A philosophical and historical review of the evolving and growing definition of democratic education through the writings of John Dewey, Nel Noddings, and Joyce Rothschild was accomplished in a literature review that included commentaries from the works of Jesse Goodman, John Goodlad, Amy Gutmann, Hugh Sockett, Kenneth Strike, and Maxine Greene, and others. The review of literature leads up the to the ethnographic case study of an alternative school that has been in existence for twenty-two years and is a member of the National Coalition of Alternative Community Schools. As an ethnographic work, I "write the culture" as I find it at Connectionist School with a special interest in the systemic, organic differences between their democratic organization and traditional bureaucratic public and private schools. The study is a contribution to school reform efforts that are directed toward transformation of schools (Goodlad, 1990; Strike, 1993; Sockett, 1993) and emphasizes the need for a pervasive ethic of care (Noddings, 1984, 1992). / Ed. D.

The main focus of this thesis is the topic of spin doctoring. We understand the term of spin doctoring as a one-sided manipulative form of communication whose aim is to influence public opinion and attitudes. The thesis deals with both historic concepts and present day definitions of spin. Based on academic work, this text examines the phenomenon of spin doctoring in relation to political communication, public relations, propaganda, corporate spin and journalistic professions. We elaborate particular techniques and methods of spin on the background of important cases related to spin doctoring. These specific cases refer to anglo-american countries. The field of interest of political communication, the relation of politics and media and their impact on democratic order of society is examined from the perspective of pluralistic pessimists and neo- liberal optimists. The position of journalists in the context of their cooperation with the spin doctors is also taken into account. The research part of this work deals with the spin doctoring in the case of "Radar". The aim of the research is to find out whether or not manipulative techniques were employed in order to gain consent and support of the public in the case of building an American radar base in the Czech territory. Quantitative research methods...