Guest Blogger: Nelson Beaudoin

To paraphrase Margaret Wheatley, “People tend to support what they help to create."  School leaders in search for answers as to why students appear apathetic about learning or are disenfranchised from their school need to take note of Wheatley’s assertion.  People are quick to brand our student’s lack of caring about education as a form of rebellion or as a result of societal corrosion, when, in fact, there are many avenues open to schools to bolster student engagement.

One way to get student buy-in is to involve them in the process of school improvement.  The NASSP and the National Associations of Student Councils endorses a program called RSVP (Raising Student Voice and Participation), which outlines a protocol for increasing student involvement.

As a long time school leader who has thrived by promoting student voice I have come to believe that involving students is the missing ingredient in school redesign.  Beyond school improvement, there are numerous reasons for supporting student voice… here is a “top ten” listing:

10.  Schools should be about students.
 9.  Student participation should be non-negotiable.
 8.  Their involvement leads to more success.
 7.  Involvement in decision-making creates ownership.
 6.  Students feel like volunteers, not prisoners.
 5.  Teens should not be hidden away until they reach adulthood.
 4.  Students may have some of the answers we seek.
 3.  Caring creates good citizenship.
 2.  It shows that adults believe in their abilities.
 1.  “A silent school is not a school at all”. – D. Litkey

When each student is empowered to take responsibility for what happens to them academically and socially, a culture of caring ensues.  Students learn to speak out on matters of importance, learn self-advocacy skills and are provided opportunities to practice civic skills.  Join me in San Diego to explore other ways to make our work about what matters most- each student.

The session “Creating a School for Each Student” will be held on Saturday, February 28 from 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.