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Teaching Democratic Culture by
Democratizing Education
Matthew Hiebert
Bethesda, Maryland
April 4, 2014
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Opening Reflection
Thinking about your own schooling
experiences, what aspects of that
experience were democratic in nature,
and what aspects are decidedly more
authoritarian?
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Overview
1. Why does a democratic classroom matter?
2. What do we mean by “creating a
democratic context”?
3. Democratizing the educational experience
– Social factors
– Institutional factors
– Physical factors
4. Considerations for different levels of the
education system
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Culture in the ClassroomWhy does a democratic classroom matter?
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A Thought Experiment in
Education
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Enculturation in the Classroom
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Enculturation in the Classroom
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Enculturation in the Classroom
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Enculturation in the Classroom
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Enculturation in the Classroom
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Enculturation in the Classroom
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Back to Our Thought Experiment
Authoritarian Open
ParticipatoryQuiet
Passive
Complacent
Active
Engaged
Dialogue
Debate
Sitting
Listening
Not asking ?s
Fear
Discipline
Authority
Punishments
Rules
Obedient
Asking ?s
Answering ?s
Solving problems
Collaboration
Initiative
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Immersion as CurriculumWhat do we mean by “creating a
democratic context”?
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Conceptual ApproachConventional Approach
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Conceptual Approach
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Conceptual Approach
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Conceptual ApproachImmersion as Curriculum
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Immersion as Curriculum
Context• tacit
• indirect
Content• explicit• direct
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Immersion as Curriculum
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Immersion as Curriculum
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Immersion as Curriculum
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Immersion as Curriculum
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Immersion as Curriculum
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Immersion as Curriculum
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Immersion as Curriculum
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Immersion as Curriculum
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Immersion as Curriculum
Social Factors• Relationships
• Interactions
• Language
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Immersion as Curriculum
Institutional Factors• Policies
• Procedures
• Frameworks
• Standards
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Immersion as CurriculumPhysical/ Material Factors• Objects and visuals
• Use of space
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Immersion as Curriculum
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Social FactorsHow can we democratize the social
experiences of students?
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Context as Curriculum:Social Aspects of the Educational Experience
Social Factors• Relationships
• Interactions
• Language
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Social Factors in the School
Experience
What is meant by “social factors”?
• Factors to the social experiences of
students
• Relationships between social
agents
• Other social phenomena such as
language, role modeling etc.
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Democratizing the Social
Experience
How can democratic values and principles be
reinforced in the social experience?
• Encouraging equality/ dialogue in relations
• Encouraging linkages to home/ community
• Making participation/ engagement “normal”
• Cultivating understanding and respect
• Recognizing different assumptions/
perspectives
• Steady exposure to “democratic ideals”
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Democratizing the Social
Experience
What kinds of activities/ processes support a
democratic social experience?
• Student-centered approaches (inquiry etc.)
• Dialogue, discussion, and debate
• Participatory/ experiential activities
• Authentic problem-solving
• Collaborative work
• Community-based activities
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Reorienting Social Factors to
Support a Culture of Democracy
Where can democratic values and
principles be reflected in the following?
• Pedagogical approaches
• Role modeling
• Peer relations
• Language, terminology, vocabulary
• Relationships with parents, other
teachers, school leaders
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Institutional FactorsHow can we make our educational
institutions, policies, and processes more
democratic?
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Context as Curriculum:Institutional Aspects of the Educational Experience
Institutional Factors• Policies
• Procedures
• Frameworks
• Standards
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Institutional Factors in the School
Experience
What is meant by “institutional factors”?
• The institutional arrangements of
schooling
• Frameworks, policies, procedures,
standards, mandates
• Governance mechanisms
• Established practices and norms
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Democratizing the Institutional
Experience
How can democratic values and principles
be reinforced institutionally?
• Critical analysis of the values and
principles on which institutional structures
are currently based?
• Governance that reflects democratic
values and principles (transparency,
accountability, equality, rights, social
justice)
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Democratizing the Institutional
Experience
What kinds of activities/ processes support
a democratic institutional experience?
• Demonstrating transparency and
accountability and fairness
• Deliberative processes at all levels
• Encouraging participation and
engagement
• Cultivating autonomy and personal
responsibility
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Reorienting Institutional Factors to
Support a Culture of Democracy
Where can democratic values and
principles be reflected in the following?
• Discipline systems
• School procedures
• Classroom routines
• Assessment and reporting practices
• Decision-making processes
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Physical/ Material FactorsWhat role can the physical environment
play in norming democratic values and
principles?
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Context as Curriculum:Physical/ Material Aspects of the Educational Experience
Physical/ Material Factors• Objects and visuals
• Use of space
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Physical/ Material Factors in the
School Experience
What is meant by “physical factors”?
• The physical environment in which
schooling takes place, inside and
outside the classroom
• The visual environment and “wall
space”
• The objects, materials, and learning
resources students interact with
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Democratizing the Physical/
Material Environment
How can democratic values and principles be
reinforced by the physical environment?
• Making the physical environment conducive
to democratic relations (sharing materials,
discussion, collaboration etc.)
• Empowering students regarding their
physical environment
• Making the use of some spaces
“negotiable”
• Giving students a sense of ownership and
responsibility
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Democratizing the Physical/
Material Environment
What kinds of activities/ processes facilitate a
democratic physical environment
• Transparent processes and functional
approaches for seating arrangements
• Giving students ownership/ control over
certain spaces
• Involving students in decisions about how
space is used
• Democracy-related visual messaging
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Reorienting Physical/ Material Factors to
Support a Culture of Democracy
Where can democratic values and
principles be reflected in the following?
• Seating/ desk arrangements
• Visual environment, wall space
• Learning materials and technology
• “Teacher” materials
• Outdoor spaces, surrounding
environment/ community
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Implications for the SystemWhat does this mean for education
professionals at different levels?
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Immersion in a Nested System
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Immersion in a Nested System
Classroom Level
SchoolLevel
SystemLevel
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Suggestions for Classroom Teachers
Key considerations for establishing
democratic classrooms:
• Use democratic, student-centered
teaching and learning strategies
• Give students practice with democratic
activities, in a safe and caring context
• Help students establish democratic values
and principles as “normal”
• Balance structure and freedom in the
management of the classroom
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Suggestions for School Leaders
Key considerations for making schools more
democratically engaged:
• Be open and transparent in school
governance
• Model democratic leadership, involve
students and teachers, as appropriate
• Strive to bridge the school with the home
and community context
• Encourage and support teachers in
embracing democratic values
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Suggestions for System Leaders
Key considerations for democratizing
education systems:
• Collect and analyze student data, to
identify inequities (access, quality etc.)
• Establish policies which mitigate against
social injustices in the system
• Prioritize transparency, accountability, and
participation
• Ensure formal curricula include attention to
democracy and related issues
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Closing Reflection
What are the most democratic aspects of
the schooling experience for students
today? What are the most authoritarian?
Are there any which would be relatively
easy to infuse with democratic values
and principles?