Prerequisite(s): WRIT 105 or HONP 100. This course examines the public purposes of education in our social and political democracy. Students inquire into the role of schools in fostering the development of democratic principles and practices, and examines various curriculum designs and pedagogical strategies. Students also explore the main issues stemming from the efforts to teach democratically in public educational institutions. They examine and analyze successful practices of instruction and classroom management. Students complete 25 hours of fieldwork in an assigned high-performing urban school, which provides a context for these explorations. In order to participate in the fieldwork, students will be required to undergo a criminal history background check with fingerprinting as a required component of this course, which carries a separate fee paid to the state of New Jersey. Attendance at the first class and the fieldwork orientation is required. This course is prerequisite for admission into the teacher education program. Satisfies Interdisciplinary Studies GenEd requirement; satisfies SEEDS Political and Civic Life student learning outcome in alignment with Social Justice and Equity value. Mutually exclusive with READ 210 and EDFD 210.