Young People/Student Voices

Here is a collection of stories from students and graduates who have shared their views about education in blogs, TED Talks, articles and interviews:

1. Izzi – Student at East Kent Sudbury School

“I know that when I leave, I’ll be properly prepared for life as an adult. I feel like myself again, as if I’d been holding my breath and now I can finally breathe again.”
Read more…

2. Juwaryria Asvat, age 18 – Self-directed learner

“I urge you to question the system – the methods, the authority – and whether it is indeed beneficial. Are we going to stand up and demand change?”

3. Harriet Sweatman, age 16 – Mainstream secondary student

“There is no love in learning any more. Every student has given up or is about to. We envy the people that have left already, but we have no plans for what to do if we did.”
Read more…

4. Logan LaPlante, age 13 – Home schooler

“I realised that once you’re motivated to learn something, you can get a lot done in a short amount of time, and on your own.”

5. Prince Ea – US high school graduate and spoken word artist

“What is school for? I spent 16 years going to school and I still don’t know…”

Prince Ea: What is school for?

“I call school to the stand and accuse him of killing creativity, individuality and being intellectually abusive. He is an ancient institution and has outlived his usage.”

Prince Ea: I sued the school system

6. Amy Hartmann and Amira Hamrat – Students at democratic School, Summerhill

“We think that a huge problem in modern day teaching is the significant hierarchy that puts a barrier between students and teachers and in turn upsets the learning environment.”
Read more…

7. Selva Lorenz – Student from Progressive Schooling

“We live in a democratic country, but still, our schools work like authoritarian systems. Is this how kids are going to learn to live in a democracy? Traditional schools find the best student in the class, democratic schools find the best of every student.”
Read more…

8. Lox Pratt – a Self-Directed, Home Educated Learner

“Why are we sending our kids to a place where they are made to feel like they are inferior? A community place to learn together, yes. A coercive and stressful environment, no!”
Read more…