Demcratic Principles:

Rights, Responsibilities, and Involvement

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Two of the most important ideals of democracy concern equality and involvement. All men and all women are created equal. We are equal simply because we are human. It is our humanness which allows us to recognize each other as equals and gives us our individual voice. Anyone can become involved in any issue at any time. Pick up a pen or send an email to your congressional representative. You are involved! Involvement is the heart of democracy because democracy demands responsible involvement. Equality, humanness, and involvement connects us.

Consider for a moment the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In a moment we became equal and involved, Americans one and all—interconnected and interdependent—and more human than we might have once thought possible.

Practicing democratic principles is not a luxury but a necessity if communities of practice truly seek to make safe learning environments a reality. It is the involvement of people that brings the power of transformation to creating safe school environments. But involvement can take many forms. We at the School SafetyNet propose the use of the collaborative leadership model. Collaborative leadership is a model of leadership that celebrates diversity and thrives on collective participation.

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