ED381902 EA026694
Title: Democratic Schools.
Author(s): Apple, Michael W., Ed.; Beane, James A., Ed.
Author Affiliation: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development,
Alexandria, VA.(BBB30657)
Pages: 115
Publication Date: 1995
ISBN: 0-87120-241-7
Available from: EDRS Price MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from
EDRS.
Availability: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development,
1250 North Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 (Stock No. 1-95052; $14.95).
Language: English
Document Type: Book (010); Reports--Descriptive (141)
Geographic Source: U.S.; Virginia
Journal Announcement: RIESEP1995
This book
illustrates how educators in four U.S. communities committed themselves
to preparing students for the democratic way of life. In four narratives,
educators directly involved in four different school-reform efforts
describe how they initiated demographic practices in their educational
settings. The four schools serve as reminders that public schools
play an important role in laying a firm foundation for the future
of American democratic society. Acting as models of democratic principles
in action, the schools help students understand the nature of citizenship
and teach them the knowledge and skills necessary to maintaining
a democracy. The book is based on Dewey's belief that schools should
offer students the very qualities that characterize education in
a democratic society--shared interests, freedom in interaction,
participation, and social relationships. Chapter 1 offers a rationale
for democratic schools and describes their characteristics. Chapters
2 through 5 present the stories of the following schools: Central
Park East Secondary School (in New York City); the Rindge School
of Technical Arts (in the Boston area); La Escuela Fratney (in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin); and Marquette Middle Schools (in Madison, Wisconsin).
The educators are not unrealistic optimists; they recognize the
challenges of financial cuts, pressure from powerful interest groups,
bureaucracy, and politically based attacks on programs. (LMI)
Descriptors: *Active Learning; Cooperative Learning; *Democracy;
*Democratic Values; *Educational Innovation; Elementary Secondary
Education; Intellectual Freedom; Nontraditional Education; Parent
Participation; Participative Decision Making; *Public Education;
Self Evaluation (Individuals); *Student Participation; Vocational
Education
