Mary Alice Barksdale – författare

Literacy and Democracy in South African Primary Schools presents findings based on two research projects conducted in South African primary schools during the same time frame. Working from the South African Foundation Phase curriculum that was introduced in 2009, the first project focused on the introduction of leadership qualities and the election of classroom representatives in 3rd grade classes in four elementary schools. The other introduced process-based writing to teachers and researched the process and products of children’s stories. The book describes research experiences from the field, provides a brief overview of the history of the South African education system, and looks ahead to the future transformation of global educational systems.

Democracy in Picturebooks from Sweden and the United States, 2000-2020 explores democracy-themed picturebooks written for children between the ages of three and ten. With multiple analyses of picturebooks throughout the twenty-first century, the authors illustrate how picturebooks can play a vital role in the development of children’s perceptions about the different principles of democracy. From a holistic perspective, these books can be seen as the starting point for socializing children who will come to lead and participate in democratic societies themselves. The multi-pronged approach in this research introduces: (a) concepts underlying the role of picturebooks in familiarizing children with concepts about democracy, (b) research methods for picturebook analyses, (c) exploration of specific exemplar picturebooks that address democratic principles, (d) how picturebooks link democracy with human qualities, (e) utilizing democracy-themed picturebooks in the home and the school. This project holds the promise of promoting meaningful instruction of democracy through the use of picturebooks.