Relationship Between Education And Democracy

There seems to be no perfect answer to the question, “What is the purpose of education?” Every expert and activist probably has a different answer. Martin Luther King said the purpose of education is to, “…enable a man to become more efficient, to achieve with increasing facility the legitimate goals of his life (King, 1947).” Eleanor Roosevelt argued that the purpose of education is good citizenship (Roosevelt, 1930). Others, like Newman (2006), posit that education is a much broader idea. It is the “entire process by which a culture transmits itself across a generation” (Newman, 2006). In trying to form my own idea of the purpose of education, I tried to look at all of these ideas

An American philosopher by the name of Martha Nussbaum argued in regards to how the world’s economic development cannot produce democracy. Being an author of over twenty books in topics relating to educational reform as well as social policy, one of work she had produced, Not for Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities explains her theories in why this is not possible. Nussbaum believes today’s educational system focuses too much on professional training rather than the current political issues. [She states, “nations all over the world will soon be producing generations of useful machines, rather than complete citizens who can think for themselves, criticize tradition, and understand

Education, gives us the key to the future, it allows us to see the world, and comprehend it. Education isn't ordinary, it's an idiosyncratic weapon; even though it's a weapon, it wasn't design to kill. It was designed to allow any human being to change the world and shows them the truth. Put them on a path that gives the user unlimited knowledge but how they obtain it and use it, will all depend on the user. Education allows you to push others so they can see a new future or how to change it and turn it to the best instead of being the worst.

Education has existed throughout history in one form or another. The process of passing down accumulated information from one generation to the next has been present in every human society, past and present. From the young listening to the stories of the elders around the hearths of the ancient world, to pupils being instructed in the alphabet in a one room schoolhouse on the American frontier, to the present day online teaching sessions; the tradition of teaching and learning has been a constant in the ever changing world. Education has been and continues to be used for many purposes, chief among them being the creation of an educated citizenry, the empowerment of that citizenry, and improvement of the

While there are many hypotheses and theories as to why education is important for democratic citizens, there is common and consistent agreement within the literature since the 1970s. There is consistency in the belief that education provides both the skills to become politically engaged and the knowledge to understand and accept democratic principles leading to correlative effects on party identification on both individual and aggregate levels (Golebiowska 1995; Galston 2004). Angus Campbell and Philip E. Converse (1972) describe education as the universal solvent, strongly and positively correlated with a host of valued civic attitudes and behaviors such as political party or ideology formation.

The Abington School District v. Schempp (374 U.S. 203 (1963)), Wisconsin v. Yoder (406 U.S. 205 (1972)), and Amback v. Norwick, 441 v. 68 (1979)) cases discuss how and why education, to some degree, is necessary to prepare citizens to participate in our political system.

The idea of education is that it properly educates students. American schools teach a variety of subjects over 12 years of schooling. The skills taught are supposed to prepare students for adult life. These skills range from basic math and english to more complex knowledge for those going to college. Students are supposed to graduate with some common knowledge. Most of the more advance learning comes from high schools. This is where they learn how to live in the real world. However, many students are not prepared for the real world. The American education system does not complete the purpose of educating students properly.

Although only three people are mentioned here, their influence and opinions are still present because their beliefs reach the public through the media and other forms of communication. Therefore, the purpose of education to influence democratic qualities and lifestyles is a common perspective that is most likely widespread throughout society.

George Washington, the first president of the United States once wrote in a letter to George Chapman that, “the best means of forming a manly, virtuous, and happy people will be found in the right education of youth. Without this foundation, every other means, in my opinion, must fail.” Although the people who received an education and the type of education they received in the eighteenth century vastly differed from the education that exists today, it is clear that from the foundation of this nation education has been seen as a fundamental necessity. When running for office, many political candidates address the value and significance of a strong education system. Yet, at the end of the day significant change in the system rarely occurs

One of the main responsibilities that education must achieve in a democratic society argues that it is the proper preparation of students for the roles of successful citizens and responsibilities they must be ready to take on when they are ready to take on the world. We do not add together individuals and call it a society. We as teachers, teach children so they can be a part of today’s society. People’s lives are woven together and we share a common life and goals.

Reflecting upon Kelemen’s (2015) article, I was struck by her comment that all people require education to develop from childhood to adulthood and schooling is the cornerstone to becoming social beings. It is the school’s responsibility to train children to become social beings who can think critically and act rationally and responsibility in our American Democracy. As I think about the students who enter my classroom each day, I realize that they are about two years away from turning eighteen and will be able to vote. Therefore, I have the tremendous responsibility of providing them with an education that includes both achievement and integrity (Shirley, 2017). Kelemen (2015) states that education should align with the practical aspects

Education is not to teach children how to learn; no, it is to make factory workers. Students are expected to memorize facts the teacher narrates and recite them back later for an exam, quiz, or

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela. Without education, there is simply no telling of what this world would be like. There wouldn’t be doctors, lawyers, businesses etc. Life and everything around us would be fatuous. Schools and education give us a plan in life and help guide us. Throughout the years education has changed tremendously. It had its improvements throughout the decades, and it also has had its falters as well. Education in America is an issue in this country and it definitely needs to be tweaked and improved. Education is what makes us people who we are and what we will be. Nelson Mandela had it right, there is no weapon more powerful than education.

Education is one of the most important things for a society to prosper and be safe which forms the character and intelligence of the individuals around the world. Education makes one able to understand what is happening in the world logically and clearly. Education enables individuals to put their potential to use and make a difference in the future. It is essential for individuals to be educated in a way that they will expand their knowledge vastly. An ideal educational model is very difficult to achieve, and is often argued over by people in society.

Democratic education also allows one to gain skills that can be use in everyday situation. Nussbaum notes, “This tradition argues that education is not just about the passive assimilation of facts and cultural traditions, but about challenging the mind to become active, competent, and thoughtfully critical in a complex world. This model of education supplanted an older one in which children sat still at desks all day and simply absorbed, and then regurgitated, the material that was brought their way.” (Nussbaum 18) Nussbaum criticizes the minimal use of just retaining useless information. Knowledge not utilize is equivalent to no knowledge at all. However, with democratic education one can utilize their knowledge to get out of a situation, for example, an American tourist visiting the Middle East and having the knowledge and culture awareness to greet a native Middle Eastern with the appropriate handshake.