Empowering students means… empowering them!  We can’t just give them lip service.  They want to be able to have some control over their lives and to be able to make changes that improve their world.

This is not the same as giving students what they want all the time.  In Middle School at PNA, students have a voice; and they are expected to use it as long as they are being respectful and staying within the guidelines they created at the beginning of the year.

Students must also provide evidence in support of what they want and request changes in a reasonable, timely, and organized way.

This week alone, Middle Schoolers voiced ideas on creating an ideal middle school, and have been given green light to “embellish” the framework of the musical they will be performing in April.

While these topics are ongoing and expect real change based on student input, the 7/8 class has been working to change the dress attire for field trips.  On Thursday, they presented their research on this subject to the Head of School and PNA Board of Trustees President arguing to change this special dress attire to a simpler uniform for field trips – something similar to everyday dress code.

While a simpler dress attire for field trips is what they all wanted to start off, they were split into two groups to write and deliver arguments for both sides of this coin.  In this process, they did extensive research into dress code policies nationwide and interviewed teachers while also conducting a survey with students, teachers, and parents here at PNA.  By arguing to keep dress attire the way it is (clearly against what they want)each side clearly understood the perspective of both sides. (They also were very challenged to find information on unique dress attire for field trips outside of the everyday dress code.)

After they debated these arguments in front of the 6th grade, these Middle Schoolers set out to write one argument.  They selected the top arguments for each side and divided themselves up to write one focused letter they could deliver to those who could actually enable the change.  This letter had to include, and then refute, the counter arguments as well as provide strong evidence in support of their arguments.

When these courageous, empowered Middle Schoolers presented their findings this week (the culmination of a month of work), they were received openly, but challenged to produce more evidence in support of the change by the PNA Community.

Encouraged, but pressed to find out more, these students did not feel rejected; instead they were energized to do the work needed.  They were not just handed what they wanted. They know they need to do more work and are excited to do it! This is empowerment. Showing students that what they say matters, and that change can happen, but it will take work, and compromise, and thinking, and communicating, and evidence, and analysis, and so many other skills.  This is PNA: in charge of its own destiny.