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Issues Education
[Young People] [Involving Young
People in Decision Making][GlobalNet Issues][Local
Issues][Global Issues]
To maximise the future of the planet we need to look at
- where we come from
- where we are now
- what the future might have for the young people of our communities
As we consider
matters of social policy, local and global issues it is important that young
people are involved in the process.
Young people
In looking at the sustainability of our global communities we need to encourage
young people to ask questions about how the world will be when they grow up.
Questions that could be considered-
- What will our world be like?
- How do we want it to be?
- How can we contribute to creating the kind of world we want and need?
- How can we act in ways that will enhance the future?
- Can one person make a
difference? – Is it worth trying?
Young people have good ideas about what can be done and often need support
to work through them to find a solution they can action. As they do this in
a democracy they must understand the value of freedom and diversity as well
as develop the skills for separating fact from fiction, theory from opinion
and real information from propaganda.
With support, guidance, and knowledge of appropriate processes young people
can explore the issues they see as being important to them, and the community,
and finally generate solutions that they can action.
Involving children in decision making
According to Article 12 of UNCROC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of
the Child), young people have the right to participate in decisions that affect
them. To help improve young people’s involvement in the decisions that
affect them there are several models of participation.
A commonly used model is the Ladder of Participation (from Children's
Participation: From Tokenism to Citizenship, Hart, 1992), which is shown here:
The Save the Children Fund has also developed a way of looking at degrees of participation which you can view by clicking here
Because of constraints and other factors it is often difficult for teachers
to treat issues education with the depth that it requires. Teachers, as their
confidence and skill bank develops, will understand the ways to motivate and
engage young people in discussion, research, and decision making activities
to make a difference.
GlobalNet IssuesWith the continual development of technology, educators must increasingly
understand and use up to date technology in the delivery of the curriculum.
Sophisticated information and communication technologies are allowing people
from different cultures around the world to communicate and exchange ideas.
Relationships can be built to further understand cultures, values and beliefs.
As a result of the use of inquiry, an essential skill in this day and age, students
will amend, adjust and reconstruct their view of their own world.
To achieve these objectives young people must learn the skills to use the
information and communication technologies through appropriate modelling and
exposure.
Local Issues
Many of the issues that affect and interest young people are those in their
immediate environment, their homes, school and neighbourhood. These can be
good starting points for teaching how to create, connect, and act upon an
issue, and see it through to a satisfactory conclusion.
In our communities we live with others who have different points of view,
values, and ideas. We all experience being part of a family, class, school,
sports team
or interest group, and the community. In each of these there are different
rules which all must learn to conform to. In identifying the rules, and the
reasons
for them, we learn the consequences of breaking them. Sometimes these rules
need to be changed. To do this young people need to learn how to express their
point of view appropriately and convince others of the need for change.
Local communities are usually run by councils, which are responsible for the
infrastructure etc. These organisations are a valuable resource for students
who can be encouraged to take an interest in the issues facing their community
and the councils.
Some questions, which can be explored, are;
- How can the waterways be kept clean?
- How can the air be kept free from pollution?
- What facilities do young people require in the community?
- What issues concern you?
Global Issues
For many people the world seems such a huge place and they wonder how can
just one person or a small group have an influence on such huge issues. However
we are often reminded about the power of one person. We all have the gift
to make a difference and when this is added to all the other individuals
in the world we can realise solutions for many of the global issues.
Some global questions which could be explored,
- How can we eliminate poverty?
- How can all the people of the world have clean water?
- What prevents girls from being educated?
- How can all the worlds people have adequate food to eat?
- What would need to happen for all children to be free from exploitation?
- Pollution is a problem in many areas, what needs to be done about this
issue?
GlobalNet aims to encourage young people to share their ideas and actions
for solutions to address these issues. It is hoped that by sharing their stories
there will be a greater awareness of the potential for young people making change
and having an INFORMED voice in deciding the kind of world they will inhabit
in the future.
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