Democracy in the Modern Classroom
Ethan Crawford
When I first started this inquiry, I wanted to learn about how we can incorporate democracy and student-autonomy into the classroom as well as finding a better form of conflict resolution than punitive discipline.
Looking at the evolution of western education, we can see how it has been transitioning in a similar way. Historically, education was quite formal, authoritative, and centred on students being individuals. As knowledge around education has grown and more research has been done, we can see it trending towards more progressive values. Nowadays, education is shifting its approach towards a student-centred and equitable philosophy. My inquiry connects to and builds on this evolution in educational philosophy.
One of the most important things I have learned is that classroom management isn’t about choosing between control and freedom, but rather finding the right balance of the two. Democratic practices, like involving students in class decisions, can help foster engagement, accountability, and a sense of belonging. Providing flexibility like this to students can have great outcomes, but students still need a certain amount of structure to keep them on track. Without the right balance of control and freedom, classrooms can become restrictive or unstructured.
I was also drawn to finding alternative approaches to punishment in the classroom. I would encourage students to solve conflicts on their own. This could look like: a sharing circle, open dialogue to find a solution, and self-reflection. This strengthens student-teacher and student-student relationships, and also helps students develop important social and emotional skills. That being said, teachers should be monitoring and guiding these processes to ensure respect and fairness are given to both sides of the conflict, and all students feel safe and supported.
Ultimately, I think that classroom management is really about creating the best conditions for every student to learn in. It isn’t about controlling students, instead creating a space where they feel safe, supported, and are truly engaged in their learning environment. For a classroom to successfully meet my goals, it should involve students in decision-making and other democratic practices, and look for alternate pathways to solving conflicts instead of using punitive discipline.
