MARY ANN WOLF: The importance of student voices

Oftentimes when we discuss education we hear from parents, educators, legislators and advocates about what’s best for students. All of those groups undoubtedly bring something important to the conversation, but they cannot say it all. We must also bring in the perspective of students, and when we ask, they have much to say and offer to important discussions and decisions.

Uplifting student voices can also be an academic opportunity. According to the same CAP report, giving students, particularly older ones, more ownership of their education and therefore increasing engagement and interest in school may lead to better student outcomes. Additionally, providing students a place to participate in education policy gives schools another opportunity to prepare their students for life as engaged citizens.

It is also important to note that taking student voices into consideration can take many different forms. The New Hanover students who were able to form a Student Voice Committee were able to achieve representation at a district level. This can also be done through student surveys. At a school or classroom level, implementing student government, student journalism, student-led conferences with teachers and parents, and democratic classroom practices are all ways to empower students to be directly engaged in their education.

Determining what’s best for schools can seem complicated. There are a lot of stakeholders in public education and no one wants to feel ignored. However, if we do not prioritize the voice of school's main stakeholders, their students, we’re missing the point. Education is about preparing students to meet their full potential, and when we express to them that their input is not required to do so, we risk stifling that potential. If we want to do what’s best for our kids, listening to them is a simple but essential step.