Creating a Democratic Climate for Kids

The principles of democracy, freedom, and the rights of individuals are taught from textbooks, but the principles of autocracy and dictatorship are still practiced in most schools and homes. It is no wonder our children feel unsettled, defiant, and even outright rebellious. Many of our young people are growing up ignorant of, and uncommitted to, the great principles upon which our nation was founded. The way to make children committed to our democratic way of life is to make them full participants in it. This new guide is provided to assist educators and parents in making our schools and homes models of democracy, giving our kids the freedom of choice, and bestowing on them the basic rights of citizenship. Parents and educators must unite as democratic leaders to guide, coach, and stimulate our young people to assume responsibility for themselves. The future of our nation may depend on it!

Not only is Creating a Democratic Climate for Kids an easy to use toolbox of practical and easily applicable strategies, but it is also a much-needed updated approach for dealing with today’s kids. Surely this will be a recommended resource for all educators, counselors, and others in contact with today’s youth., Creating a Democratic Climate for Kids is an excellent book for reinvigorating American civics. At a time where public cynicism—especially among our young people— threatens to engulf and jeopardize our nation, McCormick provides practical rubrics for restoration and useful 21st century knowledge. This is a great educational tool for repairing one of the most serious breaches in our public culture today. The book provides a wealth of practical tools for resolving conflicts and creating a positive communication culture., Having reviewed McCormick’s newest educational work Creating a Democratic Climate for Kids, I can state that this work has arrived at the perfect time for our educational setting. McCormick blends past knowledge and experience with well thought out techniques for today’s ever-changing climate found in our educational system. This work begins with the meaning behind behaviors and the social impact it has on the climate, then McCormick takes the reader through the development of strategies to enhance the skill set found in students and their peers. This should be a part of your educational tool set., As a teacher of English language learners, empowering my students with knowledge and tools spelled out in Creating a Democratic Climate for Kids is a game changer! This treasure trove of concrete tools reveals classroom-worthy principles of democracy for all students. It galvanizes the reader with straightforward, easy to implement strategies to instill these values in all our students.

Mary Lou McCormick is a long-time teacher and school guidance counselor in at-risk schools in Texas and Nevada. She served as a Clark County School District Crisis Counselor for all grade levels for many years. She earned a Master’s Degree in Education from West Texas A&M and pursued graduate studies in psychological and educational counseling at Texas Tech University.