Educational Impact: Why Student Voices Matter on School Boards

In spring 2016, the U.S. Census Bureau released a stunning figure: topping just over 75 million, the Millennial generation finally surpassed Baby Boomers in population. These young people, ages 18-34, are rapidly becoming America’s largest generation with an economic and political clout to match. But even though younger voters have been an instrumental part of political and cultural shifts in America over the last several years, there is one place young people are still fighting to be heard: school.

More Millennials have bachelor’s degrees than any other generation before them and, yet, whether you fall on the younger or older end of the generational spectrum can determine a lot about your student rights.

Since school boards were first established in Massachusetts in 1862, Americans have cultivated a rich history of democratic representation and local control in education. Whether a parent or a business owner, you have the chance to hold a direct voice in public and private schools of all kinds.
However, if you are a student, this choice often does not exist.

American school boards are filled with representatives from across the political spectrum at the state and local levels, but too often they have failed to include those directly affected by the choices of the board: students.

A few universities, traditional public schools, and charter schools have been testing student representation, but more often than not, students are the very demographic continuously lacking representation by their governing bodies. As a student, you simply don’t have a say in the decisions impacting your future. How fair is that?

Recently, one Rutgers faculty member raised this very concern. While the university’s Board of Governors had representation from interested parties and alumni, often these board members were 10-40 years removed from university life. The members were completely unaware of new problems affecting current students, such as the need for mental health services and basic changes in curriculum.

The same can be said for schools across America; and not just at the college level.
Over a 4-month period in 2016, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that nearly 21 million youth between 16-24 were employed in the U.S., and these numbers demonstrate the responsibility and influence young people have in their communities. That influence is only growing. So, why can’t these students – who are talented and hardworking enough to hold jobs - also have a voice and a vote when it comes to their education?

This lack of student rights across America raises concerns about the nature of our educational environment itself.

When economic and political interests can carry more weight on school boards than the concerns of students, it is evident that a democratic and student-centered approach to education is lacking. Allowing students to vote in the highest positions of school districts, university leadership, and traditional public or charter school governance demonstrates a strong commitment to student success.

Student representation brings forth fresh perspectives and on-campus knowledge otherwise unknown to school boards, but it also more appropriately reflects the vested interest young people have in their own futures and our American communities overall.

Embracing Conversations about Race in Schools.

By Anthony Hubbard

Discourse about race dominates American life

'Race' is the ugly word that dominates American life in a near complete negative manner despite the fact that large portions of the country voted twice to elect an African American president. The term race forces us to confront horrid factors such as institutionalized discrimination, widespread poverty and paranoia, distrust and despair, criminal justice failings, police brutality, and widespread racial discrimination.

In the current scenario, conversations about race extend well beyond the plight of millions of blacks. It covers Latinos, Asians, Muslims, and several persecuted minorities. Open up a prominent national newspaper or switch on cable news, and you'll find several horrific news stories that ensure that racism remains an omnipresent conversational topic and with good reason. At most schools and colleges, we fail to sensitize America's children about race issues at an age when their minds are very vulnerable to internalizing subtle forms of racism. Successful classroom engagement is essential to reducing problems related to race in our society.

Educators must engage in race-related topics objectively

In urban settings, at times, it can feel like America exists as a post-racial society, and this is often the first myth that educators should dispense off with an evidence-based approach. Before engaging the classroom on the topic of race, teachers must gather all the facts that support their argument and methodically incorporate it into their classroom environment. Interracial conversations about race are bound to be dangerous and can go off track very quickly, hence, it is essential to be prepared with as much care as possible.

Engaging in conversations about race in your classroom could impact generations of individuals, as education is the only way we can end the racial differences at the core of our society. Colleagues may not be enamored about an educator's desire to talk about race, and confronting your colleagues about its importance requires a significant degree of courage and education.

Your courage could shape the way students think about race forever

Educators must understand that opening up a dialogue about race is far better than leaving it unsaid or unspoken. Having a direct, objective, and courageous conversation about race could positively impact the life of all your students. At the least, bringing up the topic in the classroom will provide it with legitimacy, and convey the importance of discussing it with students of all races.

It is important to repeat your points in a clear, lucid manner that definitively reiterates the core of your message. Repetition is one of the most important tools in the hands of educators, and it is vital to ensure that students hear what you are saying instead of what they think you may be saying. Clarity and engagement are the best things educators can provide to their students in such discussions. Reinforce factual information without resorting to gross generalizations and statement of biases. Provide students with the platform to air their views and encourage arguments that steer clear of emotional agitation and name-calling. Allow all students, not just minority students, to state what they feel so that you can understand how incorrect opinions can be altered for good.

Expect discomforting discussions and arguments

One factor educators cannot control is a student's previous engagement with racism, picked up from the world around them. Naturally, discussion of such a controversial topic is bound to lead to awkward and discomforting situations. As individuals, we are constantly socialized into differing views on race based on our external environment.  This can lead to excessive degrees of cognitive dissonance when one person's opinions do not align with the opinions of the surrounding others. As an educator, you must allow students to argue with you and each other without 'otherizing' the opposite views or views you may completely disagree with.

Educators may need to set basic standards for decorum before proceeding with a discussion about race. Elucidate to the students the importance of rational conversations based on facts and logic instead of emotional conversations based on inherent stereotypes and biases. Educators must strive to normalize the presence of differing perspectives before clearly imparting the fundamental mistakes behind certain views. When you are trying to explain to a student why, for example, constantly passing jokes about all blacks being thieves, is incorrect, you should not belittle a student, but expose the dangerous statements and very real statistics behind such statements. Make the intellectual appeal and not the emotional appeal.

Speak the truth and encourage students to do the same

Beyond all else, the truth requires absolute courage. Share your experiences with racism and its impact on individuals in your life. Share your truthful opinions even if it may be unpopular with colleagues and students. When educators share their honest opinions, their colleagues and students may be able to point out inherent misconceptions and mistakes.

Conversations about race can be a two-way learning experience and you may become aware of your incorrect beliefs and misconceptions, which may have seemed based on facts. The truth is capable of setting both you and your students free. Addressing honest misconceptions and incorrect opinions are much easier once heartfelt sentiments have been shared.

Accept a lack of closure

Conversations about race will typically provide no conclusion, and at the very least, competent educators can encourage students to think differently about long-held beliefs. As an educator, your primary job is to ensure that students are aware of the severity of the problem at hand and encourage them to empathize with the problems of millions of people around the country.

At the end, students should be able to realize that, classroom discussions cannot provide closure for burning issues that are not closed in the real world. At the very least, students must be sensitized to the plight of racial minorities, and as a result of your discussion, they could be encouraged to seek tangible solutions to the multi-faced problems at hand.