Edition Four of the Student Declaration (04/07/13)
DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS
Building on past ideas of previous government groups to establish and promote a long-term discussion between students, educators and the executive powers that legislate in Alberta, we the students demand to be included in talks on matters pertaining our education.
Learning Environment
We as students must attend school for more than 7 hours a day, 10 months a year, for 13 years of our lives. Schools need to be a place where we grow and develop into the individuals that push our society forward, becoming the citizens Canada requires of us.
We have the right to learn in a safe environment that is free of stereotypes and prejudices; this extends to all differences in race, religion, sexual preference, etcetera. It is our responsibility then to not only display this right toward us but also to teachers, administration, and support staff.
We have the right to attend an institution that is either specialized towards athletics, arts, or work experience in addition to academics or an institution that places an equal value on all of the above aspects. In this regard we have the responsibility of making an informed decision as to which institution we wish to attend.
We have the right to learn in an environment that provides equal opportunities for all, putting us under the best circumstances in order to succeed. Circumstances that must remain consistent across the province. It is then our responsibility to access and utilize the tools and opportunities provided.
We have the right to learn in an environment that operates within an ideal balance between cooperative and competitive learning. The responsibility of which being that we must take it upon ourselves to aid in the maintenance of this balance.
Education
Alongside courses in which memorization and knowledge based learning is emphasized and evaluated in examinations suited for this (i.e. AP/IB programs), we the students demand courses in which TBL (team based learning) is utilized and evaluated through alternative methods. These alternative methods will evaluate the student on the course content in a systematic and holistic manner as opposed to the prevailing model.
We have the right to choose alternative education methods and the responsibility to master the concepts outlined and entailed by the Alberta education system.
We have the right to be educated in a relevant and holistic manner. With this, we have the responsibility to learn for the beauty of knowledge and the growth it brings, not for the sake of a grade point average or mark.
We have the right to a cross curricular education with the responsibility falling to both ourselves and the teachers in ensuring that concepts are grasped and utilized in preparation for entering a rapidly changing world.
We have the right, based on the school of our choice, to be offered a breadth of courses. Which comes with the responsibility of being an engaged learner, sampling the courses offered with the hope of discovering a field of intrigue that satisfies the end goal of our education.
Interactions between perspectives
Ultimately for this declaration to subsist, it must be a cooperative effort between the multitudes of diverse perspectives that are found in our great province. Bonds of respect and acknowledgement must be forged with all the parties that take part in our education system in order to secure our future prosperity.
We have the right to be participants in the decisions concerning our education under a structure deemed fit by us which works symbiotically with the current governing bodies involved in our education. With this we all have the responsibility to actively seek the feedback and input from our fellow students along with teachers, administration, parents, etcetera.
We have the right for our voices to be heard and not by any means dismissed. This entails that we have the responsibility to be informed and intentional citizens.
We have the right to student programs that help foster relationships within our schools, both between students and students as well as students and teachers, along with our surrounding communities. With this we have the responsibility of maintaining these relationships along with creating new ones, promoting a collective identity throughout the school.