Public Education and Democracy Making

¶ … Public Education and Democracy

Making informed decisions is one of the fundamental aspects of democracy and the democratic process. In order to make informed decisions one must in the first place be 'informed" or educated. Therefore the educational process is clearly linked to the democratic process and no democracy can function where the citizens or public are not aware of the issues and the way to question them and make decisions. There are a number of aims that public education should take into account in terms of individual growth and the democratic process. The first aspect that will be discussed is the need to enable students to think for themselves and to provide them with the necessary analytic and reasoning "tools" that is essential for full participation in the democratic process. The second aspect relates to the importance of knowledge of historic and cultural aspects of the society. Thirdly, the public school system should educate the student about the way that democracy is structured and that way that it functions in that particular country.

Public education and democracy are two terms that are closely linked in both a theoretical as well as practical sense. As Thomas Jefferson noted, the health of democracy depends on an educated and informed citizenry. (Saving Public Education - Saving Democracy)

One commentator states that, while the internet and new communication technologies provide access to information these are in essence " reactive' resources, and it is the public school that must provide the groundwork of knowledge and information so crucial to a democratic country. "There is... An institution that plays a more formative role in shaping the public mind - our system of public schools." (Saving Public Education - Saving Democracy)

The ideal of democracy is to allow for the full participation of each individual in the process of governance and the election of those who are in position of power and authority. Therefore the first and possibly most important aim of public education is, through the principle of sufficient education, to provide the fundamental educational element which enables the citizens of that democracy to participate fully in the democratic process. In other words, without good public education the citizens of the country would not have the ability for example to read and write, which enables them to take part in the democratic process.

A second aspect is that public education should provide reasoning, analytic and critical skills to enable people to discern truth from falsity and to take part in the democratic process. This means that educationists should teach the student to be discerning and to be critical of the way that they are governed. It is a fundamental principle of good democracy that those in power should be open to criticism and this is only possible if the education system provides the necessary skills and training in investigative thinking and inquiry. This aspect is also important in terms of the growth and development of the individual. Without an inquiring mind the individual is not able to fully explore the world around him or herself and to expand personal horizons.

A third related aspect of public education is that it should provide the necessary content and material that can facilitate the democratic process. Public educationists should prepare their students for dealing with real - world scenarios and activities. This enables the individual to play a proper part in the democratic process. By this is meant that subjects such as history and political culture should be offered in public schools in order to provide the background to the political and democratic process in that country. Knowledge not only empowers the individual to explore and understand his country, but it also is an essential factor in making the democratic process function. For example, knowledge of civic and social history is essential in order to provide the citizens with the ability to make decisions and judgments about who to elect etc.

Another important aspect that education should inculcate in students is the awareness of the way that the media and various organizations can manipulate information. In other words, good education in terms of learning about democracy also means being aware of the implications of decisions and the responsibilities that come with the freedom of choice. Students should also be trained in problem solving activities which promote critical thinking and which enhances their ability to take a useful and intelligent part in the democratic process.