Self-directed education - SDE is at the core of the Declaration of Child Rights-Centric Education. Support for the Declaration will create support for organizations such as the Alliance for Self-Directed Education, Liberated Learners, YouthxYouth, etc. It aims to harness the power of a collective voice.
Thank you, Richard. The work of the RCE network on this Declaration is very much in line with the work of The Alliance and we excited to be in partnership with them and all involved in this initiative!
Think universal rights. Today we are all about the adultist roles. The adultist 'we must save the kids', instead of 'we need to embrace everyone's humanity, let's collaborate and see what we can come up with.' Or maybe just giving kids the money and encouragement to create there own kidspaces. There's a big difference betwee the adultist 'we' and the human 'we'.
Ah, thanks for sharing that link -- we really appreciate the perspective of that article that we published!
Still not totally sure how what you're saying is in contention with what is posted. We agree that adults should not take a savior role. However, this article is talking about oppressive laws that we adults have some power over, and kids do not, so to ignore our power to change those laws feels irresponsible and not in alignment with our roles as allies.
Are you saying that we should focus on applying universal rights to children as well, as right now they are not viewed that way? We also agree with that. It takes many angles to fight for this.
It's about identification. 'Adult' doesn't mean 'grown human', it's a role that must be excised from the human conversation. It's takes consciousness raising to clearly see that the systemic adultism lies in simply identifying as an 'adult'.
We're all human beings with the same human rights regardless of age. And we should treat everyone the same, WITH HUMANITY. And that should cover our differences. Adultism is complex, humanity is simple.
What kids what more than anything else is respect, mutual respect. Human's working WITH other humans IS respectful. Adult's helping 'children' is NOT. Also 'child' implies dependency. 'Kid' is what kids actually call themselves, so it shows respect and well as highlights their agency. The independent adult and the dependent child are tropes that don't reflect the reality of our interdependent humanity, further the myth of the mature adult is just that, a myth.
Also be aware of adultist dilutions they are subtle but important. e g "Some kids don't like school." Here 'some' is an adultist diulation. And watch out how you use 'we' and whether you are using the exclusive adultist 'we' or the inclusive human one.
In short when identfiy as an 'adult' you are part of the problem not the solution.
I hope that helps clear it up a bit. If you have any more questions feel free to ask.
Hi, thank you for sharing more of your perspective and clarifying your point here.
I personally agree that one of our big issues is the ageist distinction between a “childhood” and an “adulthood.” I don’t think we disagree on that, and yes, I agree we need to be careful and aware of language and break down these false dichotomies.
However, the way you are speaking for all kids here, by saying things like “kid is what kids actually call themselves,” as if kids are a monolith and there is one right way to refer to them or any group based on what some decide, also strikes me as a problematic use of language. I’ve had lots of conversations with kids/young people/children/teens/youth and found no common thread in what they call themselves and want to be called. It varies widely.
For us adults to be arguing over this language, and making statements that imply we know the right way to refer to the oppressed group that is young people (just using one imperfect term of many here) is also adultist in my opinion.
I don’t think we are disagreeing on the overall need for breaking down societal constructions of childhood and adulthood and all that that means. We may be disagreeing on strategies or language or perspective, but I believe our goal is the same.
Firstly I don't identify as 'adult', I identify as 'human'. And I don't speak for children, I speak for an interdependent humanity with universal human rights. Still 'kid' implies the agency and interdependence, 'child' does not. So I see it as a better gereral term. Even baby's have agency. If you have a better word I'm all ears.
Is that what this is an argument? Don't you think that might be an adultist framing. Sharing our insights, so we could both learn and grow might be a better one.
Society IS adultist society, to try to reform the sick role of 'adult' and adult supremacy is like trying to clean a floor with a dirty sponge.
We, humans, must replace society with humnaity. There simply is no other choice. meow
Self-directed education - SDE is at the core of the Declaration of Child Rights-Centric Education. Support for the Declaration will create support for organizations such as the Alliance for Self-Directed Education, Liberated Learners, YouthxYouth, etc. It aims to harness the power of a collective voice.
