"Student Voice" is a phrase we are hearing more and more. James Layman, the director of the Association of Washington Student Leaders, defines "student voice" for us and explains why it is so valuable in our schools. James gives us the 4 C's of student voice, and tells us how to listen to what students are really saying. This is an episode you will want to share with your administrators and coworkers!
What is toxic positivity? Toxic positivity is telling people to always stay positive even though their circumstances are is clearly not fitting the situation. Telling people everything’s always going to be okay and essentially having a positive spin on practically everything. It is like everyone posting on social media, only the good side of what’s going on in their lives.
What is the "Devious Lick Challenge"? It is a challenge on TikTok, where students are encouraged to take something from their school; these items may include the bathroom sink, a soap dispenser, or even a teacher's desk. Schools have tried a multitude of ways to stop students, yet this challenge is just as popular today as ever. Clearly, many solutions aren't working. So, what is the solution?
The importance of student voice in schools has been an undercurrent of the work of the Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL) throughout its 65-year history. However, in recent years, AWSL has been working diligently to ensure a poignant yet powerful question that has guided our work and mission: “Have you asked your students yet?”
2020 caused a seismic disruption to the way AWSL has served schools and students for decades. Our model of large gatherings of in-person events, camps, conferences, and retreats to be shifted, altered, and reimagined, not just for our survival as an organization, but to find new and creative ways to serve schools through a pandemic.
The Association of Washington Student Leaders is a division of the Washington School Principals’ Education Foundation
Sponsored by the Association of Washington School Principals
