ASSIGNMENT OF HISTORICAL AND

SOCIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF
EDUCATION
MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATION ON: DEMOCRACY, SOCIALISM AND
SECULARISM: CONCEPT AND PRACTICES IN SCHOOLS

DEMOCRACY
The term "Democracy" consists of two Greek words "Demos" and "Kratos"

"Demos" meaning 'the people' and "Kratos" meaning 'power'.

The literal meaning of the word "Democracy" is "Power of the people".

Democratic education is an educational ideal in which democracy is both a goal and a

method of instruction. It brings democratic values to education and can include free will
within a community of equals, as well as such values as justice, respect and trust.

Radhakrishnan commission (1948-49) said, “Education is the great instrument of social

emancipation, by which democracy establishes, maintains and protects the spirit of
equality among its members”.
Democracy and Aims of Education

1. Develop democratic values in students

2. Students become self-reliant.
3. Development of good habits
4. Develop reasoning power of students
5. Leadership development
6. Feeling of National brotherhood.

Democratic Education: Its Features

• Democratic philosophy of education

• Aims of democratic education

• Universal and compulsory education

• Free education

• Equality of opportunity

• Child-centered education

• For National unity

Democracy and Curriculum

• Flexible

• Diversified

• Integrated disciplines

• Vocational bias

• Achievement of social aims

• Related to life, need and aspirations of people

• Ensure the total development of personality.

Democracy and Role of School

“Schools ought to stress the duties and responsibilities of individual citizens. They ought
to train pupils in a spirit of cheerful willing and effective service. They should teach
citizenship directly. Everywhere there should be a spirit of team work. School is a
prepared environment in which child may best blossom”

School should litter with democratic principles. It is the democratic environment which
is congenial for the full-flowering of human personality. Equality of treatment and
opportunity should be the rule of the institution. The school should help every
individual pupil to be disciplined, creative and adaptable.

The school should act as a replica of community where democratic ideals are not only
taught theoretically but are practically done through its multifarious activities.  

SOCIALISM
• Socialism is derived from “sociology”, which is a branch of science studying
society, societal relations, rules, norm, behavior and other society related things.

• Gandhiji saw socialism as a way of life. He called it “SARVODAYA SAMAJ” in

which the “greatest goal of all is the end”.

Gandhiji wrote-“Under socialism all the members of society are equal- none
low none high. Under it the prince and the peasant, wealthy and the poor,
employer and the employee are no the same level”.
 • Socialism: principal aim is to establish a welfare state in order that each one may
get equal opportunity for development.

SOCIALISM AND AIMS OF EDUCATION

1. Development of democratic outlook.

2. Development of socialist values.

3. Development of Secular values.

4. Providing equality of opportunity to all for their all-round development and welfare.

5. Developing values like “DHARMA”, dignity, non-violence, selfless service etc.

ROLE OF TEACHER and school

• In a socialist classroom there is a designated leader — the teacher — he or she

ensures work is completed and that the classroom maintains good behavior and
proper progress.

• The teacher also recognizes the classroom’s ability to function is heavily

dependent upon the students.
 • In order for a socialist classroom model to be successful, educators must be
aware of their students’ individual strengths and weaknesses.

• The key to a successful socialist classroom is a holistic view of the individuals who
make up a classroom.

SECULARISM
Meaning and Definition of Secularism
• The term “Secular” means being "separate" from religion, or having no
religious basis.

• Secularism means separation of religion from political, economic, social and

cultural aspects of life, religion being treated as a purely personal matter.

• Nehru’s view was – “Equal protection by the state to all religion“. He wanted a
secular state to be one that “protects all religions but does not favor one at the
expense of others and does not itself adopt any religion as the state religion.”

Secular Education
 • The concept of secular education is that which refers to the type of education that
is not based on any religious doctrine or creed and is usually in the hands of the
State.

• Secularism does not mean that religions should be banished from the educational
seen and rather both should be well integrated in a process which is dynamic and
conducive to change and progress.

• Secular education should be taken as quest for knowledge & spirit in an objective
& tolerant manner, not as a conquest of faith & religious ideas embedded in our
culture.

• True secular education is based on morality, justice, free thinking and service.

ROLE OF TEACHER AND SCHOOL

Teachers can play a ground breaking role in promoting values of secularism by creating
relevant opportunities by-

• Encouraging children of different castes, communities and religions to celebrate,

appreciate, and respect each other’s festivals, cultural practices and ways of life.
Such activities, if done genuinely, can establish and nurture cordial feelings
among people belonging to different cultural backgrounds.

• Equal respect has to be given to all students and to all religious groups.

• An effort should made by every teacher to behave in a truly democratic and fair
manner.