Smaller People, Larger Voices—Student Voice

Written by Allison Liu
Edited by Kathy Lu
Cover Image by Nancy Cao

Who makes the rules? In the past, all authority and decision-making lay in the hands of faculty and teachers of a school community. Fueled by society’s perception that children and adolescents should blindly follow every decision and regulation made by adults, students once had no sense of control over what happens at school. However, as educators and students living in the 21st century, school communities such as Havergal have embraced the students of today to reimagine tomorrow. After all, we are the next generation and the leaders of tomorrow, so who better to have a say in education than us? Curriculums are no longer solely built upon a teacher lecturing at the front, but rather  centered around active students engagement. Discussions and questions are encouraged rather than ignored. Clubs and student-led programs strive to highlight student leadership and ensure that students are involved in designing and planning their own learning. This is student voice. 

We are living history. The past few years have been full of ups and downs, to say the least. During what the whole world is calling an ‘unprecedented’ time with the pandemic and a multitude of global affairs, most students’ day to day schooling has continued to shift dramatically. Moving in and out of online school, we saw a lack of opportunities to get involved activities and to be around other students. As school communities are transitioning back to normal, society recognises the need for student voice and student-centered approaches to learning. So what exactly do we mean by this? The concept of student voice is a constantly growing and evolving movement in many educational systems. However, not all schools implement it or understand why it’s beneficial. Student voice is about expressing ideas, thoughts, opinions, and values, as well as reflecting on current learning methods and students’ perspectives on how to drive positive change within a school community. Student voice involves sharing these ideas to spark change with those in educational leadership positions. Additionally, as student voices gather, we create forms of student leadership that benefit our community. Research from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center of Transition explains; “Instead of a top-down, teacher-directed approach to learning, [student voice ensures that] students play an active and equal role in planning, learning, and leading their classroom instruction as well as contributing to the development of school practices and policies.”

If you’ve ever sat in class and wondered “when am I ever going to need to know this?”, you’re not alone. It’s not like the quadratic formula comes in handy very often. In fact, according to studyfinds.org, the average American uses only 37% of what they learned in school on a daily basis. This information might not encourage you to try harder in all your classes, however, student voice might. According to research from Quaglia Institute for School Voice and Aspirations in 2016, students who believe they have a voice in school are seven times more likely to be academically motivated than students who do not believe they have a voice. And this is only scratching the surface of why student voice is important. Student voice also leads to an increased likelihood that students will experience self-worth, engagement, and purpose in school. The more choice, control, and opportunities for collaboration that educators can give students, the greater their motivation and engagement will be. A student’s effort and persistence are key factors in achievement. Moreover, developing a voice and thinking about beneficial ways to impact one’s community is something that carries on into adulthood both in the workplace and other real-life settings. Opportunities for student voice and leadership that exercise critical thinking and communication are crucial for future endeavors. 

There are different types of learners and students, and therefore there are different types of student voices. Formal student voice relates to leadership. Some students prefer to put themselves out there and share their voices on a wider scale, for example by participating in student councils. Student voice can also be informal. Teachers often invite students to share ideas and opinions in the classroom, where some students might feel more comfortable participating. Instructional student voice is when a teacher requires students to share their voice through an assignment and or research topic. Cultural student voice refers to reflecting the diversity of the student body and our global society in school communities. Lastly, evaluative student voice is when students evaluate certain aspects of a school community and give feedback that is used to create change in future decisions related to school. There are many other forms of student voice and this is just naming a few. Some students may feel more comfortable with one type of student voice than others, but every student deserves to have a say in their learning environment. 

All this talk about student voice, but how does it apply to our Havergal community? A myriad of opportunities to share student voice is available to Havergal students: sports, co-curricular activities, student council, clubs, affinity groups, and more. Each student is supported when discovering their unique voice and passions. Classroom environments aim to ensure that students feel safe taking risks and are valued as individuals. Leadership skills are developed at every grade level and opportunities for more responsibilities continue to increase by grade. Overall, Havergal serves as a prime leader in implementing student voice in school communities and it’s important to utilize these opportunities. 

Student voice involves how students can offer contributions to their school community and their own learning. It’s vital in many ways as it develops one's ability to communicate effectively in the future and increases motivation and a sense of self-worth while in school. There are different types of student voice and a multitude of ways to get involved. Havergal is the quintessence of offering these opportunities. In the end, student voice ensures that the adults in a school community don’t make all the rules, and that’s what sets the foundation for the future of education. 

Work Cited

“Student Voice: A growing movement within education that benefits students and teachers.” Center on Transition Innovations, https://centerontransition.org/publications/download.cfm?id=61. Accessed 25 November 2022.