we don't learn democracy, we live it!': consulting the pupil voice in Scottish schools

• Published in: Education, citizenship and social justice citizenship and social justice, 2006-11, Vol.1 (3), p.249-266
• Main Authors: Maitles, Henry, Deuchar, Ross
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Case Studies; Childrens Rights; Citizenship; Citizenship Education; Controversial Issues (Course Content); Democracy; Educational Change; Educational Practices; Elementary Education; Foreign Countries; Scotland; Student Attitudes; Values
• ISSN: 1746-1979; 1746-1987
• DOI: 10.1177/1746197906068123

As the education for citizenship agenda continues to impact on schools, there is a need to begin the discussion to examine the kind of initiatives that can push it forward. In Scotland the proposals should, it is argued, permeate the curriculum throughout the school. Yet there is the fear that the responsibility of all can become the responsibility of none. This article examines, through three case studies carried out by the authors, initiatives in schools designed to take forward the citizenship agenda in the light of children’s rights. The first two relate to the impact of pupil councils in primary schools and as well as the impact of discussing controversial issues in the primary classroom. The third outlines the impact on values and dispositions of developing more participatory, democratic practice in the classroom. The article concludes by calling for more initiatives of this type and further evaluation of their worth.