Progressive Teachers Network

Imagine a time in the mid 1700s when educated men and some of their wives, began to imagine a new form of government.  Tired of the oppression from the King of England they began to grapple with ideas that were seditious. Imagine those first secret conversations, hushed remarks shared with trusted friends. 

And who was trustworthy? And who might be a spy.  And then Benjamin Franklin’s unending curiosity takes him to consult with the Iroquois nation. Planting ideas that would be the basis of the 3 part government! Heresy and yet the conversations continued.  This small group became more vocal and what beliefs and attitudes were they demonstrating?

The desire for freedom for one.  Living in Pennsylvania founded by the Penn family who were Quakers, they understood first hand the belief in religious freedom practiced in every day interactions. They believed in their perspective and were willing to take risks (actually to risk their lives) for their beliefs. They learned to listen to each other and to compromise as necessary to obtain their end goal

Curiosity,  Compromise though listening, Action, Courage and Perseverance

These traits stand as the bedrock of the invention of the Republic that became finally the United States.  Today more than ever we need to reexamine these five pillars in order to reclaim a new view of democracy. 

What is required is a resurgence of understanding about what democratic thinking and action looks like beyond parties and power. The deficit of our democratic action and understanding has increased and a society that begins to see freedoms removed rather than increased is on a precipice of decline. The support and encouragement of these traits have laid fallow in our schools and society to the determinant of democracy. 

Cornerstones of democracy include freedom of assembly, association, property rights, freedom of religion and speech, inclusiveness and equality, citizenship, consent of the governed, voting rights, freedom from unwarranted governmental deprivation of the right to life and liberty, and minority rights.