Democratic processes
How can we model democratic processes in school and involve pupils in decision making? This and the next section of the unit explore some of the methods and processes that have been successfully used to encourage pupil participation.
Many schools have attempted to address the issue of pupil participation through class and school councils. Other schools have adopted peer mediation schemes, where pupils are responsible for helping their peers find their own solutions to problems. Behind all these schemes lies a belief in pupils having a right to voice their opinions and to be actively involved in the school community.
A school council is the most widely used process for involving pupils. However, too often school councils can only be involved in discussions about dinners, toilets and uniform. If pupils are to feel they really have a voice, the council should be a vehicle for participation in major decision making, allowing them to exercise rights and responsibilities and contribute to the wider school community. Real participation involves a transfer of some power from management to pupil. Of course there may be conflict over what the parents, the governors and the pupils want or there may be views which conflict with teachers' professional judgement. However, a school which provides a space for different views to be aired and conflicts of interest to be acknowledged and discussed will provide pupils with the skills they need to deal with such differences of opinion in society and the world around them.
The School Councils UK website gives information about setting up and running a school council in the 'Why and How' section.The Schools Council UK
The activity on the right enables you to reflect on the school council process. It allows you to formalise a process through drawing up a school council constitution. Note the following.
- If you have a school council and do not have a constitution, the activity provides an opportunity to explore the process and formalise it. In this case it will be crucial for the school council itself to be involved in this exercise.
- If you already have a constitution, the activity provides an opportunity to review it.
- If your school does not yet have a school council, use this activity to consider the process you feel would work best in your school, bearing in mind that ultimately pupils must be involved in the setting up and organisation of the process.
Now complete the activity opposite.
Activity Resources:
- Images
- Interactive
- Sound
- Text
- Video
Activity
- Go to the 'School Councils' section of the website developed for children living in the East End of London. School Councils
- Click on the link 'Design your own School Council constitution' (London Borough of Tower Hamlets, 2001). Complete the form to design your own school council constitution, choosing and adding statements which reflect your 'ideal' school council.
- You might like to try this activity out with a group of colleagues so you can gain a clearer understanding of some of the issues involved and get ideas about what a future school council might look like. If you already have a school council, ask members of the council to complete the 'School council constitution' form. Discuss the outcome with them.
