Democratic Education

Education has always been regarded as one of the pillars of society and the mirror of societal evolution. That is why, the education of the country’s populace plays an indispensable role in nation building.

The Philippines is a democratic country where a people of democratic orientation thrive. Democracy is practiced in every aspect of our life as a people. Democracy evolves from a form of government to an educational philosophy whose aim is the welfare of the individual and the society.

It is a formidable force in laying- out and shaping the system of education in the country.
A democratic education is child and society- centered and regards the teacher as the facilitator of learning. He caters to the needs of each individual learner. He should be liberal, freeing himself from the clutches of traditional and conservative classroom set up.

The learners, on the other hand, are regarded as adventurous and inquisitive. They become free seekers of knowledge. Group dynamics is one of the features of democracy and the exploration of the environment and exposure to social issues are considered very effective sources of knowledge.

How is democracy encouraged in the class room? Aside from employing group dynamics, the teacher can also get the pupils involved in the decision making in the classroom. They should be given activities that give them the chance to have a hands- on experience. They should be made aware of what is happening around them. They can be posed with problems for them to address.

It cannot be denied that adopting democracy in schools is very imperative to prepare the learners in a democratic set up and to fit themselves in a democratic environment.