{"id":69678,"date":"2023-09-06T00:10:53","date_gmt":"2023-09-06T04:10:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=69678"},"modified":"2023-09-06T00:10:53","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T04:10:53","slug":"voices-of-black-youth-remind-adults-in-schools-to-listen-and-act-to-empower-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/voices-of-black-youth-remind-adults-in-schools-to-listen-and-act-to-empower-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Voices of Black youth remind adults in schools to listen \u2014 and act to empower them"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The idea of inviting students into classroom conversations that teach them to define and express their concerns, ideas and opinions takes inspiration from the\u00a0United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The right to be heard is the general principle, and Article 12 of the UNCRC provides for children\u2019s involvement in decision-making that affects their lives. It includes the right for children to express their views.<\/p>\n

Many educators are increasingly concerned with the representation of\u00a0student voices<\/a>\u00a0in kindergarten to Grade 12 classrooms.\u00a0In the words of educator Shane Safir:<\/a>\u00a0\u201cEducators should view students not as empty vessels for the transfer of information but as knowledge builders in their own right. We need to share influence in the classroom rather than hoard it.\u201d<\/p>\n

But this concern is not necessarily adopted by all teachers. Creating dialogue among educators and students, especially Black Canadian youth, regularly proves problematic\u00a0because of the history of their negative schooling experiences<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As an education researcher who examines schooling experiences of Black Canadian youth and their families, I have worked alongside Black high school students in grades 10-12 to engage youth voices at the\u00a0Black Student Summer Leadership Program<\/a>. This is offered through the\u00a0Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement<\/a>\u00a0at the Toronto District School Board.<\/p>\n

Youth Participatory Action Research<\/a>\u00a0involves youth participating in their communities and in their own education to research issues that affect their lives. It also necessarily implies action on the part of receptive and understanding adults, willing and poised to help bring about changes youth need to see.<\/p>\n

Struggles in and for \u2018voice\u2019<\/strong><\/h4>\n

One of the greatest struggles to allow for \u201cvoice\u201d is the role of adults in these interactions and the hierarchical nature of schools. Paying attention to student voice involves changing fundamental values, norms and institutional practices, which means teachers need to be open to this shift.<\/p>\n

The term youth voice has gained credibility since the early 1990s. Scholars and education researchers challenged school staff to stop seeing\u00a0youth as passive recipients of an education<\/a>. \u201cYouth voice\u201d describes the many ways youth might have opportunities to have a voice and active participation in decisions shaping their lives.<\/p>\n

Positioning Black students as learners and collaborators will require a shift in educators\u2019 attitude towards them. That is, changing perceptions that see them as a threat.<\/p>\n

Educators need to acknowledge\u00a0stereotypical perceptions of Black people and communities that often inform how schools and teachers interpret Black students\u2019 behaviours<\/a>, and get to know Black students\u00a0beyond their academic<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0extra-curricular achievements<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Black youth\u2019s whole selves<\/strong><\/h4>\n

If schools desire genuine opportunities for students to be heard, educators must see Black youth as their whole selves. Teachers who view the validity in sharing power in classrooms will actively seek Black students\u2019 input. This must be done outside of the formalized structure of student councils or associations where students are elected to represent student communities.<\/p>\n

Change is needed in the way Black students\u2019 voices are positioned in education, bearing in mind:<\/p>\n