Democracy Education in Schools: Theory, Framework and Classroom Activities

Abstract

This study deals with democracy education in three dimensions. The first of these
dimensions is the theory dimension. In this dimension, the pedagogical and
theoretical characteristics of the educational activities to be carried out for
children, especially in the primary education period, have been tried to be
explained. The second part of the study is the presentation of a framework plan to
enable the acquisition of democracy consciousness and democratic attitude
behaviors by students. The last part of the study consists of activity examples. As a
result, this study is designed as an introductory book to be used by teachers and
researchers regarding the purpose, content, learning-teaching situations, and
evaluation steps related to democracy education, which should be included in the
curricula in all countries of the world. It is thought that expanding the proposed
activities and implementing them in schools will provide theoretically based
democracy education. Switzerland is known for its strong democracy that has been
exercised continuously for hundreds of years. Democracy education practices in
Switzerland, which stands out as a country with direct democracy practices, are
also explained within the conceptual framework.