1. Rethinking the thinking on democracy in
education: Do educators make a
(democratic) difference?
Dr David Zyngier Dr Marcelo Loures dos Dr Marc Pruyn Dr Paul R. Carr
Education Faculty Santos Education Faculty Orilla University
Monash University Departamento de Monash University Canada
Australia Educação Australia
Universidade Federal de
Viçosa Brasil
Dr Heidi Biseth Dr Marita Delia Traverso Adriana Murriello Dr Sazali Yussof
University of Oslo - Facultad Ciencias de la Directora General IAB Malaysia
Norway Educación Universidad Colegio Ward
de Morón Argentina Argentina

4. Panel Outline
3:30 - 3:40 Dr David Zyngier Introduction to Research Project &
Achievements so far
3:45 - 3:55 Dr Paul Carr Teaching for Democracy not just about it!
4:00 - 4:10 Dr Heidi Biseth Doing Democracy in Urban Scandinavian
Schools
4.15 - 4:25 Dr Marcelo Loures, & Dr Marita Delia Traverso Teachers'
beliefs about democracy: Brazil and Argentina a
comparative study
4:25 - 4:35 Dr Marcelo Loures, & Dr Adriana Murriello What student
teachers think about democracy: Argentina and Brazil a
comparative study
4.40 - 4:50 Dr Sazali Yussof Principal Teachers' beliefs about
democracy in Malaysia
Discussion and Questions with all the panel via skype (audio only) 10
minutes (Discussant David Zyngier or Marc Pruyn)

5. Doing Democracy:
Global Doing Democracy Research Project
A comparative and contrasting study of education
students, teachers and their educators in Australia, North
America, South America, Africa, Asia and Europe
The research explores three themes:
1. the apparent predisposition among teachers is to
understand democracy and politics in a thin way;
2. the potential for teachers to do thick democracy in
education; and
3. teachers understanding of the importance of power and
difference in relation to democracy. The focus of this
research study is how education supports, cultivates and
engages in/with democracy.

6. What do Educators think about
Democracy?
• Over 2000 respondents
• Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, I
srael/Palestine, Malaysia, Norway, Peru, South
Africa, Turkey, USA ...
• Future research results from....
• Will you be involved?

8. Method: The survey & participants

11. Intro: A chat with Dr Paul Carr

12. The Literature: Discourses of ‘democracy’

13. Critical Pedagogical Framework
– Barber’s Strong Democracy (Barber, 2004),
– Westheimer and Kahne (2003) Kinds of Good
Citizens - responsible, participatory and
justice oriented
– Gandin and Apple (2002) Thin & Thick
Democracy
– Carr (2010) Does your vote count? Critical
pedagogy and democracy
– Carr, Zyngier & Pruyn Can educators Make a
Difference (2012)

14. Findings: ‘Democracy’ & the classroom

15. thin as opposed to thick democracy
Conceptualize the visible tension between:
• the superficial features often associated with teaching about
democracy that focus on civics and citizenship
• fundamental scaffolding which, permits people to appropriate
the deeper meaning of the term democracy (Gandin & Apple,
2002)
• students know that civic engagement is not an individual,
private endeavour.

16. Thin democratic discourses
Activities such as students contributing food
to a food drive or in a more active
participatory manner organising a food drive
for the poor.

17. Thick democracy discourses
Explore why people are hungry and act to make
decisions about and solve its root causes

18. Our (main) Questions
• What is a Democratic society?
• Is your country a Democratic society? Why? Why not?
• Is the USA a Democratic society?
• Since the 9/11 is your country a more or less democratic country?
• From your perspective, is the education system in which you were
educated democratic?
• Are elections important to Democracy?
• Do you feel that you are actively engaged in democracy?
• Should teachers strive to promote a sense of democracy in
students?
• What are you doing to promote democracy among students?

19. Dr Heidi Biseth University of Oslo - Norway) "Doing Democracy
in Urban Scandinavian Schools"

20. Dr Marcelo Loures, & Dr Marita Delia Traverso Teachers' beliefs
about democracy: Brazil and Argentina a comparative study

21. Dr Marcelo Loures, & Dr Adriana Murriello What student
teachers think about democracy: Argentina and Brazil a
comparative study

22. Dr Sazali Yussof Head Teachers' beliefs about democracy in
Malaysia

23. Discussion: Analysis of perceptions, experiences and
perspectives of democracy and education in Australia,
Malaysia, Canada, USA, Norway, Argentina & Brazil

24. What would a thick democracy look
like in school education system for you
and your students?
Join the project NOW
Contact us:
david.zyngier@monash.edu
prcarr@gmail.com