Is the democracy applicable in education?

08 August 2017 95 2K Report

Dear RG colleagues

Democracy is a nice thing for humans. Is it applicable in education? What are the advantages and disadvantages of democracy in the education?

Thank you in advance for your valuable answers.

Regards, Raid

Salam Jassim Hmood Popular answer

If you intend to apply democracy to the academic or administrative side of universities

This depends on the decision maker's experience in applying them in a way that results in positive performance.

As for its application at the level of students, it depends on the level of civilizational awareness, the culture of the family from which the students came, as well as the culture and civilization of the people.

otherwise, Democracy is a deadly weapon

Salam Jassim Hmood

If you intend to apply democracy to the academic or administrative side of universities

This depends on the decision maker's experience in applying them in a way that results in positive performance.

otherwise, Democracy is a deadly weapon

Saeed Naif Turki Al Rashid

Dear colleague

It is depending on how we are understanding Democracy, specially in our Arab countries. I think , we need to learn Democracy well before we are trying to applied it.

Best wishes

Saeed

Mirza Arshad Ali Beg

When you say Democracy is a nice thing for humans, you perhaps mean genuine democracy!!! Pray which part of the world practices Genuine democracy. In another post I have already stated the genuine democracy succumbed to Kleptocracy and Kleptocrats are now governing all domains including education.

The present position is that democracy has been politicized; likewise all institutions have been politicized, educational institutions are no exception.

Drishya Girishbai

Democracy in education is a wonderful idea and also a challenging one.It is something like student as well as teacher have a voice.

It will be beneficial for both student and teacher. Furthermore, it is something like out of the box thinking...

It will give a open mind and diverse ideas...

very much needed in the present world

Raid M. Al-Ani

Dear Dr. Saeed Al Rashid,

Thank you for your valuable answer. I utterly agree with your opinion.

Kind regards

Raid

Faramarz E. Seraji

Dear Raid,

I could not get the meaning! Could you please give some examples of the applicability of democracy in education? Regards!

Raid M. Al-Ani

Thank you dear Dr. Faramarz E. Seraji for your answer. I utterly agree with Dr. Mirza Arshad Ali Beg opinion particularly "Pray which part of the world practices Genuine democracy.". I think the democracy although it’s a nice thing for humans, it remains just a theme which is raised from the political leaders without actual application of it. Even when the democracy is practiced well in various aspects of life, it remains inapplicable in the education, for example students cannot determine or participate in the creation of the syllabus of the study or the types of the assessment (exam) in their college.

Kind regards, Raid

Isam Issa Omran

Democracy needs the environment and conditions for the purpose of application. In the developed countries, I think they have reached this stage, which helped in the development of education in them, while we note the opposite in most developing countries.

Najib Abou Karaki

One of the most important outcomes of successful education is promoting the democratic style in all living aspects. Whatever the negative points of that it is a must to put democracy into practice for setting the good example and achieving the desired successful education.

Dhia Ahmed Taain

Advantages

1. Responsible and accountable Government: The democratic form of government is run by the elected representatives of the people of the country. It is the people of the democratic country who rule the country through their representatives. Thus, the elected representatives act responsible for the well-being of citizens of the country. Democracy ensures popular control and popular responsibility and the elected representatives remains accountable to them.

2. Equality and fraternity: Democracy preaches the equality and fraternity of men. The idea of the equality of man was strengthened by the idea of nationalism. Every nation felt that it had the right to be free, to throw off foreign domination. If that is so, if a nation has the right of self-determination, it follows logically that every man has the right to determine how he will be governed. The modern world is dominated by two principles, viz. democracy and nationalism.

3. Sense of responsibility among common people: The achievements of democracy are many. It has infused into the common people a sense for responsibility and power. It has enriched the life of the people who take a warm interest in the affairs of their country and of the world. With greater and greater democracy has come greater and greater freedom. Everyone is free to express his opinions, and although occasionally there may be restrictions on individuals, personal liberty is the goal of democracy, and there is more freedom is democracy than in any other form of government.

