Advocating for Students
Students
form the most important and crucial part of a country's population because they
are believed to be the upcoming leaders. Teachers have a duty and
responsibility to educate the students and make them learn important issues in
the world. In the process of learning in schools, students face various issues
and circumstances in terms of policies and programs that massively affect them.
This brings up the need for teachers to advocate for the students and voice
their concerns and issues affecting them. It is important for teachers to
advocate for students because failure to do so will result in implementation of
questionable policies by stakeholders in the education system. Therefore,
teachers play a vital role in advocating for students because they ensure that
the policies are equitable, and serve to help and support the learning process
of students (Alexandria, 2005).
The
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) refers to teacher
as educator advocates. Educator advocates have got to raise their voice and put
adequate efforts to ensure that they go beyond the classroom and into the local
setting, with the goal of attaining a national recognition. That being the
case, educator advocates have to demonstrate clear path ways that illustrate
how they advocate for the students. Generally educator advocates have to take
actions or act accordingly to advocate for the students. For instance they
could contact policy makers and communicate to other important allies that make
policies to give their inputs on the formulation of the best policies (Alexandria,
2005). Educator advocates have to also make plans so as to be able to identify
the specific goals that they intend to achieve. Additionally educator advocates
show that they advocate for students by identifying functional support units (parents,
clubs, businesses, town hall, city leaders) that will make the most important
positive impact on the students in the learning process.
Having
mentioned that students form an important population it is evident that there
are other groups who value them. Firstly students live in a community and the mentors
or leaders have to be involved in their learning process. It is important for
the students’ families to be also involved in their education. Educator
advocates should encourage, engage, and include student families in advocating
for them. Families can advocate for students by coming to meetings, discussing
problems, sharing opinions, expressing their views, and keeping in touch with
what the school is currently doing. Also, educator advocates can ask for
resources or support from the student families when pursuing a particular cause
and in such ways the families would be involved (Alexandria, 2005).
Students
have to succeed and therefore it is important to create conducive environments
in schools to support them. Because of this, changes have to be made in the
education system to help the students’ succeed. Schools have to change and move
away from the biased beliefs and instead respect and appreciate all cultures and
languages as opposed to discriminating against students. Changes have to be
made in the education system to ensure students succeed by laying emphasis on
educator quality and professionalism (National Education Association, 2015). Quality
teachers have to be hired and retained by schools to ensure that a great sense
of professionalism is built in the schools. Doing all of this will help us
become better advocates for our students.
Alexandria, V. A. (2005). Association for Supervision and Curriculum development. Marzano,
RJ, Waters, T., & McNulty, BA.
National Education Association. (2015).The Road to Student Success: A Toolkit for
Student-Centered Advocacy. National Education Association
This course will help you think more clearly through many of life's dilemmas and difficult situations. Some logical fallacies you might be familiar with are: Ad hominem, begging the question, red...
Astrobiology, formerly known as exobiology, is an interdisciplinary scientific field concerned with the origins, early evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. Astrobiology cons...
To introduce the theoretical and aspects of digital electronics, which is the back bone for the basics of the hardware aspect of computers and other modern electronic gadgets
Fuel your vocabulary today by taking this advanced course rapidly