ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the many meanings of democracy and how, with the laser-like focus on producing human capital for international competition, schools are largely abdicating their responsibility to educate a new generation to defend democratic principles. It describes three meanings of democracy— inclusion in democratic governance, inclusion in society’s benefits, and the meaning of “public”—in more detail. Public schooling and teachers in the US have been successfully undermined by corporate leaders and the think tanks they fund, and in the process, they have diminished researchers trust in public institutions. Finland has many successful private corporations, but it demonstrates the extent to which a strong private sector and public sector can co-exist. If the market and private sector take over the role of the State or powerful corporations have inordinate power over the State, then citizens can no longer participate in a robust political democracy but rather become resigned and passive consumers.