4. Self-government: Democracy has gradually become universal because it is inevitable. Man is born with an innate tendency to be free, and he cannot help feeling that he should govern himself. He may be more effectively governed by others, but he will say that good government is no substitute for self-government, and in actual practice, democracy has improved the lot of the common man beyond the dreams of his forefathers who lived under kingship or feudalism. The common man is now not only freer, but he is more educated and wealthier and happier than he used to be in the part.

5. Development and prosperity for all: Democracy ensures development and prosperity for all. Democracy brings the greatest good for the largest number of people. Democracy can realize the concept of the welfare state where every man or women can claim the right to food, to education and to employment. Day by day, through a just distribution of taxes, through various welfare measures, the distinction between the rich and poor is being abolished and the equality of man is being realized.

6. Popular Sovereignty: The supreme power vests in the hands of the common-people of the country. If the elected representatives act irresponsibly, then they can be dropped in the next election. Hence, democracy ensures sovereignty of the people.

7. Sense of cooperation and fraternal feeling: Every citizen, men or women, rich or poor, is considered equal in the eyes of law. The feeling of unity, oneness, and cooperation is the basis of democracy. The dignity and honour of every individual is protected without any discrimination. The social gap is thus reduced.

Disadvantages

Democracy is the best form of government so far found, but democracy is not without its defects and its critics. In ancient times when states were small, men would gather in a particular place and decide everything by vote. Here democracy was direct.

1. Indirect or representative democracy: As the size of states is becoming larger and larger, we have to content ourselves with indirect or representative democracy. We vote for our representatives, and it is they who carry on the government, and the common man relapses into political indolence. So the vast majority of people who form the electorate are politically active only once or twice in four or five years. Very often, it is found that the elected representative is a power-loving person. They work for their personal and ignore the interest of the nation.

2. Lack of educated and experienced voters: A large number of uneducated voters participate in the election process. As they have very little to do in matters of government except recording their vote, they have no political experience and become victims of powerful people who deceive them with large promises and use them for their own private ends.

3. Equal voting right to both wise, average and innocent person: The common people have no political experience. They don’t have the political wisdom. A wise, average, and an innocent person have equal voting rights. Ignorant people may or may not vote for the right candidate. It is only likely that a company of innocent people will elect one among-st themselves and not the right candidate to represent them. It cannot, therefore, be the best form of government. At times, average people fail to accept new ideas. They tend to attach to stick to old ideas and select candidates on the basis of tradition. The masses hardly care for logic and reason. They easily react to popular slogans.

4. Freedom to all shades of opinion: Another charge against democracy is that as it gives freedom of expression to all shades of opinion. It easily leads to the formation of parties, and party government only means talk and talk and talk, democratic parliaments being more or less dignified debating societies.

5. Delay in decision making process: The power is not centralized which delays the decision making process. A number of formalities are to be observed in decision making and adopting process. At times, it becomes difficult to take quick measures in the best interest of the country. This acts as an hindrance for economic growth and development.

https://www.importantindia.com/15738/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-democracy/

Ashis Ranjan Bandyopadhyay

Democracy in this context is to be considered as a tool to arrive at a decision. Applicability of democracy in academic decision making will depent upon what type of decision is under consideration. In other words, all decisions can not be made by democratic process.

With best wishes,

Hein Retter

Democracy is anything but "nice", it is difficult, complex, always in danger, and a challenge for many rulers and people. It is "only" the attempt to be human, just, with a certain moral claim. Of course, there are many attempts to exclude democracy from education, it seems to be to "dangerous".

Asaad Ali Karam

Democratic education is an educational ideal in which democracy is both a goal and a method of instruction. It brings democratic values to education and can include self-determination within a community of equals, as well as such values as justice, respect and trust. Democratic education is often specifically emancipatory, with the students' voices being equal to the teacher's.

Waghid, Yusef (2014). Pedagogy Out of Bounds: Untamed Variations of Democratic Education. p. 33. ISBN 9462096163.

Democratic education infuses the learning process with these fundamental values of our society. Democratic education sees young people not as passive recipients of knowledge, but rather as active co-creators of their own learning. They are not the products of an education system, but rather valued participants in a vibrant learning community.

