In a society based on participation , empowerment , and democracy , shouldn't education be participatory , empowering , and democratic ? The United States of America is founded on democracy and the democratic values of meaningful participation, personal initiative, and equality and justice for all. Democratic education infuses the learning process with these fundamental values of our society. Democratic education sees young people not as passive recipients of knowledge, but rather as active co-creators of their own learning. They are not the products of an education system, but rather valued participants in a vibrant learning community. Democratic education begins with the premise that everyone is unique, so each of us learns in a different way. By supporting the individual development of each young person within a caring community, democratic education helps young people learn about themselves, engage with the world around them, and become positive and contributing