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.