Democracy can begin at school

I was pleased to learn about the new school councils toolkit (see Take Five) and the support given to developing citizenship education in primary schools.   However, school councils are just one of a range of ways to develop children’s voices and decision-making skills.

The Primary Democracy Project, managed by ContinYou, is developing and collecting practical methods that enable primary school pupils to engage in skill-building and democratic processes – such as through pupils shaping the greening of playgrounds or managing and sustaining healthy eating tuck shops.

These are all methods schools can use to deliver citizenship education and strengthen democratic processes, and will compliment school councils.  

BILL MALLEY,  DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, CONTINYOU