Student Agency | Children's Day

“Today is Children’s Day! How do you want to celebrate?” I asked my students, hoping they would ask for play, candies, or dance. There were three responses:

“ I want to do art!”

“I want to do Maths!”

“I want to learn English!”

THAT IS THE POWER OF GIVING STUDENTS AGENCY!

We did not plan Children's Day celebrations! I found it paradoxical to plan for children's day and then tell them how to celebrate their day. Throughout the day, they were doing their normal things: planning their day, playing, helping each other, doing cute mischiefs, problem-solving, and studying. I know this is a cliche kind of thing to say, but it is a niche thing at GHK LAB SCHOOL:

EVERY DAY IS CHILDREN'S DAY

Only if we can stop putting our children through factory-like environments and patronizing them, we can help them attain the freedom to do, and freedom to be.