Democratic Education

Description

Yaacov Hecht is an internationally distinguished leader and visionary in democratic education, learning theory, and societal change. As president of the Institute for Democratic Education in Israel (IDE), and a sought after speaker and consultant, Hecht plays an essential role in the movement for democratic educational change in Israel and around the world. In 1987, he founded the Democratic School of Hadera, the first Israeli democratic school. When the waiting list for the school soared to over three thousand students, Hecht founded IDE to support the development of other democratic schools.

Currently, IDE networks twenty-five democratic schools in Israel, operates democratization programs in schools and municipalities around the country, runs an academic training program for teachers and principals, and supports international projects in democratic education. Hecht has been an education advisor to two Israeli Ministers of Education, and in 2006, was chosen by the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz as one of the fifty most influential educators in Israel.

[quote]Democratic Education: A Beginning of a Story describes a fascinating personal journey and recounts the history of the foundation of the Democratic School of Hadera, which has successfully implemented a fascinating and important pedagogical experiment: How to convert the authoritative school into a democratic community, where the students have equal rights. Anyone with interest in education should read this fabulour book, about a unique school which has justly gained a worldwide reputation. —Prof. Amnon Rubinstein, Former Israeli Minister of Education[/quote]

[quote]Yaacov Hecht is the father of democratic education in Israel. From his school of thought emerged the democratic schools, the personal education programs and significant amount of the educational communities. Hecht puts in the center the attentiveness of the child and to his various abilities and needs. In the schools which are influenced by his ideas, teachers and students alike take responsibility for themselves and for their shared work, and create an involved learning community. The Ministry of Education sees in Yaacov Hecht’s educational path a model worthy of studying and implementing throughout the education system. —Prof. Yuli Tamr, Former Israeli Minister of Education[/quote]

[quote]Yaacov Hecht wrote an important book, which expands the concept of education far beyond the schools’ boundaries. He demonstrates how education can transform whole communities, and how the living standards of the 21st century enable all, young as old, to adopt the ‘Life Long Learning’ outlook. –Prof. Daniel Greenberg, Founder of Sudbury Valley School, U.S.A.[/quote]

[quote]Yaacov thoroughly understands what freedom is for children. This understanding enables him to define a free framework with clear rules and boundaries. His approach to the field of education and to child raising is free, open and grounded. This is a rare approach. I am honored that Yaacov drew his inspiration from my father, A.S. Neill, and from Summerhill School, when he founded the Democratic School of Hadera. –Zoe Neill Readhead, Principal of Summerhill School, England[/quote]