One of the fundamental human right of citizens in all countries is the right to freedom of speech. UNICEF also listed freedom of expression as one of the fundamental rights of a child. But the truth remains that a high percentage of children have been denied that right in the classroom, home and other places. Our focus today is the classroom.
Children are scared to express themselves in the classroom because the teacher might term it “disrespect” or punish the child.
Take a walk into my classroom and you’ll be privileged to see my students engage me in discussions. We joke, we talk about random things and they say a lot.
One excuse most teachers and parents give is that allowing a child talk freely would encourage disrespect and promote use of indecent words by the child. But the reverse and more is the case.
A child who is denied freedom of expression would either turn out to be an introvert or worse still, the child would find a safe place to express freedom of speech and the consequences could be grave.
We need to scrap out issuing commands to our students and expecting them to follow it through. Impolitely asking a child to do things without caring to know how that child feels about it. Let’s change our orientation towards our teacher student relationship.
I change the sitting position in class every week. I observed a student of mine wasn’t happy with who I chose as her seat partner. I called her and she spoke at length on why she wants a change of seat. After our conversation, we were able to reach a decision that favours both parties and that settled the matter. There was no need to apply the use of commands and she was happy to be heard.
Most times in class, I allow my students take the lead on conversations. I let them discuss among themselves without me jumping in to moderate the discussion. If I’m not pleased with something they said, I call them and correct them while stating reason why what they said isn’t acceptable.
A teacher once posted that she allows her students make rules in class and assign punishments for defaulters. Some teachers are taking the initiative to allow their students suggest areas in the class structuring that needs improvements.
Children need to be heard. We shouldn’t just see them as empty vessels that need to be filled. They are carriers of knowledge too and should be allowed the right to speak and freedom of expression.
Dairo Titilope Blessing, 2021
Another part of this is how children no longer have the right to express themselves. You scold a child and you’re angry the child is frowning. Where you expecting an angry child to smile?
Please let’s learn to treat children better. Let’s nurture them. Let’s respect them. Raise them up in a safe atmosphere. Respect their rights.
Let them talk, shout, smile, laugh, frown, get angry. These are emotions that should be expressed freely.
Teach them to choose their words and not to be silent.
Teach them to control their emotions and not bottle it up.
Dairo Titilope Blessing, 2021.
MISS DAIRO'S SPACE 