Relationship between Democracy and Education

 What is Democracy?

Demos, which means people in Greek, is the origin of the word democracy. People have sovereign authority over legislators and the executive branch of government in democracies. The numerous democracies around the world have their own unique characteristics, but some concepts and behaviors set democracy apart from other types of government.

Democracy is a form of governance in which all citizens, either personally or through their freely chosen representatives, exercise political authority and civic responsibility.

John Adam said

"Remember that democracies are short-lived. It quickly exhausts, wastes, and kills itself. There has never been a democracy that didn't end itself.

A collection of values and procedures known as democracy is the institutionalization of freedom and serves to safeguard it.

Democracy is based on the rights of the individual and the minority, as well as the majority rule premise. While upholding the majority's will, all democracies fervently defend the basic rights of people and marginalized groups.

Democracies avoid centralized powers by delegating authority to local and regional levels of government because they recognize the need for local government to be as approachable and responsive to the public as possible.

Democracies are aware that one of their primary duties is to uphold fundamental human rights including the freedom of speech and religion, the right to equal protection under the law, and the ability to organize and freely participate in social and political, social, and cultural development.

Regular, fair elections held in democracies are accessible to all voters. Elections in a democracy must be genuine contests for the favor of the populace, not shams used as a cover by autocrats or a single party.

What is Education

Education is the continuously passing down of socially meaningful experiences from preceding to subsequent generations through a socially controlled and regulated procedure. The main way to get an education is to enroll in a training program through a network of educational institutions. However, it suddenly became apparent approximately twenty years ago that such a view of education has serious flaws.

Robert Frost said:

The ability to listen to practically anything without getting angry or losing your confidence is education.

On ResearchGate, a panel of experts responded to the question in a similar manner. The majority of them concurred that "Education is the transfer of civilization." However, when this author questioned if they agreed that the spread of civilization through battle might be viewed as a type of education, nobody really responded, and the discussion came to an end. These observations demonstrate how inadequate the seemingly simple responses to the question are.

Relationship between Democracy and Education

It is widely acknowledged that education and democracy are closely related. Education is prioritized in a democracy since it is necessary for the latter's survival and prosperity. In a similar vein, education cultivates a democratic disposition in people.

To improve the effectiveness, significance, relevance, and utility of education, democratic ideals such as liberty, equality, fraternity justice, the dignity of the individual, cooperation, and sharing of responsibility are implemented.

Democracy must be taught from the very beginning of education and its principles must be upheld in educational institutions if they are to become a fact and a way of life. It is crucial to define democracy before delving deeply into the mutually exclusive relationship between the two—democracy and education.

In a democracy, the majority rule is the dominant type of government. Government in this sense means the government of, by, and for the people. The word "democracy" has a political connotation. In terms of economics, it is a system where no one is exploited, where everyone is guaranteed a decent standard of living, where there are equal opportunities for employment based on skills and capacities, and where the economic organization is based on a collective or cooperative basis, and where economic projects are geared for the community's benefit at large rather than for any private bodies.

Socially, it implies the absence of any obstacles based on class, caste, creed, birthplace, religion, language, or material wealth. Everybody is entitled to fundamental human rights, and equal chances are provided for each person's personality to develop to its full potential.

Therefore, the key to understanding democracy is social justice. It prioritizes the dignity of the individual. Or, to put it another way, there is a strong belief in the value of the average person. There isn't any dominance of one individual or group over another.

Democratic Education's Objectives:

Education in a democracy is intended for the vast majority, not a tiny few. It should have a wide scope and include all of the components from philosophy, psychology, sociology, biology, etc.

The basic goal of education in a democracy is to create people who are able to not only understand the vast array of social, political, economic, and cultural concerns objectively but also to make their own independent judgments on these challenging issues.

The spirit of tolerance and the boldness of one's convictions must be instilled in them. It must seek to ignite in them a passion for social justice and charitable work. It must provide them the capacity for sound judgment, logical thought, and the ability to assess right and wrong.

The goal of education is to develop socially conscious individuals who can effectively manage their own affairs and coexist with others. Because a fully developed person may make a contribution to the achievement of democracy, it helps people fully realize their hidden potential.

Curriculum:

A democratic curriculum should be adaptable to accommodate students' varied tastes and dispositions, skills and abilities needs, and interests, and as democratic education unquestionably promotes optimum individual development.

It aims to arouse children's creativity and critical thinking. It should be broad-based and encompass all of the experiences that a student has while participating in a variety of activities both inside and outside of the classroom.

Additionally, it is crucial that democratic curricula take into account regional situations and environmental requirements. It places a strong emphasis on the social element. In other words, the curriculum needs to be balanced with a social outlook and attitude. Vocational skills should be included in democratic curricula, according to a recommendation. The integration principle should be the foundation around which every curriculum is built.

It must not be divided up into pieces. Later on, it needs to be differentiated to fit the students' varied interests, attitudes, aptitudes, and abilities. Additionally, it needs to be dynamic and adaptable to the shifting circumstances and times.