Everyone’s Voice: Encouraging all students‘ participation

Knowing how to construct and express one’s own opinion is a skill that is built up from an early age. Numerous studies by sociologists show that this skill is not equally distributed among children, depending on their social background. Moreover, the ability to communicate and to assert oneself also varies according to the personality of each child and, as he or she develops, according to the support he or she has. Educators and teachers have an important role to play in fostering these skills in all children, regardless of their starting abilities. The goal is to ensure that all children have the opportunity to participate equally in democratic processes, both in school and later in civic life.