There is an integral and reciprocal relationship between democracy and education. Democracy is more than a political system or process, it is also a way of life that requires certain habits and dispositions of citizens, including the need to balance individual rights with commitments and responsibilities toward others. Currently, democracy is under threat, in part because of the shallow and reductive ways it has been taken up in practice. Understanding the historical relationship between democracy and education, particularly how democracy was positioned as part of the development of public schools, as well as current approaches to democratic schooling, can help to revitalize the democratic mission of education. Specifically, schools have an important civic role in cultivating in students the habits and dispositions of citizenship, including how to access information, determine the veracity of claims, think critically, research problems, ask questions, collaborate with others, communicate ideas, and act to improve the world. Curriculum, pedagogy, and organizational structures are unique in democratic schools.

Stephen I. Ternyik

You actually may mean participation or participatory learning. Once we are through the rigid learning of the many painful facts of a subject, participation is highly welcome. However, for example, is anatomy, physiology or pathology democratic? Are diseases democratic? Democracy is about a political system, where we can change our (elected) rulers without killing them; democracy in education means that we should be allowed to choose our teachers. If there is a great supply of teachers (today possible via e-learning-techniques) in a field, then my answer is: yes!.

Aparna Sathya Murthy

Academics is one place where the full freedom of expression and equality in all its might .

If it fails there and it is a farce that is seen in the society !!!!

Mohamed Gadallah

Democracy is typically represented as a system of voting and representation, or as instantiated through a set of rights, such as 'freedom of speech', etc. To my mind, though, these represent an emphasis on process rather than underlying principle.

Violeta Janusheva

Dear Raid, all the researches have given valuable answers and I agree with all of them.

Greetings,

Janusheva

Leonardo Cannizzaro

Democracy is not only applicable in education but is also necessary. Education without democracy is often prey to the "unique thought" that is exactly the opposite of culture and its growth. All the non-democratic or only apparently democratic research Institutes and Universities are almost always a fief of politicans and potentates dedicated to personal enrichment through corruption and anti-scientific behaviors, and not ethical in scorn of existing norms and laws. Even private scientific Institutions, whether they be Universities or research Institutes, must be democratically run. A small example: teachers in the vast majority of cases choose the textbook after a long and thorough discussion (democratic decision); every now and then some professor chooses "monarchically" the textbook to be adopted in his teaching course, perhaps his wife has received some expensive gift from the publishing house.

Ibtisam Sahib Al-Zuwaini

Thank you for the question I do not agree with democracy in education and the best central in that greetings

Réagan Lorraine Lavorata.PhD

Before I answer, I am going to share a funny story on this topic. In 2006, I was living in Moscow and teaching at Moscow Universiy Touro. Democracy was approximately 15 years old in Russia and everyone was expressing their freedoms and freedom to express. When the students were getting a bit unruly, I said to them "It may be a democracy outside the classroom, but in my class, this is a dictatorship and I am the dictator". This made the students laugh, it was my attempt at humour to make a point.

Now does democracy work in education, well that depends on the students, their age and level of maturity, their family culture, traditions, and their upbringing as well as the culture of the university. I believe that with undergraduates especially freshman, democracy needs to be used with caution. The professor does not want to lose control of the classroom and lose her students. Thus, there are times when the professor has to be queen in her classroom and make the final decision. For smaller items like whether to have a break or leave class early can be democratic. Perhaps even some minor assignments can have some democratic choices. However, major tests, projects etc need to be dictated by the professor with perhaps some modifications by students with a touch of democracy. I believe that for graduate students and doctora students that democracy can be utilised more frequenty because of the higher maturity levelç; However, major projects and milestone requirements still must be dictated.

Dr Réagan

Kirk MacGregor

I think it is applicable for group projects. Students should be able to anonymously score the other students in their group such that everyone contributes equally and no one slacks off.

Shibabrata Pattanayak

In educational institutions, democratic election for the honorary posts of Teacher's council, Student's Council etc. are already practised in many countries including India. In some other countries like USA, students vote for gradation of their teachers. It is not new.

