Practical citizenship: how to learn and exercise participation in schools

ABSTRACT This article presents research designed to support teachers in the promotion of learning practical citizenship through the provision of appropriate guidelines and strategies. Practical citizenship refers to critical participation in democratic processes for social transformation. The authors recognise schools’ transformative capacity, despite their hierarchical structure and the prevalence of individuality. They contend that the analysis of how people learn and exercise practical citizenship in diverse contexts generates useful knowledge to be applied in schools.They have analysed the experiences and discourses of the stakeholders involved in participatory movements and practices: those generally located in informal and open contexts. Their interpretation of the results has drawn practical guidelines for helping teachers to make school the most democratic environment possible.