Teacher in the backseat, students at the wheelNilan Asanka Senaratna
Print Edition
I often find myself biting my tongue at Student Council meetings. Hearing snippets of event committees discussing details that to me, are very obviously three or four weeks away from being pertinent for their current planning status. However, I resist the urge to intervene, for the benefit of these aspiring leaders.
It is stressful to knowingly allow students to fail. As educators, it is normal to ensure that accuracy is emphasized and that mistakes are corrected. When it comes to student leadership, the temptation can be difficult to overcome. With pressure from various stakeholders, taking a step back feels risky, when we could easily jump in and make everything run smoothly.
As challenging as it may be, it is important to let students make mistakes. This is especially true for student leaders. Without being given an opportunity to take chances, to potentially fail, and to learn from those failures, there is no way to gain meaningful experience. What is even harder to wrap our heads around is how much more they stand to learn by leading an event that does not go according to plan, versus putting in lip service for an adult-run production. A more supportive role still gives teachers a chance to demonstrate the necessary leadership skills these students may need to stay on track, while allowing them the freedom to navigate the rough landscape that leadership can present.
As hard as it is for both students and teachers, it is important to see the positives this freedom can bring. Growing, adapting and knowing how to learn from their struggles allows our students to develop grit. This will make their eventual successes that much more rewarding, and fuel the next challenges they encounter on their leadership journeys.
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