Student Voice in the Classroom by: Tam Mandanis

Eyes shifted from one person to the next and the growing tension in the classroom was obvious.  The setting felt like a duel that they held during the 1700’s.  Questions ran through my mind asking myself, “Why is she doing that, it’s practically impossible...Besides she won’t grade it for the next two months.”  From looking around the classroom, I knew every student was thinking practically the same exact thing. The time spent on an argument between us, the students, and the teacher had already reached eight minutes and still counting.  The silence finally broke with my teacher saying, “I don’t care if you guys don’t think it’s fair, I’m the teacher and what I say is final and that’ll be the end of it.”  A loud “UGH” filled the class with a noise contribution from every student.  This example conflict may seem like a small issue, but it’s actually a really a big problem that students often face every day. 

Students see a teacher two to three times a week, every week for nine months out of the twelve-month calendar year.  When they’re put in an environment where they don’t feel appreciated, respected, equal, and get a say in what’s happening, they dread where they are.  Understanding that kids are pretty much “adults in training”, will help improve the classroom. They don’t know how to handle so much stress that gets thrown onto them and each class adds its own stress to a certain degree.  Giving students a voice in the classroom will insure their respect, hard work, imagination, etc.  Try putting the golden rule into play here and think about if students wouldn’t have anything to do with how the teacher felt and their thoughts, how bad of an environment would that teacher be in? With saying this, I don’t mean don’t create boundaries for your students.  It’s important for the student to know that the teacher is there for a reason and that they deserve respect.  Respect is given where it’s earned and so if a teacher is often strict or rude to their students, respect won’t be given to them.  This train of thought isn’t only applicable in a classroom, but any work environment that requires social interaction.  A teacher who values their student’s opinions and takes into consideration their thoughts and ideas and uses them to improve the quality of learning, is the teacher who will be given the respect they deserve. Ask yourself the question, how are you making sure that the students are heard as equally as you in-order to maximize learning and eliminate potential conflict?