Educating for Democracy

Description

In our world of unceasing turmoil, an educated citizenry is the first and strongest line of defence for democratic renewal. Educating for Democracy shows how students can prepare for the responsibilities of 'the most important office in a democracy' "“ that of a citizen. Education can provide students with the dispositions and skills needed to exercise their role judiciously and responsibly, as a patriot who cares about democracy and as a custodian who cares for democracy. These two aspects of caring call for curriculum-wide reform. The outcome of this reform is a patriot who serves as custodian of democratic culture, where commitment and competence, heart and mind, love and intellect, are brought together for the sake of democratic renewal. While nations, as both instruments and proximal objects of care, have an important role to play in this renewal, the ultimate aim is the care and cultivation of a democratic culture. Contents Acknowledgments page viii Introduction 1 1 Citizen, the Most Important Office in a Democracy 13 2 Educating for the Office of Citizen 20 3 Reflection as an Educational Aim of the New Patriot 35 4 The Humanities: Habits of Commitment / Habits of Reflection 49 5 The Humanities: Interpretation, Judgment, and the Evolution of National Narratives 68 6 STEM and the Democratic Aims of Mathematics Education 80 7 STEM and the Democratic Aims of Science Education 101 8 The Expressive Curriculum 119 9 Democratic Education and Moral Growth 140 Index 159