Introduction

This publication has two objectives. Firstly, it provides inspiration for teachers and leaders in the Primary and Lower Secondary School and in General and Vocational Upper Secondary Education in relation to the task of heightening the awareness of students on democracy and democratic values. Furthermore the publication provides practical advice and instructions on how to deal with extremism in educational institutions.

The publication provides useful inspiration in relation to the teaching of all students, but is also applicable in connection with a more goal-oriented effort at bilingual schools with students from numerous different cultures.

The catalogue of examples contain examples from schools who have focussed on democracy and democratic values beyond the prescribed curriculum, e.g. in social studies.

During the writing process, the Ministry of Education has interacted with a working team consisting of headmasters from Primary and Lower Secondary Schools, vocational centres, Upper Secondary Schools, the Danish Centre for Educational Environment, and the Ministry of Integration. The working team has based its work on six main themes that are essential to go into detail about in connection with teaching democratic values.

The themes are:

• The democracy and fundamental democratic values • Active citizenship • Democracy in the school • The school as a local democracy • A sound educational environment and the inclusive school • Extremism and the democracy.

The first part of the publication, which is applicable for both Primary and Lower Secondary Schools and General and Vocational Upper Secondary Education, consists of a number of elaborating texts on all of the above-mentioned themes. Each text contains interview with experts, school leaders, and the Minister for Education, and finally, there are references to further information regarding the subject.

The second part of the publication contains a number of examples showing how various educational institutions have dealt with the objective of teaching students the pillars of democracy.

The catalogue of examples is divided into three chapters, describing efforts in the Primary and Lower Secondary School, Upper Secondary Schools, and vocational centres. Each main chapter is concluded by a contribution that focuses on integrative aspects. The contributions are written by two former headmasters of a Primary and Lower Secondary School, a former rector of an Upper Secondary School, and a headmaster of a vocational centre.

The catalogue is not a complete list covering all democracy projects in educational institutions.

This page is part of the electronic publication "Learning democracy"
© The Ministry of Education 2008