I asked this question at an unschooling youth panel at the recent SDE Weekend titled “How to be an SDE kid in a schoolish world”. Three young people shared their experiences and how they navigate growing up in the world. A world that often doubts, questions, mistrusts and belittled young people – especially those do not go to conventional schools.
The answers to my question were insightful, inspiring and also rocked me to my core. They helped me to identify how I can support and advocate for young people’s autonomy, independence and freedom. Here it goes:
Some Unschoolers’ Hopes for the Future of Youth Liberation
- Kids being seen by society on a more equal level.
- For people to know that just because kids haven’t been on this earth as long doesn’t mean that their voice doesn’t matter!
- Lowering voting age so that young people have more voice in shaping our government and standing up against injustice.
- Increasing the minimum employment age. Those ready to enter the workforce could do so at their own pace and also begin making their own money.
- Ensuring that adults are NEVER allowed to beat kids.
- All forms of learning being equally accepted, accessible, free and optional
- Having more community based spaces where people can learn in less hierarchical ways – with and from one another.
- More age integration in society.
What is something that many of these hopes have in common?
BAM!: The desire to dismantle and step away from adult supremacy.
Colby Tootoosi defines it as “The idea that adults are more human than kids because they are bigger, stronger and have more experience” (The Cunning of the Adult Supremacist).
It’s a fact that as a society, we look down upon young people. We don’t treat them with the same dignity, respect and expectation as we do with fellow adults.
Grown-ups believe that kids are inferior, and we tend to hold them to standards based on our idea of their value (or lack thereof).
Kids are amongst the most oppressed groups in the world, and many adults don’t even acknowledge or realize that.
And how does this show up?
Young people don’t have access to the same opportunities and experiences as adults. And as adults, we always know best and think that we must decide for kids.
If you read this and get chills or goosebumps as I do, then you too are probably wondering what we can do about this?
Well, we can recognize our biases and power and how/when we disempower young people in our lives.
It’s also important to take ownership for these systems of oppression, and instead learn to develop tools to empower the young people in our lives.
Yes, this is easier said than done. But it’s easier done in community. This is a big part of why we designed The Shift – a 7 day long Deschooling Intensive where we unpack adult supremacy, learn tools and ways that helps advocating for kids’ autonomy, freedom and independence.
If you want to know more, check out our next opportunities to deschool together here!