Democracy a€“ The First Principle of Health Promoting Schools

摘要

The authors examine the notion of democracy and how it can be portrayed in school settings where efforts to promote health are prominent. Democracy is considered relative to the educational opportunities presented in school, in general, and through the study of human experience as it is portrayed in health contexts. Threaded into the dialogue are the proposed implications these ideas and beliefs about democracy hold for the Health Promoting School as an integral part of overall efforts to improve schools for a€?publica€? good i.e., the betterment of society, responsible citizenry, care for self and others. Finally, ideas are presented about how democratic thinking might impact programs of study in health education enroute to health living, social responsibility, and active citizenry.Conceptually, democracy is examined as a stance or disposition towards learning, a way of being, a way of belonging, and an organisational model.