Luciano Freitas Filho¹
¹ Teacher at IFPE- Instituto Federal de Pernambuco
PhD in Education at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro/UFRJ
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Meanings of democracy in times of ultraconservatives discourses
INTRODUCTION
This text set, entitled " Meanings of democracy in times of ultraconservatives discourses", is a final project of an English Teaching Training Program/PDPI-2025, at Kansas State University. It is related to a serie of textual genres: memes, poems, images, songs, paintings, academic texts, activities etc. focusing on the reflections/discussions of democracy and challenges for its maintenance, currently , due to the political plots created among the disputes for the hegemonization of the meanings of democracy, based on political demands formulated within multiple social groups, such as religious sectors, military, political far-right parties and social movements.
All these materials provide engagement, dialogue with students' previous knowledge, propitiate the exercise of critical thinking and motivate students to learn new vocabularies and intend to promote the reinforcement of language skills as speaking and listening.
This main discussion concerning on democracy and democratic schools is influenced by my PhD researches and its final dissertation.
MAIN AIM: To stimulate discussions and reflections among students about the meanings of democracy and their role as social subjects in order to strength a democratic world, including thinking about the exercise of this democracy in their school.
GUIDING QUESTION: How can a student , in his/her community, school or any social environment, act/react against antidemocratic discourses and anyhow to contribute with the reinforcement of the democracy?
STUDENTS' LANGUAGE LEVEL: High school students, Intermediate level , B1, B2.
TESOL PRINCIPLES: P2, Create Conditions for Language Learning; P3 Design High-Quality lessons for language development;
KEYWORDS: Democracy; Democratic schools; Resistance; Ultraconservative discourses.
A) What is democracy, in your opinion?
Aim: Explore students' prior knowledge and opinions about democracy.
Resources: Activities with students . The teacher divide them into groups and give each team a poster to write their thoughts on democracy, either in words or sentences. After the group discussion, the teacher shares the discussions and asks the groups to post the posters around the classroom.
Then, the teacher provides a video to later initiate a discussion.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmrO44KM7yk
What Is Democracy for Kids | Democracy explained for students
Other possibilities of resources:
Songs directly referencing democracy or democratic values:
"Democracy" by Leonard Cohen:
This song explores the concept of democracy as a force for positive change and social justice.
"This Land is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie:
This song celebrates the idea of shared ownership and belonging, often associated with democratic principles."People Have the Power" by Patti Smith:
This song emphasizes the power of collective action and the importance of citizen participation in shaping society."A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke:
This song addresses the struggles for racial equality and civil rights, highlighting the hope for a better future."Get Up, Stand Up" by Bob Marley & The Wailers:
This song calls for resistance against oppression and injustice, promoting the idea of fighting for one's rights.
"Strange Fruit" by Billie Holiday:
This song, though not explicitly about democracy, powerfully depicts the injustices faced by African Americans, highlighting the need for social change and equality, which are fundamental to democratic ideals.
B) What is a democratic school, in your opinion?
Aim: To Encourage students to share their opinions about what they think about a democratic school and how they can contribute to a democratic school.
Resources:
🗣️ 1. Discussions & Debates
🗣️ 1. Discussions & Debates
1.1 Class Debates: E.g., “Should students vote on the school curriculum?”
1.2 Circle Discussions: Sit in a circle and share views on fairness, rules, or decision-making in school.
1.3 Socratic Seminars: The teacher provides the link of google description of " What is a democratic school?", ask the SS to discuss in groups and then starts a socialization of their discussions related to text.
🧠 2. Reflection & Writing Activities
🧠 2. Reflection & Writing Activities
The teacher encourage students to think critically and personally about democracy in schools.
2.1 Journaling Prompts:
“When have you felt heard at school?”
“What would a democratic classroom look like to you?”
2.2 Design Your Ideal School: Students draw or describe what a truly democratic school would look and feel like.
2.3 Role Reversal Writing: “Imagine you're the principal. How would you involve students in decisions?”
C) Meanings of public and collective.
Aim: To discuss and reflect on the meanings of public and collective, to provoke the idea of respect for the collective and the public as part of democracy.
Resources:
C.1 The teacher divide the class into groups to discuss social norms for good collective coexistence at school and, consequently, write them on posters to stick on the classroom walls.
C.2 The teacher gives to the students some pieces of paper where there are some questions :
c.2.2 Why is important to use a headphone to listen your music when you are in a public transport?"
c.2.3 Why is important to respect the others opinion?
D) Challenges for keeping democracy in a country: threats from dictatorial governments
Aim: Discussion about dictatorial practices in different governments, in different countries, throughout the history of humanity and, above all, in the present day. Also, stimulate reflections about resistances for democracy.
Resources:
D.1 Teach present biographies of international learders famous for fighting against injustice and pro democracy. Example:
www.nelsonmandela.org/biography
Madre Teresa of Calcuta:
https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/mother-teresa.html?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20678242274&gbraid=0AAAAADq2By3YgecvS9aCZ4MVhh766NZV-&gclid=Cj0KCQjw18bEBhCBARIsAKuAFEb_3bxFESKxSTZ9SEPD4ZFwk7iQe-fOS1cVgy9fi1s7BRYxuinMf_gaAm24EALw_wcB
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Luther-King-Jr
D.2 Teacher presents discussions of types of governments in a democracy and non democratic governments, showing pictures, images related to dictatorships around the world.
E) Is it possible to disagree in a democracy?
Aim: To present the importance of healthy, non-violent conflicts for building democracy, as the act of disagreeing is fundamental to strengthening democracy.
Resources:
E.1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjlmvGBvUgo
Differences, Disagreements, & Democracy
Differences, Disagreements, & Democracy
E.2 Text to discuss the importance of disagreeing for the democracy
F) How to say no, politely!
Aim: To encourage reflection on the importance of knowing how to say no to people who offend you, make you feel uncomfortable, or who harm you in collective work, study, etc. environments.
Resources:
F1. Read and discuss a text.
www.betterup.com/blog/how-to-say-no
https://mayecreate.com/blog/saying-no-in-a-nice-way-and-feeling-ok-about-it/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/of-prisons-and-pathos/202105/how-and-why-to-say-no
G) Voting as a tool for democracy
Aim: To discuss the importance of voting for democratic processes, whether in the country, at school, or in any social space.
Resources:
G.1 Role Play: "The Candidate"
How-to:
Have students role-play as candidates running for a position (class president, local representative, etc.).
Each student has to come up with a campaign platform, speak about the issues, and “debate” with others.
This helps students see how important it is to make informed decisions when casting their votes.
G.2 A video for a debate: Keke Palmer Explains the History of Voting
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JU6vv9lI_g
H) How can I contribute with democracy in my community or in my country?
Aim: To Reflect on how students, as citizens, can contribute to democracy.
Resources:
H.1 : working with song lyrics
Heal the world, Michael Jackson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWf-eARnf6U&list=RDBWf-eARnf6U&start_radio=1
We are the world, various artists ( U.S for Africa)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AjkUyX0rVw&list=RD9AjkUyX0rVw&start_radio=1
Imagine, John Lennon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAJDDWrdg2E&list=RDOAJDDWrdg2E&start_radio=1
I) Equity and social justice reinforcing as a policy for the democracy' development
Aim: To Discuss the importance of equity and social justice as a way of strengthening democracy.
Resources:
I.1 To discuss their idea about the imagem below:
J) portraits of democracy
Aim: Reflect on symbols, images, paintings that portray democracy.
Resources:
J.1 To present painting related to democracy.
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