democracy – Page 3 – Adam F.C. Fletcher

Adultism in Democratic Education

It is from this place of warm interaction, deep investment, and soul-filled appreciation that I share my concerns about adultism in democratic education.

In Defense of Public Schools

“President John F. Kennedy, who constantly reminded Americans to be active in the world around themselves, challenged that, ‘The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.’ The ignorance of people who would work to eliminate public schools on the backs of them not being democratic enough undermines the entirety of this democracy.” —Adam Fletcher from “In Defense of Public Schools” at https://adamfletcher.net/in-defense-of-public-schools

A decade ago, I first that public schools, which are the heart of our democratic society, are by example teaching students nothing about participating in a democracy. That was at the beginning of the age of No Child Left Behind, or NCLB, the draconian federal school funding law which mandates standardized teaching, learning, and evaluationContinue reading “In Defense of Public Schools”

The Need to Take Action for Schools

I don’t advocate for “free children”. Almost a century ago, English author and educator A. S. Neill wrote, “Free children are not easily influenced; the absence of fear accounts for this phenomenon. Indeed, the absence of fear is the finest thing that can happen to a child.” It was in 2001 that I was sittingContinue reading “The Need to Take Action for Schools”