Democratic school

A democratic school is a school that centers on democratic principles and participatory democracy with "full and equal" participation from both students and staff. These learning environments position youth voice as the central actor in the educative process by engaging students in every facet of school operations, including learning, teaching, and leadership. Adult staff support students by offering passive and active facilitation according to students' interest.

Trends

The early 1970s saw the creation of publicly-funded, publicly-operated democratic schools. The creation of NOVA Project Alternative High School in Seattle in 1973 is the best example. With the growing rigors of modern education reform, the 1990s saw a return to democratic schooling practices and their increased useage in public schools. Today, organizations including The Big Picture Company, the Coalition of Essential Schools, and SoundOut each incorporate the principles of democratic schools into public education reform efforts.

Related Topics:
Education reform - Coalition of Essential Schools

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The development of Free schools, popularized in the 1970s by Jonathan Kozol, usually apply the principles of democratic governance with Humanistic education.

Related Topics:
Free schools - Jonathan Kozol - Humanistic education

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