I have read a lot of articles lately about having students share in control of the classroom and of the school as a whole. There was an article about students at an alternative school that are deciding the rules of the school as a debate. There was an article about students who are deciding the projects they are doing in their classes.
I personally wanted to share my thoughts. I love the idea of students having some say and control. I am a firm believer that students will act how we treat them. If we treat them like prisoners, they will act this way. If we treat them like children, they will act like it. If we treat them with respect and like adults they will rise to the occasion. If we want students to be ready for the real world, we need to treat them like they are in the real world.
When students understand why they are asked to do things, or feel they have some say, they are more willing to follow along with the program. It is key for success of a school to involve them. I remember being in graduate school and always hearing about involving all of the stakeholders in the decision making process. I have yet to see that on a school wide basis where I currently work, but that doesn't mean it can't exist. It can start small, in my classes. I can allow them to decide the amount of points an assignment is worth by developing the rubric for how they will be graded. I can allow them choice in the format of an assignment. I can allow them choice in the topics we will study for the year. All of these things can be done with some guidance.
I do think this can work. It may seem like more in the beginning, and may take more prep by the teacher, but the outcomes will be worth it. The important thing is the follow through from teh part of both the students and the teacher.
What do you think? Have you tried this in your classrooms?
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