The Power of Student Voice in School Decisions – September 2015
A slogan that hangs in my office states Teaching is a Team Sport! Research has demonstrated the positive influence of collaborative teams on student success. Where do students fit on the team? Are we listening to students? It seems likely everyone would agree that students are our most valuable resource and are the key stakeholders in our education systems. Are we giving them the opportunity to sit at the tables in our schools where decisions are being made that directly affect them?
According to the research of Russel Quaglia, when students have a voice in their education, they are seven times more likely to be motivated to learn. Student voice can be encouraged in many ways. Simple discussions between students and adults are a start but more organized methods such as surveys or student focus groups could be more valuable. Regardless of the method of soliciting student voice one thing is clear, the feedback can be eye opening for teachers and staff. When asked for, student opinion can help school leaders understand more about the schools climate than they thought possible. One student suggested, “You can talk to teachers and other administrators, but students are the brutally honest ones. They’re the ones who will tell you what they’re really seeing or feeling.”
Advocates for student voice have found that teachers and school leaders receive valuable feedback when they build students’ competence and confidence to participate in focus groups. School leaders must trust what students are saying and then be willing to make changes based on their ideas even though it often feels uncomfortable at first. School personnel must simply embrace the fact that all students have something to teach us. “The biggest shift we’ve seen so far has been cultural, with every convening we’ve held, a few more educators and administrators see the immense value of incorporating student voice into their decisions,” says Erik Martin, a student voice advocate. “We’ve got to change hearts and minds before we can change whole institutions.”
When we reach out to students and then act on their feedback and suggestions we improve our system by empowering the very core of our existence. We offer the value and power of mutual respect and create a culture of feedback focused toward the opinions and feelings of the people with the most significance... the students. They are speaking, are we listening?
Perry, G. (2015). Are We Listening to Students? ASCD Education Update, 57(8), 1,4-5.
Last week Utah Governor Herbert held a press conference to discuss the Utah Core Standards in Mathematics and Language Arts. You can read the text of his speech here http://blog.governor.utah.gov/2014/07/governors-remarks-strengthening-utah-education-for-our-students/. As part of his plan, Governor Herbert has created a task force to review the mathematics and ELA cores. He is asking for input regarding the standards. You can participate by taking a survey at http://utah.gov/governor/standards/. Please note that the governor is asking for specific feedback, not general impressions.
Assessment and Data Use to Improve Schools
A wise friend of mine once taught me that you get what you “expect” and “inspect.” I have found this to be true in parenting and education. Expectations are clearly the single most influential factor in the success of any system, classroom, or life. Steven R. Covey said, “Treat a man as he is an he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he can and should be.” Inspecting progress towards expectation outcomes is equally as important. If one fails to “inspect” what one “expects” there will surely be disappointment.
Click below to continue reading the lastest Superintendent's Scoop.
- Superintendent's Scoop July 2014 - Thank a teacher
- Superintendent's Voted Leeway Update
- Superintendent's Scoop November 2013 - New BA
- Superintendent's Scoop November 2013 - Influence of Gratitude
- Superintendent's Scoop November 2013 SB271
- Superintendent's Scoop July-Aug 2013
- Superintendent's Scoop January 2017
- Superintendent's Scoop January 2016 - Prepare forYour Future
- Superintendent's Scoop January 2017 - Growth Mindset