This study investigated children's participation rights in two secondary and two primary schools in England, focusing on the child's right to express views freely in all matters affecting him or her, as indicated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Participating were students and staff at two primary and two…

The views and suggestions of Trinidadian students regarding the administration and organization of their schools are given. The consensus is that school administrators are failing to consider students' opinions. In order to function optimally schools must begin to involve the learner in the decision-making process. (VM)

The Manitoba School Improvement Program (MSIP) encourages Manitoba high schools to include students in their improvement projects. Through an array of action-oriented, student-centered initiatives, MSIP has come to a new understanding of "student voice" that encompasses various levels of students' engagement in both school improvement…

After the 2001 meeting of the European Ministers of Education held in Prague, higher education institutions in Turkey took serious actions in order to implement the goals of the Bologna Declaration (1999). Arrangements made for the democratization of universities and student participation in the decision-making process formed one of the…

What difference does education make for young adults' engagement in politics and social issues? This study is part of the OECD's Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) project on "Measuring the Social Outcomes of Learning" (SOL). It discusses relevant international research, with special attention to studies in the Nordic…

This paper draws on the findings of a major research project funded by the New South Wales Department of School Education (Australia) which sought to examine the school-community interface and communication in comprehensive high schools. Data were drawn initially from nine schools in western Sydney, with three of these schools being the subject of…

As part of citizenship education, school councils have been set up in primary schools based on adult models of democratic committees. This article looks at children's and teachers' perspectives on their school councils and goes on to analyse the ways in which alternative strategies for addressing the constraints identified were developed in three…

The United Nations' Child Friendly Cities movement is committed to implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child. School boards can participate by augmenting a safe physical environment with a policy environment that treats children with respect; encouraging meaningful participation in school governance; recognizing and addressing the…

Asserts that England's civic universities maintained a much less restrictive environment than Oxford or Cambridge. Civic university women participated in all aspects of student life often exceeding the involvement of male students. Argues that social and economic differences contributed to this dichotomy. (MJP)

Students in a Winnipeg (Manitoba) alternative high school participated in a project designed to increase student voice in their own learning and in school direction. Studying emotional intelligence, helping plan a provincial student conference, and conducting research on student priorities developed real-world skills, increased appreciation of…

Focusing on the area of student participation, this paper considers the findings of a research project conducted by a team at the University of Western Sydney, Nepean, and funded by the New South Wales Department of School Education. The project was broadly focused on investigating the dynamics of communication within the school communities of…

A close relationship exists between German society, the political system, and public schools. Following reunification, the school systems in former East Germany have undergone dramatic changes to accommodate the philosophy of democracy. The state of Saxony's changes include parent and student participation in school governance, emphasis on…

Discusses student projects and learning activities used in an Australian elementary school to teach about the United Nations. Asserts that the students viewed the UN General Assembly as a parliament during a role-playing activity. Describes the role that the school's student council played during the schoolwide project. (CFR)

Examined attitudes of 2,272 students in Great Britain and Northern Ireland regarding school councils and daily life. Found that about half the students reported that they had a school council. Concluded that those who thought councils were effective had positive views about their school's social and academic activities, whereas those who thought…