By Joe Mancini
Published in September 2010
The Diploma in Local Democracy is a 14 week course that helps you develop, sort out and think through your own Philosophy of Citizenship.
At the final session of last year’s local democracy class, Ken Westhues suggested that the most important part of a course such as this, is the ability to write some reflections on how the course material relates to your personal life. This is a way of understanding, “here is where I am and this is where I am going”. The course is a means to develop an anchor, a clear sense of where you want to go. Experiences, moments in your biography are important forces that shape who you are. Local democracy is about finding the words, language, descriptions, actions that help individuals bring these democratic ideas into their relationships, projects, and community. It is also about reflecting on how those same ideals are often missing. It comes down to how each individual develops their own knowledge of democratic habit. The Diploma in Local Democracy is a way of building a rooted democratic culture.
This past year, three public lectures offered by the Local Democracy program outlined some of these ideas.
Mac Saulis emphasized that Local Democracy is when citizens work as equals toward the common good together. Everything in Creation is interrelated. Each individual is responsible for putting the community above themselves, the group is stronger when each looks after the other. Without community you are left to face the world by yourself. Coexistence means seeking peace with others, walking in a good way, never just thinking of yourself. Aboriginal world view intertwines with the idea of local democracy because at its core, local democracy is an expression of building community, ensuring people are not left behind, practicing the skills of equality and peaceful coexistence.
Malkin Dare challenged the notion of government monopoly over social programs. She offered a challenging alternative interpretation of universal schooling. In her view, Local Democracy should mean the creation of flexible systems that involve the parents in the everyday workings of the school.
She asks the question, “Why is our education system so aligned against small, independent, skill specific schools?” Independent schools should be popping up in people’s houses, community centre’s, and rural areas. They would be dedicated to ensuring children get great education.
Ken Westhues’ final lecture of the series contrasted the ethic of hierarchy with the ethic of democracy. Abraham Lincoln had a democratic attitude – “as I shall treat no man as a slave nor should I treat a man like a master.” Ken read an essay his grandmother wrote in the 1890’s on why women and men should be treated equally. He recounted the story of his ninety year old mother organizing fellow nursing home residents to protest their treatment, while at the same time caring for the humanity of the manager. These examples emphasized the democratic values of treating all equally, not setting one group above the other. Serving the ethic of democracy means challenging hierarchy and affirming equality.
This course is not about credentials. It is geared for individuals to think for themselves. We like to think of it as an advanced course in Local Democracy.
