DEMOCRATIC EDUCATION: HISTORICITY, MODERNITY, AND NECESSITY

Abstract

This study examines the historical development, contemporary approaches, and societal importance of democratic education. The aim is to explain how the educational process is structured according to democratic principles and how this approach influences the development of individuals and society. Additionally, the article highlights the reciprocal relationship between education and democracy. Education should not only transmit knowledge; it must also create opportunities for students to develop independent thinking, social responsibility, justice, equality, and to internalize democratic values. Democratic principles must be transformed into a way of life and practically applied within the educational environment, integrating them into daily experiences. Education serves as a tool for spreading democratic values in society and aims to raise future generations according to these principles. This approach enables individuals to recognize their roles in society and acquire the necessary skills to participate in democratic processes. As a result, individuals become active, informed citizens who can contribute to the development of society. In the future, the democratic education approach may lead to the development of more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable education systems worldwide. The study uses comparative and historical analysis, along with philosophical and pedagogical theories.