But we have to remember that democratic right without responsibility feeling is very bad. Such effects are felt in many educational institutions of India.

Réagan Lorraine Lavorata.PhD

Democracy works well in extra curricula activiites such as political groups, student councils, or other political, religious, or academic groups, fraternities, sororities, etc outside the classroom that enhance campus life.

Dr Réagan

Anand Raghavendra Rao

Academics is a place where the freedom of expression is high, definitely it should be yes .... but not really seen in realistic for academic due to various influencing factors ..... one of the main reason would be students future...

Reza Biria

Hello,

You have certainly broached up a very interesting question. Certain philosophical thoughts governing the foundational aspects of education like existentialism by Sartre give learners an absolute freedom in planning, thinking, and acting to reach self-actualization. The theoretical underpinnings of this philosophy has emphasized the importance of humanism in education. Learner-contentedness and whole person approach are only a few examples. Since democracy has a central position in humanistic trends, it is very good to adjust the educational curricula based on democratic principles; however, political control also plays an intervening role so much so the direction of most curricula today is controlled by the governments which unfortunately have undemocratic inclinations.

Best regards,

R. Biria

Piotr Bętkowski

It is worth taking into account the comments of students, this increases the quality of teaching. But it is the academic teacher who decides on the form to take and the rules of passing the subject. It should be a democracy, but limited.

Asoori Latha

Definitely yes otherwise do you think that we all will have placed our opinions like this on RG?

Unless there is freedom in education to teach and learn...the country cant be truly democratic.

José Luis García Vigil

If Democracy is perfectly applicable in education, even in countries where the system of government is a Civil or Religious Dictatorship.

Adel Oueslati

It depends on several factors like:

-The level awareness,

-The culture of students and the teachers,

-The society characteristics in which the university is established.

It should be noted that democracy also depends on the economy, the social values that govern society, human rights associations, and so on. I think this question is related to the typology of democracies:

Direct Democracy or Indirect or Representative Democracy or Democracy by Lottery or Mixed Systems that Include: Semi-Direct Democracy, Participatory Democracy or Liquid Democracy.

I think we can find a suitable type of democracy applicable in the university and schools.

With my best wishes.

Dr. Adel OUESLATI

Rohit Manilal Parikh

Education is certainly important but it should not be made as a game of political environment .Any education must have the free choice of understanding where student may get an opportunity to carry out the program with the student of the teacher under a free & fair discussion so that the student may take a right course of action for his study material .

With this if we understand & also in an impartial manner democracy is a right type of method whether it is in the political team or education union .

This is my personal opinion

Jetty Ramadevi

Democracy is very broad term.

Not sure by keeping what idea you posed the question!!!

If we consider the meaning EQUALITY/FREEDOM certainly you can apply to education, means all are eligible to have education in spite of gender/physically challenged/age etc.

Jahangir Khan

Yes agreed with Madam J. Ramadevi. With due respect, Overall, the purpose of education should be towards the betterment of individual and community in all respects. My field observations evident that there are certain people having higher education but lack in implementations of obeying the codes of earned education, immoral grounds, the conduct of ethics, the rule of merit etc.

Mirza Arshad Ali Beg

Dhia Taain, Raid M. Al-Ani , José Luis García Vigil, Rohit M. Parikh, Stephen I. Ternyik and Dear All,

Dhia Taain's description of democracy perhaps relates to genuine democracy. This prompts me to repeat the 3 month old answer:

"When you say Democracy is a nice thing for humans, you perhaps mean genuine democracy!!! Pray which part of the world practices Genuine democracy. In another post I have already stated the genuine democracy succumbed to Kleptocracy and Kleptocrats are now governing all domains of governance system, including educational institutions.

The position that has been continuing for the last quarter century is that democracy has been hijacked by kleptocrats and politicized according to their liking. The highest and most prestigious institutions have been pirated by kleptocrats. Herewith is an example:

On the way to setting his record, Mr. Obama the President of the largest democracy of the world, educated in perhaps the best democratic institution in the world has overseen lethal military actions in seven countries: Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen. The number of countries has grown, with escalation of military operations in Africa. His efforts to suppress the Boko Haram insurgency involve a buildup of US forces in Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.

