimination · anti-elitism · egalitarian · parity · integration · belonging
Sudbury
Ontario city, mining center
- MontessoriChild-led educational philosophy
- child-centeredFocused on children's needs
- holisticAddressing interconnected wholes
democratic educationindoctrination
Systematic uncritical belief instillation
traditional schooling · rote learning · traditional education · passive learning
democratic educationindoctrination
Systematic uncritical belief instillation
democratic, education, democracy, democrat, democrats, democracies, democratize, democratized, democratizing