What is democracy

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What is democracy?
Rule by the people But more than elections
Democracy is more than a form of government it
is primarily a mode of associated living, of
conjoint communicated experience. each has to
refer his own actions to that of others
John Dewey.1944. Democracy
and Education.
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Democracy needs Citizens who do Public Work

• Democracy is more than
• Voting and government
• charity and one-on-one volunteerism
• the politics of grievance and protest
• Democracy is
• the work of the people
• Includes everyday politics where citizens share
  in the productive, public work of building a
  commonwealth.
• Citizens
• should be co-producers of public goods.
• work with government, but don't expect government
  to solve all problems.
• respect experts but resist having professionals
  impose solutions.
• willing to work through conflict and across
  divisions to find compromises and solutions.

Harry Boyte PA FounderAuthor Co-Director Center
for Democracy and Citizenship University of
Minnesota, Minneapolis
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Public Achievement

• A way to teach democracy by doing democracy.
• Usually a youth program.
• Allows youth to act as citizens now on real
  issues.
• Youth work on issues they care about.
• Small groups called teams
• Leaders called coaches
• Goals of Public Achievement
• Motivation to participate
• Empowerment
• Skills
• Understanding of democracy

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Roots of Public Achievement
Citizenship Schools of the U.S. Black Civil
Rights Movement
Community Organizing Movement
Saul AlinskyOrganizer of working
classNon-socialist left
Dr. Martin Luther King jr.
Dorothy CottonDirector Southern Christian
Leadership Council Citizenship Education Program.
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Where in the world is Public Achievement?
EuropeNorthern Ireland Belfast Irish
RepublicMonaghan and Cavan Scotland
Selkirk Turkey Istanbul
U.S.AMinnesota Minneapolis St. Paul
Mankato Colorado Denver Missouri Kansas City
Maryville Wisconsin Milwaukee New Hampshire
Manchester Keene
Middle EastPalestine Ramallah
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Where is Mankato, Minnesota?
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Dakota Meadows Middle SchoolNorth Mankato,
Minnesota U.S.A
Shane Baier, the DMMS principal
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Minnesota State University, Mankato
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Program Basics

• Learning democracy by being democratic
• A partnership between a state university and
  public middle school
• 30 university students social studies majors.
• University students study democracy in a
  political science class.
• 200 middle school students 12 - 14 year olds
• PA is optional for middle school students
• PA meets one hour per week instead of a study
  hall.
• Students form small groups (5-8) called teams
  one university student is coach for each team.
• Teams work on real public problems or issues that
  kids choose.

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August to MayUniversity students study democracy
one class per week
Dr. Joseph Kunkel Political Science 381 Democracy
and Citizenship
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SeptemberUniversity students trained to coach at
Saturday workshopThey learn 1. What is
Public Achievement 2. How to get started.
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SeptemberKids suggest ideas at Issues Assembly

• 7th and 8th grade students hold assemblies to
  suggest issues or problems they want to work on.
• Later kids vote, marking their favorites.
• We form about 30 teams. Most get their 1st or 2nd
  choice.

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ISSUES PA TEAMS 2004-2005

• 8th Grade
• Support U.S. Troops
• Trash Environment Cleanup
• Preventing Teen Pregnancy
• Stop Child Abuse
• Pets and Animals
• Homelessness and Poverty
• Teen Recreation Center
• Concerts
• School Spirit
• School Bus Issues
• School Decorations
• Start Basketball Team
• Skaters and Skateboard Issues

7th Grade Support U.S. Troops Political
Awareness Teen Depression Stop Domestic Abuse
Pets and Animals Disaster Relief School
Issues School Newspaper School Decorations Stop
Labeling/Stereotypes Skaters and Skateboard
issues Sports Jerseys Start Football team Start
Rugby Team
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October -MayPA Teams meet every Thursday for 40
minutes
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Democratic process
Beginning Activities of Teams

• Discuss their issue
• Speak and listen
• Write Mission Statement
• Agree on rules or a constitution
• Research, surveys, interviewing.
• Team building games
• Use small group democracy written meeting
  agendashare rolesKeep written recordsDebate
  and vote. Plan next meetingsEvaluate themselves

Research Information Internet Search
Surveys Learn who can help or stop
them Interviewing Field Trips Guest Speakers
Use Political Language Power Democracy Self-inte
rest Authority Compromise Responsibility Freedom
Diversity Equality Respect
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Taking Action

• Teams must discuss their ideas with adults
  authorities.
• Actions and projects must be approved.
• Often frustrating but gives real world
  experience.

Not all teams realize their goal or complete a
major project. But most takes actions to learn
and try to influence others. Many teams sponsor
assemblies fundraising events publish
brochures take direct action to improve the
community.
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Examples of Actions and Projects
Open School Store

• Tree Planting at elder housing

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Examples of Actions and Projects
Assembly to educate about teen depression
suicide

• Clean up trash at nature area

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Examples of Actions and Projects

• Toys to New York children who lost family in
  9/11/01 terrorist attack

Get exercise equipment for school
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Examples of Actions and Projects
Visit law-makers at state capitol

• Community Meeting to discuss
• teen recreation center

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Evaluation

• Successes
• Coaches learn what groups should do
• Kids learn democratic skills
• Kids invited to lead
• Coaches get experience at school with kids
• Kids meet other adults
• All learn democracy is something they can do
  everyday.
• Process more important
• than Product

Problemssometimes Disruptive behavior Coaches do
not provide authority Not enough school
involvement Not enough time Kids dont pick deep
issues Unrealistic issues Noisy meeting
places Little work between meetings Uninterested
in concepts Better assessment of results needed
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For more information

• Mankato PA Website
• http//krypton.mnsu.edu/jak3/pa
• E-mail links
• Syllabus for academic course
• Toolbox of useful documents
• Stories about teams
• Photographs
• Book chapter describing Mankato PA

National PA Website http//www.publicachievement.o
rg
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• Political democracy, as it exists and practically
  works in America, with all its threatening evils,
  supplies a training-school for making first-class
  men. It is life's gymnasium... We try often,
  though we fall back often.Whatever we do not
  attain, we at any rate attain the experiences of
  the fight, the hardening of the strong campaign,
• Did you, too, O friend, suppose democracy was
  only for elections, for politics, and for a party
  name? I say democracy is only of use there that
  it may pass on and come to its flower and fruits
  in manners, in the highest forms of interaction
  between men, and their beliefs -- in religion,
  literature, colleges, and schools -- democracy in
  all public and private life,
• Walt Whitman. 1871. Democratic Vistas