Thank you, Richard. The work of the RCE network on this Declaration is very much in line with the work of The Alliance and we excited to be in partnership with them and all involved in this initiative!
Treating kids as 'special' and different from the rest of humanity, is not the solution, it's the problem.
Not exactly sure what you’re getting at here. Can you expand?
Think universal rights. Today we are all about the adultist roles. The adultist 'we must save the kids', instead of 'we need to embrace everyone's humanity, let's collaborate and see what we can come up with.' Or maybe just giving kids the money and encouragement to create there own kidspaces. There's a big difference betwee the adultist 'we' and the human 'we'.
See this: http://bit.ly/4lDRIfm.
Ah, thanks for sharing that link -- we really appreciate the perspective of that article that we published!
Still not totally sure how what you're saying is in contention with what is posted. We agree that adults should not take a savior role. However, this article is talking about oppressive laws that we adults have some power over, and kids do not, so to ignore our power to change those laws feels irresponsible and not in alignment with our roles as allies.
Are you saying that we should focus on applying universal rights to children as well, as right now they are not viewed that way? We also agree with that. It takes many angles to fight for this.
It's about identification. 'Adult' doesn't mean 'grown human', it's a role that must be excised from the human conversation. It's takes consciousness raising to clearly see that the systemic adultism lies in simply identifying as an 'adult'.
We're all human beings with the same human rights regardless of age. And we should treat everyone the same, WITH HUMANITY. And that should cover our differences. Adultism is complex, humanity is simple.
What kids what more than anything else is respect, mutual respect. Human's working WITH other humans IS respectful. Adult's helping 'children' is NOT. Also 'child' implies dependency. 'Kid' is what kids actually call themselves, so it shows respect and well as highlights their agency. The independent adult and the dependent child are tropes that don't reflect the reality of our interdependent humanity, further the myth of the mature adult is just that, a myth.
Also be aware of adultist dilutions they are subtle but important. e g "Some kids don't like school." Here 'some' is an adultist diulation. And watch out how you use 'we' and whether you are using the exclusive adultist 'we' or the inclusive human one.
In short when identfiy as an 'adult' you are part of the problem not the solution.
I hope that helps clear it up a bit. If you have any more questions feel free to ask.
Hi, thank you for sharing more of your perspective and clarifying your point here.
I personally agree that one of our big issues is the ageist distinction between a “childhood” and an “adulthood.” I don’t think we disagree on that, and yes, I agree we need to be careful and aware of language and break down these false dichotomies.
However, the way you are speaking for all kids here, by saying things like “kid is what kids actually call themselves,” as if kids are a monolith and there is one right way to refer to them or any group based on what some decide, also strikes me as a problematic use of language. I’ve had lots of conversations with kids/young people/children/teens/youth and found no common thread in what they call themselves and want to be called. It varies widely.
For us adults to be arguing over this language, and making statements that imply we know the right way to refer to the oppressed group that is young people (just using one imperfect term of many here) is also adultist in my opinion.
I don’t think we are disagreeing on the overall need for breaking down societal constructions of childhood and adulthood and all that that means. We may be disagreeing on strategies or language or perspective, but I believe our goal is the same.
-Bria (part of the ASDE team)
Firstly I don't identify as 'adult', I identify as 'human'. And I don't speak for children, I speak for an interdependent humanity with universal human rights. Still 'kid' implies the agency and interdependence, 'child' does not. So I see it as a better gereral term. Even baby's have agency. If you have a better word I'm all ears.
Is that what this is an argument? Don't you think that might be an adultist framing. Sharing our insights, so we could both learn and grow might be a better one.
Society IS adultist society, to try to reform the sick role of 'adult' and adult supremacy is like trying to clean a floor with a dirty sponge.
We, humans, must replace society with humnaity. There simply is no other choice. meow