Student Voices

Dear Chandra: “I Recognize You”

Posted by Stephen Hurley ⋅ September 2, 2014 ⋅ Leave a comment

I just posted this at voicEd.ca as part of a month-long initiative to encourage folks to write a letter to a beginning teacher. I could have written any number of letters, but this is the one that emerged on the night before the first day of school! It would be great to have others participate, … Continue reading →

A Thin Line Between Silence and Voice

Posted by charles kouns ⋅ May 19, 2013 ⋅ 2 Comments

A few days ago, David Loitz, Imagining Learning’s Seed Steward, posted a rough cut of a new film he is making about the Voices of the young people (and some of the adults) who have been involved in Listening Sessions. In watching it, in listening to those familiar faces and voices that I met just … Continue reading →

Positive Spaces for Engaging Young People’s Voice.

Posted by dloitz ⋅ May 10, 2013 ⋅ 15 Comments

Today a video of student Jeff Bliss, a sophomore at Duncanville High School in Texas, went viral fast. In the video below we are privy to Bliss passionately speaking his truth. He knows that learning is more than packets to fill out, more than passively fulfilling simple and mindless tasks. You want kids to come … Continue reading →

Changing Education (Guest Post by Youth Leader Arooj Ahmad)

Posted by dloitz ⋅ March 24, 2013 ⋅ 3 Comments

The need for a change in education is evident. But what’s the practical solution? It is easy to point out the flaws of the current system, but it is much more difficult to come up with relevant, applicable solutions. And it is even more difficult for policy makers to bring about change. But it has … Continue reading →

Victim Shaming, Rapist Celebrating Society: The Lessons Children are Learning

Posted by Jabreel Chisley ⋅ March 19, 2013 ⋅ 13 Comments

A few months ago, I wrote a post about how rape culture has a strong relation to America’s taxpayer-funded schools. Since, the evidence of rape culture in schools has shown such a strong connection to the existence of rape culture that the truth has become axiomatic. However, that is just the brunt of this issue, … Continue reading →

Independent Learning

Posted by Tara S ⋅ February 24, 2013 ⋅ Leave a comment

(Cross Posted from Life’s About the Journey) I saw this video on “The Independent Project” thanks to a shout out from my old principal Mr. Adams. Within minutes of checking out the premise of the project, their website and this video, I was fascinated and frankly, hooked. I think the idea behind a self motivated school … Continue reading →

Youth Voices in Afterschool Programs (Guest Post by Greg Williamson)

Posted by dloitz ⋅ February 7, 2013 ⋅ 2 Comments

For many years, I have worked to engage young people in the many decisions that affect them in school and outside of it. I hear many people in education talk about supporting “youth voice” or student centered education. Yet is education student centered if student are not given a voice in creating it? I believe … Continue reading →

I Must Be Lazy

Posted by Justin Strudler ⋅ December 5, 2012 ⋅ 24 Comments

I only participate in one sport and club, neither of which I am the head of. I must be lazy. I only take one AP class this year. I must be lazy. After school I enjoy watching the news or reading a book, rather than studying or doing all of my homework. I must be … Continue reading →

Learning to Think and Question (By Student Christian Isaac)

Posted by dloitz ⋅ December 4, 2012 ⋅ 7 Comments

The way we chastise or praise students at schools today is two laughs beyond hysterical. We’ve been raised to think that the most intelligent students are the ones who turn in their homework on time and fill in all the blanks on their notes. Society has gone so far, and has been so emaciated by … Continue reading →

Grades Limit My Learning

Posted by Justin Strudler ⋅ November 27, 2012 ⋅ 27 Comments

Originally posted as a guest post. Justin is a member of the Cooperative Catalyst We all stress ourselves out to memorize the formulas. We all have had that cram night before the final. We all BS homework at the last second so as not to “get a zero”. We all use Spark Notes. We all … Continue reading →

How can they know?

Posted by techkim ⋅ November 19, 2012 ⋅ 1 Comment

How can they know, how hard the burden? How can they know, how heavy the load? Struggle finds a strong heart and tears, rivers of love and silence binds us all. ~ Susan Herrick How can they know? That question has been an ongoing refrain in my head for some time now. Who are they? … Continue reading →

My schools GSA letter to East Aurora School District 131

Posted by Jabreel Chisley ⋅ October 30, 2012 ⋅ 1 Comment

Ohio Virtual Academy/ Gay-Straight Alliance From: Ohio Virtual Academy High School Gay Straight Alliance 1655 Holland Road Suite F Maumee, Ohio 43537 October 22, 2012 To: East Aurora School District 131 417 Fifth Street Aurora, Illinois 60505 ATTN: Mary Anne Turza Stella Gonzalez Annette Johnson Richard Leonard Raymund Hall Anita Lewis Ignacio Cervantes … Continue reading →

“Bullying Is Student Voice” (Guest Post by Adam Fletcher)

Posted by dloitz ⋅ August 19, 2012 ⋅ 8 Comments

In a lot of educators’ minds, “student voice” only happens when adults direct learners to share their thoughts in ways that are acceptable in schools. Whether embedded in the curriculum, listened to through adult-led student forums, or guided in carefully moderated websites, student voice is often painted as the cuddly, friendly, and convenient precursor to … Continue reading →

A Students Response to Mitt Romney’s: A Chance for Every Child

Posted by Jabreel Chisley ⋅ August 13, 2012 ⋅ 1 Comment

First off, education is not a privilege. Education is something that is to be thought of as a right, a requirement, and a necessity. Education is something that we owe to children and adults for success both today and tomorrow. When you deny the right to access education, you are denying the right to live … Continue reading →

I Am A Student, and I Stand Against Students For Education Reform (SFER)

Posted by editor ⋅ August 8, 2012 ⋅ 1 Comment

Originally Published at Teacher Under Construction “Empowering students to advocate for change.” It’s as if this organization was made just for me–just read my headline! If you take a few seconds to search around my blog documenting my vision, my involvement with students through mentoring and being a teachers assistant, my aspiration to be a future teacher, and restless … Continue reading →