Popular education is a type of public education that aims to emphasize the importance of education in terms of an educated populace’s political responsibilities. The basic idea is that students should be educated without religious or political bias, allowing them to learn in a way that fosters critical thinking and future leaders. Within various popular education movements, there is an anarchistic or rebellious tradition, which can often be traced back to the time and place in which such movements took place. Although popular education is not inherently revolutionary, it does tend to enforce or emphasize personal freedom and responsibility in the pursuit of autonomy.
One of the most important tenets of popular education is that it empowers citizens to effect the change they want to see in the world. This idea, and its extension to anti-government feelings or notions, are frequently responsible for some of the more radical aspects of this educational approach. A lot of emphasis is placed on how a well-educated citizen can make a difference in his community. As a result, some of these popular education ideas are inextricably linked to the concept of public education and its significance in society.
Popular and public education are frequently viewed as essential to the successful construction of a free and democratic society. Many social commentators believe that democracy is heavily reliant on citizens being educated and aware of the country’s problems. This is why public education is regarded as the backbone of democracy; without it, the people would be unable to make the decisions that a democracy requires. Popular education is frequently viewed as part of this, as it aims to instill in students the importance of their place in society and how they can affect the world around them.
However, in order for this type of popular education to be effective, it must be unbiased and free of religious or political bias. Students are expected to create their own knowledge base and draw their own conclusions based on what they learn. This allows them to develop critical thinking skills and a greater understanding of global issues and how they might be able to help solve them. This type of education and similar movements are frequently associated with the educational philosophy of critical pedagogy.