We believe in creating equitable schools.

“We have the answers. We really do know what to do!” -Adrian, 16.

I arrived at New Milford High School on a day that felt like any ordinary Friday. But neither I or the twenty 9th, 10th, and 11th graders I spent the afternoon with knew that their perspective about school was about to change.

We started our afternoon with a roundtable. Shy to participate at first, students began to open up slowly, They talked  about guidance counselors and the bullying they see special needs students experience each day. They also discussed the poor quality of their sexual education curriculum, and lack of communication between the administration and the students.

After an hour of discussion, students returned to the table with a different attitude. This was the first time they had been given the time and space to discuss what was happening around them. It took an in school field trip, a facilitator visiting, a supportive advisor, and time dedicated specifically to discussion, but these students found not only their voices, but felt empowered to do something about it.

“Let’s do something about it” -Dora, 16

In small groups, they got to work brainstorming solutions to the issues they identified. By the time the afternoon came to a close, the students were facilitating the conversation all on their own. They shared ideas with each other. They asked questions and pushed one another to think further outside of the box.

In just three hours, the students at New Milford High School went from frustrated students, disappointed and angry about the issues that took place around them, to identifying policies they could write and programs they could create to improve these problems. By the end of the afternoon they brainstormed three action items to make their school better:

1. Create a curriculum to teach about special education and disabilities
2. 9th grade shadow days to better integrate new students to the school
3. New curriculum to improve sex education

The students of New Milford High School are a testament to the fact that students can be more than just passive consumers of education. When given guidance and resources, students have the capability to be active partners in policy decision. Students will be starting a Student Voice Chapter at New Milford High School to continue these conversations, tackle more issues, and create new policy proposals to ensure that students have a voice on the decisions and issues that impact them the most.