Standing Up to Schools
As a high school student attending quite a conservative school, it can be extremely hard to sit and wholeheartedly comply with every single action the school takes. I pride myself on being an empathetic person – open and understanding of the diversity of humanity – so it is incredibly conflicting to accept some of the lessons being taught.
Being empathetic towards the opinions your school advocates is important. However, an integral aspect of showing empathy is empowerment. Promoting equity over equality is so important, especially in environments which exclude or are not catered for some specific groups. This is a commonality in schools. Through my experience, schools are generally moulded to suit only a few types of students and often do not have a wide range of flexibility in ensuring that all students have the same support and opportunities to thrive and achieve. The problem arises when this system has been maintained for so long that it becomes ‘normalised’ and rigid – to which empowerment is a valuable skill to break this cycle.
As someone who has faced the process of standing up against my school, I encourage everyone to do the same. I understand it is a daunting prospect, I was very scared about anonymity in my campaigns, so here are some of my best tips from my own experiences! It is important to recognise that not all schools are the same and these are not guaranteed to work, however these are some tactics I used in my journey, and you are welcome to do the same!
Carefully calculate your argument and how you will achieve this. It is so important that you have a plan on what to do with careful considerations on what could go wrong. Something that I found most successful at getting my school to listen is by “playing their game”. I used a professional approach to making change in which I had presented an intricate document to the Board of Trustees. This way your argument seems much more credible and backed up, also schools will find it hard to argue against straight facts from well-known sources.
Get some friends to back you up! You never have to fight for anything alone! Standing up against a big party can be especially exhausting so it is always important to have a like-minded support network that you can pass the baton to when you require a break. Change doesn’t rely on just you; you can take a break sometimes because you are only human.
Prioritise your safety and mental health. I totally understand how, when you’re very passionate about a cause, it can cloud your judgement and feel all-encompassing. Remember that your well being always comes first and you will be unable to create any change if you are not 100% mentally and physically.
Plan your points. If it comes to a stage where you are having a meeting with a staff member your argument will come across much more strongly if you organise your lines of thinking beforehand. Make a list of everything that you want to say so that you remain calm and organised. Sometimes anger may arise from the situation, so I suggest you try your best to remain collected, exhibiting respect for your school. It is worth considering if you are providing any ammunition which could be used against you. Use lines in your argument that make it clear that you do understand their perspective and the potential dilemma they face.
Showing respect for your school is the way to go. It is super hard to respect everyone in certain situations but showing honour and respect for your school is going to get them to listen more. If you present your argument out of concern for the students as opposed to a disapproval of the school, they are more likely to respond as student safety and comfort is a top priority. This can be achieved through the tone of voice and word choice which you use, never critique the school or attack them. Always keep your voice confident and consistent, never debate or aggressively argue with anyone.
Schools are often a place of an enforced power dynamic, with students at the very bottom of this hierarchy of influence. Yet, you are more influential than you are led to believe. With the correct approach, which is specific to your school, you can make tangible change happen! Pointing out issues in the functioning of your school system can be tiring, and it may feel like a battle that you are fighting alone. Put yourself first. People can become blinded by their cause and feel that it is their entire life force - but remember that you cannot give 100% of your effort and time if your capacity to give is only at 50%. There is no shame in taking a break to recharge, someone can always pick up where you left off because I promise you are not alone in your fight.
