Democratic Education
Democratic education is a dynamic process; it is a spirit, a way of life, an attitude, a value, and an essential missing piece in a democratic society.
Aspects of Democratic Education
We believe that in any educational setting, learners have the right to：
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Decide how to learn, when, what, where and from whom to learn
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Have equal decision-making power in their organizations - particularly their schools - in the circumstances where any rules and restrictions are implemented
In 2005, IDEC participants at the International Democratic Education Forum in Berlin, Germany agreed with the above statement
Definition and Discussion
Wikipedia's definition of 'Democratic Education' mentions that "While types of democratic education are as numerous as types of democracy, a general definition of democratic education is 'an education that democratizes learning itself.' The goals of democratic education vary according to the participants, the location, and access to resources."
Democratic education is an education ideal, and democracy is both a goal and a teaching method. It brings democratic values to education and which can also include values such as equal dialogue, self-determination, justice, respect, and trust within a community or society.
The history of democratic education can be traced back to the 1600s, when 17th-century philosopher John Locke wrote about his belief that the process of learning should never "be made a burden." The development of democratic education was the work of many individuals together, and there was no singular central figure, institution or country that alone advocated for it.
New Zealand International Democratic Education Conference:
「A variety of players in democratic education unite to support the spirit of the Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and to put it into action as a fundamental framework for daily life in all learning environments.」
John Hiner
「Advocates of democratic education believe that effective education must include every student's right to personal self-determination and the opportunity for meaningful participation in the democratic process in every day life.」
David Gribble
「Democratic education is education in which teacehers and learners work together as equals.」
Laura Stine
「A democratic school is a school in which students are free citizens who are responsible for their own educational life and who participate in, or are allowed to parcticipate in, decisions that directly or indirectly affect everyone in the school.」
Yaacov Hecht
「Democratic education is based on respect, acceptance, and love.」
Jessica Cawston
「"Democratic education" is rooted in a free and meaningful dialogue without rules, without agreements– just with honesty and a little candor.」
Kageki Asakura
「For the individual, democratic education is about finding one's own identity and living their own life, As for society, no matter what ethnic group they are a part of, it's about living happily and respecting each other.」
Tae Wook Ha
「Democratic education is about allowing people to become truly whole, to become thoroughly themselves. Everyone has their own direction in their heart, unwavering to the influence of the thoughts of others. But democracy is not just about oneself, but about every individual together as a group– We are a community.」
Excerpt from: 《灼見名家＿民主教育的內涵＿海星》
「民主教育有準確的定義嗎？似乎有，又似乎沒有，按不同的國家，不同的文化，會有不同的理解，似乎沒有定論。不過，民主教育的聚會，讓人感受到那種世界大同的氣氛，大家都懷着同一份心意，做好下一代的教育工作，為孩子而盡心盡力。閉幕禮，來自世界各地的人，輪流用英語唱出世界通行的一首短歌，及用自己國家的語言，唱出「我愛你」，可以想像，「愛」在民主教育裏，應佔有一個很重要的元素呢！」