How to Make Decisions Collaboratively with Young People
Your invitation to a live webinar on 26th March
Are you thinking about setting up your own school or learning community? Or are you an educator exploring governance and how to make decisions collaboratively with young people?
You might have heard about democratic education but perhaps you’re unsure about how to implement this at your setting. Maybe you’re confused about the different types of democratic decision making and governance. This webinar aims to help you understand the differences between a majority vote approach vs sociocracy.
In our live webinar on 26th March you will have the chance to meet two experts from democratic educational settings, each one offering a slightly different perspective.
Kate Coleman, Co-Founder of East Kent Sudbury
East Kent Sudbury is a part-time self-directed learning community for home educated young people aged 5-18 years. They say:
“We believe it is important for children to grow into engaged, responsible citizens, who value and understand the meaning and structure of our democratic society and feel empowered to enact change when they see fit. As such our setting is governed by direct democracy, meaning that each community member has direct say and an equal vote on all issues affecting the community.”
The community is managed by the Community Meeting where issues are debated and voted upon including rules and policies, budget, facilities and even the hiring of staff. Any member of the community can bring issues or proposals to the meeting for discussion and to be voted on. By giving each member of the community a voice and vote, everyone is respected and treated equally and fairly.
When rules are broken or conflicts occur, a complaint is sent to the Judicial Committee (JC). In its search for truth and justice, members of the JC wrestle with complex moral problems; how did the rule break affect others, whose rights were infringed upon? Through this process, everyone’s views are heard and students learn to see issues from others’ perspectives; to think of the good of the community as well as their own interests.
Lucy Stephens, Founder of The New School
The New School is a full-time, non fee paying, independent democratic school, based in London, which is on a mission to change the way we educate in the UK!
Their democratic decision-making process uses the principles of sociocracy - they use a circle system as a form of governance for both staff and young people to discuss issues, share ideas and make decisions about school life.
Circles also take place in each class at the beginning and end of every day, and are a place for young people to challenge, raise concerns, address problems and expect that they will be heard. It is a mechanism by which young people can tackle challenges with staff and to develop inclusive and emotionally intelligent relationships. Everyone participating has an equal vote and right to speak regardless of their age or job title. They say:
“When young people feel recognised, are included in decision-making activities and have their voice heard in a way that is not just tokenistic, it has a substantial positive impact on self-worth and wellbeing.
Participating in democratic processes builds strong interpersonal relationships based on equality and mutual respect. Giving young people the confidence to speak up, be heard, and engage with school life in the full knowledge that their needs and opinions will be taken seriously, supports them to develop their individual identity, but also is a means of developing the skills and learning to be inclusive, responsible members of a democratic society.”
Join this Webinar!
We will start with a short presentation from each of our guests, and then you are invited to ask your questions in a Q&A.
You can register for this webinar here. Don’t worry if you can’t make the date. Everyone who signs up will receive the recording via email.
Future Webinars
This is the second of several webinars we’ll be running this year, in collaboration with Limitless podcast host, Alex O’Neill. Stay tuned in the Progressive Education Group for details of upcoming events. We’ll also keep you updated via email.