I have long maintained that freedom is about more than just rights, and that democracy is about more than just elections. If you cannot live freely, for whatever reason, then you are not free, no matter what the constitution may say. And if a nation's institutions are not democratic, then the nation is not democratic, no matter how many elections are held. The educational system does not stand up well to this sort of scrutiny, as the student's typical lesson in social justice consists of restraint, control, and arbitrary exercise of power. It is with this in mind that I read this article in which the author describes efforts to teach democracy in Kosovo. What sort of lesson is being learned? "What," asks the author, "do our learning environments tell us about our practice of democratic living? What are our images of an educator, instructor or teacher - who is also seen as a role model by society?" As an outline for a workshop this document does not contain all the answers I would like, but it is an excellent start to an essential discussion.
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