New article on conceptions of democracy in schools by Belavi, Flores-Sanchez, Guiral and Türk
“Democracy in Spanish schools: conceptions of teachers and students”, a phenomenographic research carried out by Guillermina Belavi and Claudia Guiral, members of the UNESCO Chair for Education and Social Justice of the Autonomous University of Madrid, together with Carlos Flores and Yasin Türk; published in Fuentes Journal.
Why is it important to know the conceptions of teachers and students about democracy? How do these actors conceive democracy in schools? Belavi, Flores-Sanchez, Guiral and Türk answer these questions in their latest article entitled “Democracy in Spanish educational centers: conceptions of teachers and students”.
The results of this study, in which the phenomenographic interviews of 15 students and 15 teachers are analyzed, suggest three different conceptions of school democracy. On the one hand, an “elitist” or “technocratic” conception that reduces democracy to school choice. The second conception is called “representative.” Under this conception, democracy lies in the vote and the election of representatives. Finally, the authors point out the existence of a “participatory”. From this conception the hierarchical roles are blurred and the discourse of those who hold it appeals to the possibility of direct participation, commitment and constant communication. As the article points out, “Promoting this participatory conception is essential to develop critical thinking and the intervention of all people in common affairs, thus advancing towards more just and equitable societies”
Complete article in:
Belavi, G., Flores, C., Guiral, C. y Türk, Y. (2021). La democracia en los centros educativos españoles: Concepciones de docentes y estudiantes. Revista Fuentes, (23), 244-253. https://doi.org/10.12795/revistafuentes.2021.15375