The author envisions a democratic school as one committed to human dignity, a common good, social justice, and equity. It is also committed to creative individuality in which people have the right to think for themselves, to be fully informed about the important issues of the day, to hold beliefs of their own choosing, to have a say in what and…

Many policymakers, curriculum specialists, teachers and administrators, bloggers and other commentators have raised serious questions about the Common Core State Standards. One set of questions asks whether states and districts have the money for professional development, curriculum materials, planning time, and other logistics that would be…

Democratic schools are schools that result from explicit attempts by educators to put in place arrangements and opportunities that will bring democracy to life. These arrangements and opportunities involve two lines of work. One is to create democratic structures and processes by which life in school is carried out. The other is to create a…

Describes the development, attributes, and value of a democratic core curriculum, such as integrating self-interest and the common good, and valuing diversity. Argues that a democratic core curriculum should be available to students at all levels of public education. (Contains 12 references.) (PKP)

Educators should stop seeing self-esteem only in individualistic terms and move toward an integrated view of self and social relations. To enhance self-esteem, schools must value authentic participation, collaborative action, a problem-centered curriculum, and interdependent diversity and banish tracking, autocratic procedures, unicultural…

Deplores the demise of progressive education and the current movement to turn schools and other public institutions over to private greed and political self-interest. Instead of blaming teachers, critics should rectify teaching/learning conditions and level the school resources playing field. It is time to construct a new curriculum forged from…