Educating for Democracy

Last Friday, Sept 12th, an intimate group of faculty from all three divisions had a talk and discussion with Joel Westheimer, native New Yorker and Professor of Democracy and Education at the University of Ottowa. Joel also addressed our board of trustees on Saturday and has written a book called Pledging Allegiance. The talk concerned the state of civic education in most American schools today. Joel’s findings are based on extensive classroom observation research and unfortunately show that much of civic education is structured to avoid critical thinking. By focusing solely on memorizing facts about government and by romanticizing individual behavior of our historical heroes, many schools are missing a crucial opportunity to empower students to act on the issues they care about and to work together to bring about change.

So what’s the effective way to educate for democracy? Students should see a link between motivation and action. Experiencing this link, students naturally want to learn about the facts and the processes which help their cause. The result is knowledge that sticks because it’s acquired by doing and imprinted by caring. Also, organizing as a group for moral support as well as for strength in numbers is a critical, and revolution-making, aspect of activism for kids to discover. Our heroes are incredibly important role models and that is why we learn about them. They also were in many cases connected to movements and organizations. The lesson is that there is power in each of us connecting to people who give us ideas and support for our beliefs.

It makes sense that at LREI we don’t want to miss the opportunity presented by this election year to engage students’ critical thinking. Educating students to be active and engaged in democracy is integral to progressive education. One example comes from fourth grade where students are right now learning how our electoral process works. They are asking (and pursuing): How do we learn more information about the candidates and their positions? How do we have respectful dialogue around passionate topics? Why is this such a historic election? What does that mean to all of us? Essential questions for fourth graders and for all of us.

I for one am looking forward to the fourth graders’ learning and leadership during for the lower school this election year!

Sincerely,
Namita

Fourth graders made campaign posters to gain understanding of multiple perspectives and to gain insight about how messages are conveyed to the public.

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Dates and Information for Parents:

Get involved on September 22 and 24: To learn how parents can get more involved and active at LREI, please be sure to click on the PA Welcome Fair attachment below. The Parent Association is hosting two times next week when both new and continuing LREI parents can learn more about committees, their work, and how to get involved. Click here for the flyer.

 

 

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

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From the Office of Advancement: Please see attached invitation to our Building for Action announcement, an essential moment in the future of the school, on September 24 at 6:00pm. We hope you will be able to attend (click here).

 

 

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UPCOMING PARENT MEETINGS & EVENTS

  • 9/22, 6PM: PA Welcome Fair
  • 9/23, 8:45AM: LS POCOC Meeting
  • 9/24, 8AM: PA Welcome Fair
  • 9/25, 8:45AM: Adoption Committee Meeting
  • 9/30: Rosh Hashanah, School Closed
  • 10/1, 8AM: Asian American Families Breakfast
  • 10/2, 8AM: Third grade Parent Farm Trip Meeting
  • 10/2, 8:45AM: LGSA meeting
  • 10/2, 6PM: Fours – First grade Curriculum Night
  • For an up-to-date, searchable all school calendar, please visit www.lrei.org/calendar

 

 

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LOWER SCHOOL NOTES & ATTACHMENTS
(click on the links below to view and print information from teachers and specialists.)

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