Revolutionizing America's Schools

Three important points this book makes:Reclaim a Democratic Vision: Our forefathers founded this country on democratic principles which seemed to have gotten lost in the mist. Yet, in order to regain the vision, education must look back to these principles and revolutionize its pedagogy in the same manner as Jefferson, Hamilton, Franklin, et al. did for their countrymen. Education as democracy results from "decisions guided by justice and equality for all in striving for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." (p. 180). Democratic Schools Do Better: Practicing democracy in teaching leads to a better foundation for students. This is evidenced in many studies (Aiken's 'eight-year study', Newmann's research on "active learning" developed in schools making democratic efforts, Sharan's work which reveals that democratic-process teaching creates twice the learning as passive lecture, etc.). Democracy is the overriding, unifying principle; all else is secondary: It is the foundation for change. It is both the means and the end. "It is a means insofar as equality, liberty,and fraternity are used to make decisions; it is an end when changes achieve greater equality, liberty, and fraternity in the learning experiences of all the students in a classroom, school, or community" (p. 167-168). Democracy becomes the overriding purpose behind education and the practice of democracy will be the thrust behind change in our schools and communities.Revolutionizing America's Schools urges us to revolt yet one more time. Today's heresy is actually yesterdays' revolution. The wheel has come full circle.Sandie Miller, Pepperdine Educational Technology Doctoral Student