“Democracy is radical.” In J.A. Boydston (Ed.), John Dewey: The Later Works, 1925-1953, Volume 2 (Southern Illinois University Press, 2008; originally published in 1937).
It may come as no surprise that as president of The John Dewey Society, my recommendation is to return to an article he wrote. The title is just as relevant and provocative today as it was when he published it in 1937: “Democracy is Radical.” He begins the short piece by noting that dictators (including Adolf Hitler, who was on the rise at the time) and wealthy capitalists (perhaps like some today) often disingenuously proclaim democratic aims. He implores us to understand that democracy is a truly radical goal, one that has yet to be realized even today.
To hold democracy and its elements (liberty, equity, justice, etc.) as our desired ends is not enough, Dewey points out; leaders and citizens must practice democratic means as we pursue those ends. In other words, to achieve a genuine and healthy democracy, we must practice democracy in nearly all aspects of our lives, including in our classrooms.
Dewey reminds teachers that rather than focusing on developing future adult citizens, we must teach in ways that embody principles of democracy now, so that students become habituated to them. In his view, schools must inculcate the skills needed so that students are not coerced by or dependent upon their leaders, but rather are empowered to work together to solve public problems, build collective intelligence, and speak out in dissent when leaders fall short of the means and aims of democracy. This is a great piece for reminding educators of not only what we are teaching for, but also how we should teach. Not only is democracy radical, so is democratic education.
Sarah M. Stitzlein’s articles in Kappan:
- Even as our nation seeks unity, let there be dissent in schools
- Telling new stories about schools
- Public schools, public goods, and public work
- Be an effective change agent at your child’s school
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah M. Stitzlein
Sarah M. Stitzlein is a professor of education and philosophy at the University of Cincinnati, OH. She is the author of five books, including most recently Teaching Honesty in a Populist Era: Emphasizing Truth in the Education of Citizens (Oxford University Press, 2024) and Learning How to Hope: Reviving Democracy through School and Civil Society (Oxford University Press, 2020).
