7,926
Views
343
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Articles

Sound, Presence, and Power: “Student Voice” in Educational Research and Reform

Pages 359-390 | Published online: 07 Jan 2015
 

Abstract

Every way of thinking is both premised on and generative of a way of naming that reflects particular underlying convictions. Over the last 15 years, a way of thinking has reemerged that strives to reposition students in educational research and reform. Best documented in Australia, Canada, England, and the United States, this way of thinking is premised on the following convictions: that young people have unique perspectives on learning, teaching, and schooling; that their insights warrant not only the attention but also the responses of adults; and that they should be afforded opportunities to actively shape their education. Although these convictions mean different things to different people and take different forms in practice, a single term has emerged to capture a range of activities that strive to reposition students in educational research and reform: “student voice.” In this discussion the author explores the emergence of the term “student voice,” identifies underlying premises signaled by two particular words associated with the term, “rights” and “respect,” and explores the many meanings of a word that surfaces repeatedly across discussions of student voice efforts but refers to a wide range of practices: “listening.” The author offers this discussion not as an exhaustive or definitive analysis but rather with the goal of looking across discussions of work that advocates, enacts, and critically analyzes the term “student voice.”

Notes

Notes

1 In the 1960s and 1970s there was a wave of similar thinking, but it did not then catalyze long-term revision or change. For discussions of these earlier efforts, see Levin (Citation2000) and Rudduck (Citation2002, in press).

2 In this discussion, “young people” and “students” refer to school students—students at the elementary and secondary, not college, levels.

3 For a very thorough and thought-provoking discussion of the history, basis, and trends in research on students’ experiences of school, see Thiessen (in press).

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.