For all such actions the highly educated President Obama was a Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2009. See: even the prestigious award is politicized.

So back to the Quote: "Democracy has succumbed to kleptocracy" "Kleptocracy has pirated all institutions; educational institutions are no exception."

Research SOCIO-PHYSICOCHEMICAL THEORY - PART 6 KLEPTOCRATIC MANIPULAT...

Mirza Arshad Ali Beg

Réagan Lorraine Lavorata.PhD

Dr Mirza

The question was about democracy in education as an application not an anti-Obama forum. Thank you kindly

Best regards

Dr Réagan

#ISTANDWITHELI

Mirza Arshad Ali Beg

Dr. Reagan,

The answer is Democracy versus Kleptocracy in educational Institutions.

Thanks & best regards

Mirza Arshad Ali Beg

Dear Raid Al-Ani,

I have already stated that genuine democracy succumbed to Kleptocracy and Kleptocrats are now governing all domains of governance system, including educational institutions.

Concentration of political power has gone hand in hand with genuine democracy yielding to pseudo-democracy --> pseudocracy --> liberal democracy --> kleptocracy. Accordingly Kleptocracy has, by politicizing/ democratizing the system of education in the name of REFORMS, given rise to social inequality on the one hand and transformed the human resources to its own liking. Under the circumstances the end result is that there is gradual and in some cases rapid change in lifestyle; soon enough the subject has lost its identity.

Lesson Learnt is that one has to be careful in introducing democracy in education system and educational institutions, and should constrain the pseudocracy from taking roots.

Mirza Arshad Ali Beg

Ali Mohammed Yassen Al Hashemi

The truth is that the real problem facing the consolidation of democratic concepts in the educational institution. Educational is the bureaucratic performance of the educational administration from (Center) to the end of this branch on the one hand and on the other.

Lack of competence and experience in leading the educational institution (specialization). This prevents the democratic transition in the educational institution, this is related to educational administration,

As for the teaching mentality (teaching), it lacks the elements of vision and performance in the implementation of the curriculum and the achievement of educational goals because of the absence of the real institution in which the means of preparation. As well as the absence of a dynamic curriculum that qualifies him to perform his educational role, not to mention the closure of spaces of creativity and development in the corridors of the educational institution and the decline of the movement of change in the form not in the content and this makes the practice of democracy in the educational institution almost paralyzed or semi-paralyzed. ... with my full respect..

Dickson Adom

Democracy must take its seat in education. Students must not be coerced like machines. They must be given the freedom to share and express their opinions on issues in the educational institution. Yet, such democratic freedom must not be abused. It should be streamlined with clearly set out principles.

صلاح حسون جبار

يمكن ذلك إذا انعكست الديمقراطية على التعليم بالجوانب الثقافية وقادت الى جني ثمرة البحث العلمي

Hein Retter

In an earlier given answer I said democracy is difficult and manifold. But the question asks for a statement regarding democracy in education. It is a proven principle for public institutions like school (this also is claimed for private schools) that there are habits in use we call "democratic" So it is common that in a faculty meeting of a school not only all teachers and the leadership are present and active, but also chosen representatives of the students and of the parents, so that all participating groups can directly claim their interests, and if needed give contributions for discussion, so that their motions come to the vote. Democratic means in educational institutions and formal procedure to get the opportunity to feel: "We can use our right of participation in a fair manner. "

Syamsul Fozy Osman

I agree with Hein Retter, but interestingly, from another perspective, I do note that the term "Democratization of Education" is also frequently used (especially by politicians) to convey the idea that every individual has equal opportunity to gain the same standard and quality of education. I wonder if this is considered as an application of democracy in education?

Md. Imdadul Haque

Yes, sometime democracy in education is good, just because it respects popular opinion. However, sometimes, it is nor blissful, while our students are not sincere and try to shirk their duties and even try to influence our fair decision with a assembly.