We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Home

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Popular Education?

By G. Wiesen
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,512
Share

Popular education is a form of, typically, public education that seeks to reinforce the importance of education regarding the political responsibilities of an educated populace. The basic idea is that students should be educated in a way that is free of any religious or political bias, allowing students to learn in a way that produces critical thinkers and future leaders. There is something of an anarchistic or rebellious tradition within various popular education movements, and this can often be tied to the time and place in which such movements have occurred. Popular education, by itself, is not innately revolutionary but it does tend to enforce or emphasize personal freedom and responsibility in gaining autonomy.

One of the most important tenets of popular education is in the responsibility it places on citizens to be empowered and enact change they wish to see in the world. Some of the more radical aspects of this educational approach often come from this idea, and the extension of it toward anti-governmental feelings or notions. A great deal of emphasis is placed on how an educated citizen can make a difference in the country around him. Some of these ideas of popular education are therefore also closely tied to the idea of public education and its importance within a society.

Popular education and public education are often seen as critical to successfully building a free, democratic society. Many social commentators see democracy as being heavily dependent on the fact that its citizens are meant to be educated and aware of the troubles afflicting the country. This is why public education is considered the backbone of democracy; without it, the populace is not informed enough to make the decisions asked of them in a democracy. Popular education is often seen as a part of this as well, since it strives to reinforce in students the importance of their place within society and how they can change the world around them.

In order for this type of popular education to be effective, however, it is meant to remain unbiased and free from religious or political intervention. Students are meant to build their own knowledge base from what they learn and come to their own conclusions. This allows them to become critical thinkers and have a greater awareness of the problems in the world and how they may be able to help solve them. The educational philosophy of critical pedagogy is often connected with this type of education and similar movements.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-popular-education.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.