Students: decision-markers for schools
Students: decision-markers for schools
Loading...
Issue Date
1999
Authors
Stone, Sara Giteck
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The proof for the theory that students who act as policy-designers and decision-makers In the school environment will become more motivated and higher performing learners can be seen in the following action research project. The project was performed approximately over a sixth month period in both a fifth grade classroom and within the Elementary School Student Council for grades third through fifth. The action research project shows the development of students from followers in the governance of the school to leaders and policy-makers. Students learned, with guidance from teachers and other traditional authoritarian leaders, to participate In the governance of the school and thus in their own education. Students were able to make decisions, from small ones about not having to wear uniforms every day, to larger ones influencing school rules, cafeteria food, and having a student on the site council.
By the end of the six months, students felt that they were active participants in the governance of the school and were taken seriously as decision-makers. While It is too soon to see empirically 11 this participation has affected the students grades, It Is possible to see that students have a higher self-esteem and feel more Important in the governance of the school. This raised sell-esteem, as concluded from the above research, will eventually enable students to feel better and more invested in their schoolwork and help them to be better performers and higher achievers.
Description
Keywords
Teaching