“Democracy Is Beautiful”: Moving Preservice Teachers From Knowing About to Acting Upon Schooling for Democracy

• In Event: Roundtable Session 84
  In Roundtable Session: Democratic Citizenship in Education Paper Discussion 2

Abstract

This paper examines the historic development, current state, and proposed future of schooling for democracy. It begins with an overview of the historical development of the relationship between schooling and democracy in the United States, from the nation’s founding through the current day. It examines the data collected from a pilot study conducted among preservice teachers at a flagship state university. It concludes by arguing preservice teachers are ready to assume the mantle of such instruction and presents a set of specific steps that every teacher and teacher educator can do—to produce democratic citizens. Knowing things about democracy is not enough; what can be done to encourage preservice teachers to put that knowledge into action?

Author

• Edward Adam Janak, University of Wyoming