Any honest conversation about engaging young people must address discrimination against young people.
ADAM FLETCHERAny honest conversation about engaging young people must address discrimination against young people.
ADAM FLETCHERAt the same time, they are routinely pushed away from connecting to their communities as serious problem-solvers capable of changing the world.
ADAM FLETCHERThe pattern of discrimination that allows this discrimination was set in the founding of the United States.
ADAM FLETCHERThese are direct effects of internalized discrimination based on their age.
ADAM FLETCHERYoung people and adults need equitable relationships-they do not need equal ones.
ADAM FLETCHERAdultism leads to a phenomenon of little adults, who are young people who are treated as adults-in-the-making.
ADAM FLETCHERYoung people often serve as scapegoats for the challenges communities face.
ADAM FLETCHERFor every young person living on the streets tonight, there are many at home zoning out inside their homes through video games, and even more who disengage from school.
ADAM FLETCHERAdultism is not always harmful-but it is always real.
ADAM FLETCHERLike a pet fish unaware of the fishbowl it lives in, each of us inherently discriminates against young people without knowing it.
ADAM FLETCHERMost of society’s decision making for young people happens without young people, and that could not happen without adultcentrism.
ADAM FLETCHERIt is not enough to simply listen to student voice. Educators have an ethical imperative to do something with students, and that is why meaningful student involvement is vital to school improvement.
ADAM FLETCHERIt’s really seeing student involvement … as a variety of opportunities that are appropriate for each given student and responsive to their individual needs and their desires for their educational experience.
ADAM FLETCHERA non-discriminatory perspective would be to treat children and youth as whole and complete people right now.
ADAM FLETCHERMeaningful student involvement is the process of engaging students as partners in every facet of school change for the purpose strengthening their commitment to education, community & democracy.
ADAM FLETCHERThe outcome of this culture of discrimination is that young people are routinely denied the roles in society they can, should, and need to be occupying.
ADAM FLETCHER