School and democratic hope: The school as a space for civic literacy

Abstract

In this article, the central question is how the relationship between democracy and education can be understood in terms of civic literacy. By taking as a point of departure John Dewey’s basic understanding of democracy in terms of communication and experience, which also forms the basis for the pragmatist knowledge concept of transactional realism, this study explores transactional realism in relation to how this concept of knowledge can promote a democratic stance in the teaching of different school subjects. Thus, the focus is on how a democratic stance is an important part in the selection of teaching content and teaching activities in the classroom in a time when democracy is challenged from different angles. The concept of civic literacy is here understood as developing knowledge about the world, learning to act responsibly in the world and realising oneself in the world. Civic literacy is both about knowledge of facts and events and about a classroom discourse opening for responsible and reflective conversations outwards from the subject, towards the social and physical environment.

A New Approach Towards the Acquisition of Democratic Skills in Children: Building Skills Through Training Therapy Animals

“…Families are encouraged to become real partners in school life and activities. Professionals from business and civil and wider society are actively involved in bringing real-life projects into the classroom (EU Commission, 2015;Gawlicz, 2023;Wahlström, 2022). This was the exact methodology of the BUSTA project.…”

“…Similarly, the European Union, in its most recent reports, pointed out the need for children to acquire personal and social competencies, and for the need to find an alternative educational proposition, to be able to offer schools a method to present these competences to children, calling for 'innovative pedagogical experiences with transversal and subject-based approaches to be envisaged, so that we understand better how to teach LifeComp competences' (JRC, 2020). Democratic societies need state schools to prepare children and young people for democratic citizenship (Wahlström, 2022), and to develop their democratic attitudes and competencies, often described as 'soft' skills. Despite these calls for renewal in schools, traditional educational systems seem reluctant to change.…”

“…The theoretical basis for this consideration draws on a variety of research that has mobilised evidence of the profound advantages of integrating real-life experiences into the pedagogical framework of school education, but crystallises its attention within the framework of democratic education philosophy, and connects it with the EU recommendation on key competence acquisitions. Democracy is commonly associated with both decision-making and a wider ethical idea about how to live together in society (Wahlström, 2022). This process in state schools requires the agreement of teachers, as well as in terms of how teachers consolidate various modalities of being both teacher and citizen (Motherway, 2022).…”

“…This process in state schools requires the agreement of teachers, as well as in terms of how teachers consolidate various modalities of being both teacher and citizen (Motherway, 2022). Therefore, it is important to analyse whether schools assume the general will of the people as a single body for an educational system in which the values of a stable society are reinforced and take precedence over the encouragement of critical thinking (Wahlström, 2022). According to Motherway (2022), the structural life of the school and the desire to be more democratic in their teaching could balance and harmonise, and sometimes compete.…”

Actualization of Civic Literacy in the Learning of Citizenship in High School

“…Therefore, it is necessary to carry out activities for civic education. Civic literacy is closely related to using civics education (Wahlström, 2022). However, citizenship education is often provided as part of formal education (Dewantara et al, 2019).…”