ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores how schools are become more democratic: to ask how they protect themselves from the unreasonable demands of a politically motivated agenda, counter the incursions of the corporate world and better meet the needs of the communities they exist to serve. It argues for action rather than passivity in the interests of creating an education system capable of shaping a diverse, tolerant, inclusive, ethical twenty-first century society. The book offers a radical, bottom-up solution to a far-reaching top-down agenda. It provides the case for democratic "stakeholder" participation in education, drawing on the research into student, teacher and parent voice. The book looks at inspiring examples where students, parents and teachers have helped shape their schools and have made a real difference. It also argues that each school community to work together to create and realise their own educational vision.
