Democratic and Classical

Democratic and Classical Education

Democratic and classical education stand at opposite ends of the educational spectrum. Democratic education builds the school as a small democracy, with students sharing in decisions about their own learning. Classical education builds the school around the Trivium and Quadrivium, the medieval seven liberal arts, training students through grammar, logic, and rhetoric. The chapter works through both, with their forms, methods, aims, and the standard criticisms each faces.

Democratic Education: Introduction

Why democracy in schools matters for democratic citizenship, what a democratic environment looks like, and why young people should share power in their own schools

The Three Forms of Democracy

Institutional republicanism, popular democracy, and deep democracy as three increasingly demanding forms of civic engagement

Vocation and Criticism of Democratic Education

Dewey on vocation as the balance of individual capacity and social service, and the standard criticisms of democratic schools

Classical Education and the Seven Liberal Arts

Martianus Capella’s medieval scheme, the Trivium and Quadrivium, and the path from grammar to philosophy

The Trivium Stages: Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric

How classical education matches teaching methods to the maturing capacities of children from kindergarten through high school

Classical Aims, Method, and Criticism

The aim of producing wise virtuous citizens, the Trivium method of thought, and the standard criticisms of classical formality