5. Authentic Opportunities for Student Leadership and Decision-making
For most students, school is a major part of their world. While family and other
activities may take a portion of their time, the greater part of every student’s
day is spent in school. As a result, much of their world, including friends,
responsibilities, problems and issues, is related to school. In order to encourage
young people to learn how to assume responsibility for their communities,
providing leadership opportunities for their school community is a logical step.
Myriad opportunities exist for students to understand school issues
and make and execute decisions about school activities, from day-to-day
planning to peer mediation, organizing and fundraising. Encouraging student
participation in school governance can extend well beyond the few who are
typically involved in formal student government.
Indicators
Authentic student leadership and decision-making opportunities include:
- Opportunities to discuss school policies, present their viewpoints and positions and be heard respectfully.
- Information about student rights and responsibilities in school.
- Opportunities to work with others to address school problems.
- Established processes for students to air their grievances, including issues of fairness.
- Meaningful decision-making roles for addressing facets of school life that are important to students.
- Authentic student roles in resolving tensions and issues in school.
- Established school mechanisms and processes by which to gauge and respond to student voices.
Evidence
- There is a strong, consistent relationship between those who participate in student government and adults who are politically and civically active.
- Students who believe their student government matters indicate they are more likely to vote as adults, even if they are not involved in student government themselves.
- Fourteen-year-olds who believe they can make a difference in their school — and those who believe their student council has an impact on school policies — are more knowledgeable about politics and interested in current events than other youth.
Click to view Approach 6 >>