Parker: Teaching Against Idiocy

Parker discusses the topic on idiocy in our society. Parker is pointing out that idiocy today is referred to differently than what it was meant originally. It was originally referred to as identifying a social problem and understanding a central goal of education. Today it is referred to as stupid or mentally deficient. It is important to improve our society by incorporating democracy in our society and the only hope is to teach democracy in our schools. The classroom holds the most potential for strengthening the quality of our citizens.
Democracy plays a major role in our public school systems. It is important to teach democracy in our schools because it is important to understand citizenship with in our society. Parker discusses how schools are “ideal sites,” for democratic citizenship education. He points out that public schools are public and not private. Therefore, democracy must be taught in our public schools to form a better society. “Democratic ways of living together, with the people’s differences intact and recognized are not given by nature; they are created” (Parker p3). The main goal in teaching democracy in our schools is to form better communities throughout our society. Democracy can help build a stronger social structure. Our schools are culturally diverse and we have to find a means of how to connect and bring the idea of how democracy is the best way to live. Understanding and learning democracy in schools will help instill in the children that justice, equality, and freedom is an essential part of a well run society.