Rights-Based Education
It is a child’s right to make their own decisions regarding their education. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted in 1989, sets out the internationally recognised rights of children everywhere. It includes the freedom for children and young people to be able to express themselves and have their views heard on matters that affect them. Schools rarely offer learners a meaningful say in what, how and when they learn, or how their learning environment is shaped. Adultism is a term for the prejudice, discrimination and oppression experienced by young people, on the basis that due to their age they are ‘less than’ adults. It limits people’s capacity to see and understand young people’s potential to self-direct and have more agency and autonomy in their process of living and learning. This needs to change in order for young people everywhere to get access to a rights-based education.
Below is a collection of articles and resources from within Changemakers Lab, Change Collective’s activist training programme, and from other organisations - ranging from practical toolkits to videos and podcasts - showcasing the work of young people and other activists fighting for dignity and respect for all young people. Is there something missing from here? Fill in this form to add a resource!
“Children who are allowed to make their own choices, in an environment where they have real choices and where those choices pertain to real life, learn far more, far more efficiently, than children who are forced to follow a curriculum that seems irrelevant to them.”
— Peter Gray
The Freedom to Learn network connects innovators around the UK, within and outside mainstream education, to inspire and learn from one another in the pursuit of a freer, fairer education system.
Coordinated by Phoenix Education (the organisation behind Change Collective!), they hold events throughout the year, and share examples of education innovation through the Freedom to Learn podcast, UK directory and social media networks.
Are you aged 14-18 and passionate about campaigning for change in the education system?
The Changemakers Lab 2021 training and campaign programme is now underway, but fill in this form if you would like to get involved in Change Collective, Changemakers Lab or other upcoming projects.
In the news…
theguardian.com
The teacher who decided to 'unschool' her own children
Anna Dusseau felt her son and daughter were being ‘processed’ in school. Now she has advice for those thinking of home..
schoolsweek.co.uk
Home-schoolers deserve better than misinformation and distrust
If policymakers want to better understand home-schooling their focus should not be on pushing a failing model into homes, writes..
yesmagazine.org
There Are Better Ways to Educate a Child
Before any of us had ever heard of COVID-19, we were already living in times that leadership theorists call “VUCA”—or volatile, uncertain, complex, and..
theguardian.com
Utopian thinking: why not put children in charge of their schools?
The future is rapidly changing and uncertain, so our young people need to retain their creativity. Top-down authority is no longer..
fee.org
Why a Childhood of Play Is the Best Education
My education was helpful. But only to the extent that I’d been given the freedom to play with it..
kqed.org
Designing Learning to Prioritize Student Voices
In our society, it is widely believed that because young people lack experience, they aren’t smart, capable, or insightful. These..
A youth-led movement driving change, re-imagining the 21st century education system #PupilPower
Adultism: A series on the systemic discrimination of youth
What is Adultism?
Templestowe College, Australia - where students lead their own learning
Prince Ea - What is School For?
'Schools were Unsafe Before this Deadly Virus'
Student at Summerhill School makes the case fo children's rights
Community-Led Discipline: How students at Sands School manage the community
How to Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education
How students at the world's oldest 'children's democracy' organise themselves
Disrupting Adultism | Heather Kennedy | TEDxCrestmoorParkWomen
An Introduction to Self-Directed Education
BBC Ideas - Are young people discriminated against for being young?
A volunteer group of parents and educators working with families, students, and the public education system to put the needs of kids first.
A new school in Manchster that's being designed and run by young people
Resource hub about alternative approaches to conventional methods in education