Learning democracy in school and society : education, lifelong learning, and the politics of citizenship

The purpose of this book is to showcase K-12 unique and educational significant activities that we may all learn from. The essays in the book, under girded by sound research, highlight remarkable activities that are already taking place around the world. The essays offer a detailed description of a classroom or a school; provide an interpretation of what is taking place in this setting and why; and inform readers about what can be learned from the setting. Some readers will appreciate the vivid descriptions, which will encourage them to push their own thinking. Others may learn from the author's discussion of essential ideas from the essay, which can be reflected upon and tranferred into other situations. All readers are likely to appreciate hearing about the varied and creative activities. The stories of these noteworthy teachers fall into four categories: risk-taking, creativity, care and community, and interconnectedness. Within these themes are ideas that teachers can use to create their own remarkable classrooms. Each theme is discussed and then several examples of how the theme plays out in the educational setting are described. The stories of these noteworthy teachers fall into four categories: risk-taking, creativity, care and community, and interconnectedness. Within these themes are ideas that teachers can use to create their own remarkable classrooms. Each theme is discussed and then several examples of how the theme plays out in the educational setting are described "This book explores the relationships between education, lifelong learning and democratic citizenship. It emphasises the importance of the democratic quality of the processes and practices that make up the everyday lives of children, young people and adults for their ongoing formation as democratic citizens. The book combines theoretical and historical work with critical analysis of policies and wider developments in the field of citizenship education and civic learning. The book urges educators, educationalists, policy makers and politicians to move beyond an exclusive focus on the teaching of citizenship towards an outlook that acknowledges the ongoing processes and practices of civic learning in school and society. This is not only important in order to understand the complexities of such learning. It can also help to formulate more realistic expectations about what schools and other educational institutions can contribute to the promotion of democratic citizenship. The book is particularly suited for students, researchers and policy makers who have an interest in citizenship education, civic learning and the relationships between education, lifelong learning and democratic citizenship."--Publisher's website Front Matter....Pages i-xxii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Challenging Sacred Beliefs....Pages 3-24 Risk-Taking and the Dance of the Blessed Spirits....Pages 25-30 Front Matter....Pages 31-31 Classroom Choreography....Pages 33-40 Lessons from a Barn in Hampshire....Pages 41-53 The Journey from School to One-Room Schoolhouse....Pages 55-61 Front Matter....Pages 62-62 Science and Math for Loggerheads....Pages 66-72 We are All People....Pages 73-81 We Are Family....Pages 83-93 Front Matter....Pages 94-94 Ecologically Minded Teaching....Pages 97-114 Ecohelping Educators....Pages 115-120 Snapshots of History....Pages 121-134 Back Matter....Pages 135-140