Too often citizenship education in schools is sterile and removed from real issues--it is designed to teach about democracy, not practice it. Classroom practices are less important than school culture and classroom climate. Students need to see and experience democracy in their schools; teacher education programs, educational systems, and high…

A close relationship exists between German society, the political system, and public schools. Following reunification, the school systems in former East Germany have undergone dramatic changes to accommodate the philosophy of democracy. The state of Saxony's changes include parent and student participation in school governance, emphasis on…