America’s public school system has a problem with listening to student voice. Most schools form student input groups, like student councils, class officers, and other student-led organizations, but don’t really listen to what those groups have to say about what they are learning, how they are learning, and what should be done when they aren’t learning.
Maybe our public schools should look to Colombia, that’s right, Colombia, the home country of Pablo Escobar, to learn something about how to embrace student voice.
This past month, Stanford Social Innovation Review published an article titled “Building an Equitable Future by Centering Young Voices,” focusing on Colombia’s efforts on how to make young people’s input a priority. Mar Marquez, the author of the article, writes,
“On the shores of the Caribbean, in my hometown of Cartagena, Colombia, I had the honor and great challenge of being the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve as class president at my high school. It was not easy. I and other LGBTQ+ peers were frequently mocked and harassed. But I used my position to lead anti-bullying campaigns and promote acceptance and respect. Those experiences in high school strengthened my character and resilience, and ignited a spark that has driven me to defend the rights of LGBTQ+ youth globally.”
“This summer, I joined hundreds of young advocates form 170 countries in Kigali, Rwanda, for the Women Deliver Conference, one of the world’s largest gatherings dedicated to advancing gender equity. I was honored to be selected as a Women Deliver Young Leader and had the opportunity to share my insights on the challenges Colombia’s LGBTQ+ community is facing with a diverse group of international actors and activists. Together, we explored ideas to break down barriers keeping young LGBTQ+ people away from spaces of power globally.”
“An unbreakable voice is emerging from today’s youth: the cry of a generation demanding the right to be architects of their future. A generation forged in a storm of change, uncertainty, and innovation that will not let their voices fade into the distance. Young people are not satisfied by simply being heard. They aspire to be the vanguard – titans behind the policies, reforms, and decisions that will build our collective tomorrow. Because young voices, especially those representing people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, are essential to advancing gender equity and building a more just, healthy, and participatory society.”
“Young activists are demanding climate justice in Africa, driving the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States, and achieving reproductive rights in Latin America. They prove that integrating youth into decision-making spheres is not only strategic; it is essential. To ignore this cry is to deny the vitality, resilience, and insight that only they can bring to the table.”
“Despite their potential power, it pains me that young people around the world continue to feel excluded from decisions that affect their lives and future. Several recent studies reveal that, globally, people under 30 lack trust in their national governments, do not feel heard by politicians, and have lower levels of participation in national elections.”
“If countries, including the United States, want to move toward a more equitable future for people fo diverse genders, it is essential that decision makers, from policy makers to funders to organizational leaders, recognize and activate the potential of youth and LGBTQ+ people.”
“What measures can decision makers take to transfer power into the hands of young leaders? The answer is not simple, but we need spaces for dialogue and collaboration. Young people must be seen not only as beneficiaries, but as key partners in the design of policies and programs. This involves opening spaces for participation at the highest levels of decision-making, offering training and resources, and above all, listening to and valuing young people’s perspectives.”
“Colombia endured over five decades of armed conflict, a violent period that has only recently dissipated and left deep scars in our society. Building to peace, reparation, and reconciliation process has been a monumental task that government officials recognize cannot be carried out without the true inclusion of all voices.”
“They know that young people, who represent the future of the country, must be protagonists in this process because their energy, ideas, and fresh perspectives are essential to imagining and building a peaceful country. People with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions have been disproportionately affected by the conflict. Their participation is an act of justice, and they also have a unique perspective on the roots of and solutions to violence. Without their voice and leadership, any efforts at peace, reparation, and reconciliation will be incomplete.”
“In my work as a young gender equity activist and political scientist, I have witnessed decision makers in my country make a conscious effort to center youth and LGBTQ+ voices. I have also observed how, on many occasions, these voices have been marginalized or ignored.”
“Analyzing how youth participation has played out in Colombia’s high-stakes context provides three key lessons for decision makers in the United States and around the world:
- Creating space is not enough…
- Collaborate with existing networks at the local level…
- Recognize and value lived experience…”
“True inclusion is not achieved by simply opening doors and offering seats at the table. The recipe for guaranteeing true inclusion of young people is representation, participation, capacity-building, and accountability.”
“Representation means that young voices must be present at all levels of decision-making, from planning to implementation. It’s not just about numbers but about ensuring that these voices have real weight in the decisions are made. Participation implies that young people are not only present but actively involved in the processes, contributing their unique perspectives and experiences. And finally, capacity-building and accountability ensure that young people have the tools and information necessary to participate effectively. By doing so, we build social capital, democratize information, and increase young people’s confidence in spaces of power.”
“It’s time to pass the microphone.”
Honestly, I’m not sure we’re interested in doing something like Colombia here in America. Our public school system, and other systems, are commanded by adults. Most of the time, the adage “children are to be seen not heard” is still alive in America’s classrooms.
This is a big reason why I think today’s public school system is destined to fail, and eventually pass away.
Til tomorrow. SVB
A Better Path to Learning 
Leave a comment