Advocacy
Students have knowledge of injustice in the world, have informed opinions about it, and know that their voice and actions have value. They can advocate for themselves and others
Introduction
Part of my role as an educator is to teach students how to navigate injustices in the world. Students bring their own experiences into the classroom, but they often lack knowledge of how to pursue meaningful change. My school and community have many issues, and students are aware of the reputation they have undeservedly been given. They have received messages their whole lives about what is and isn’t appropriate for them to take pride in. I want students to be proud of where they come from, rather than look for a way out.
My focus in this advocacy work has been to create experiences for my students to see themselves be successful in enacting change. This involves learning how to communicate effectively with those in positions of power and knowing how to speak and write about real world problems in ways that invest them. Students are at the center of the progress our school is making. They are advocating for their needs and identifying ways to interrupt systemic injustices.
Black History Month is particularly important to students at my school, and they pushed the school to do more to observe it. Students became informed about the issue and advocated for the school to meet their expectations. Through this work, they are developing a sense of pride not just in themselves, but in their cultural identity.
Follow the links below to learn more about how I taught students to advocate for themselves, as well as how they used this skills to create meaningful and lasting change in the school's culture.
Conclusion
In these projects, my students have demonstrated the ability to advocate for themselves and others in effective ways. Through their advocacy, students have seen how their voices have value. They worked to inform themselves of injustices both in their school and in their community and worked together to address them. My guidance served as the impetus for change that went well beyond my initial expectations. Students are playing a larger role in building the culture of the school.