Listening to
Student Voices
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Listening to Student Voices
Self-Study Toolkit
What do students say?
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“When students voiced their concerns, it became clear what steps we could take that would help them.
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Dan Hattaway
Assistant Principal
Muskogee High School
Muskogee, Oklahoma
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Our work with students in partner schools demonstrates that students have a lot
to say about how their schools could improve.
- First: students repeatedly ask that schools build strong, positive
relationships between teachers and students.
- Second: students say they are eager for more varied and creative teaching methods. They indicate boredom with lecture-format and whole-group instruction and want a more active,
participatory learning environment.
- Third: students' views about how
to be a successful learner in school reveal much about the structure of
our schools. At the lower grade levels, especially, students say that a
"successful learner" is quiet in class, doesn't bother others and is agreeable. At the same time, however, employers say they want schools to produce active learners, who can think critically and problem-solve both with others and independently.
- Fourth: students view their success at school as having narrow application. The School Change Collaborative found students felt schoolwork is not all that relevant. Student experiences outside school are often more meaningful and valuable.
The bottom line is, students are more
likely to care about their school when they contribute to its improvement. Students are capable workers and willing to serve as partners in school improvement work, contributing useful ideas and helping with data collection and analysis (Kushman, 1997).
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