Student 1: Welcome to a podcast from MoAD, The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. This is the second podcast in a three-part series, all about student voice. Today, we're talking about how your voice can be used at school, to help impact what you're learning and how you're learning it. In our last podcast, we talked about democracy, and how everyone has the power to have a say and contribute to positive change. We talked about how a student voice at school means your school makes room for your ideas and your leadership on issues that affect everyone at school, staff included. But how often are your opinions asked about the content you are learning and the way it is being taught to you. Does your school have systems in place for you to have your say?
Student 2: Students deserve a say in how we can help our school improve.
Student 3: The school always gives us choices on what to do, or they talk about an idea and let us design what it would look like.
Student 4: Because if you have more voice, you can say the way you learn better, like if I learn better outside, they will see what they can do.
Student 5: They can make students feel more comfortable and they can learn better and be in their comfort learning zone.
Student 1: Schools that are allowing the student voice to be heard are using democracy. They give trust to their students and share the responsibility for learning. Student opinions are valued, and they're asked about what they want, where they want to go, and how they can get there. They take this seriously, and they make the space for conversation, listening and student leadership; it's an equal partnership.
Do you think you can help your school understand issues that are affecting your students? How can you help your school make positive change? Any ideas?
Student 6: Some of the year 6s two years ago thought that the house groups were unfair. They made a change to the house groups to make them a lot more fair.
Student 7: One day I wanted to bring back Write Club, and I asked the teachers and they said they were happy to try to bring it back.
Student 1: There are lots of different ways your voice can be heard at school. Do you have student council? Do you have student leadership teams? Do your students run school newspapers, newsletters and school assemblies? Do you have students on the school board? If you have a passion for an issue that could be improved at school, why don't you talk to your friends, teachers and parents and think about how the situation could be improved. Together, we can make a change; we have student voice, so let's use it.
We're challenging you to learn more, do more and be more. Join us next time, where we will be looking at ways you can use your voice to help your community. It's time to think big.
