Youth voice

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Youth voice is a fairly common neologism to refers to the distinct ideas, opinions, attitudes, knowledge, and actions of young people as a collective body.

1 Background
2 Historical background
3 Modern background
4 Applications
5 Criticism
6 References
7 See also
8 External links

[edit] Background

The term youth voice often groups together a diversity of perspectives and experiences, regardless of backgrounds, identities, and cultural differences^[1]. Alternately, the plural forms of either word are usually intended to recognize plurality and diversity of experience, as in youths voice or youth voices. The concept is traditionally acknowledged by community and classroom educators and youth workers; it is increasingly employed by politicians, researchers, and mainstream media.

Student voice is an increasingly common neologism that encapsulates the spirit of youth voice in the context of schools. Whether expressed in the course of learning, the process of decision-making, or the passion of self-advocacy, student voice acknowledges the unique position of the learner as an informed contributor in teaching, learning, and leadership throughout education.

[edit] Historical background

The history of youth voice parallels the history of humankind. According to Christian tradition Jesus Christ was just 12 when he began his effort to educate his community about his spiritual beliefs. In the Middle Ages a youth of 14 called Joan of Arc led an army into battle. The current Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso was only 6 when he was identified as the next spiritual and political leader of Tibet.

[edit] Modern background

In modern times youth voice has been manifested in several movements. The current youth activism trend began in the United States in 1899 with the The Newsboys Strike. The US has seen continuous interest (although not sustained) in youth voice since that time, with particular upsurges:

Two girls wearing banners with slogan "ABOLISH CHILD SLAVERY!!" in English and Yiddish. Probably taken during May 1, 1909 labor parade in New York City.

Mother Jones 1903 "Children's Crusade" against child labor in mining
The 1930s' American Youth Congress, which rallied for education and jobs for youth
The 1950s' Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which organized for civil rights for African Americans; additionally, throughout the 1950s and 60s sociologist Margaret Mead actively promoted deepened understanding and engagement of youth voice.
The 1960s' (Students for a Democratic Society and Youth Liberation of Ann Arbor, which both sought for greater access for youth throughout America's democratic processes
The early 1970s' National Commission on Resources for Youth, which was a government effort to prove the validity and necessity of youth participation in government and schools.

Throughout the 1990s and into the new millenium, a growing number of nonprofit, educational, and governmental programs around the world claim to advocate and/or engage youth voice in a variety of ways. They include YouthBuild USA, National Youth Rights Association, and youth councils around the world. The United Nations has heavily proponented youth voice through its Youth Unit, as well as the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Articles 5 and 12. A number of academics, authors, and advocates also proponent youth voice, including cultural critic Henry Giroux, activist/author William Upski Wimsatt, Freechild Project coordinator Adam Fletcher, critical pedagogue Peter McLaren, and anti-racist/feminist/anti-imperialist theorist bell hooks.

[edit] Applications

Youth voice has many applications, as mentioned above. In communities, youth voice is acknowledged through youth service community youth development, Youth activism, and Youth councils; in schools, youth voice is heard in service learning, democratic schooling methods, and student activism. Other methods for acknowledging youth voice include engaging young people in city planning, program evaluation, community organizing, government advisory boards, nonprofit leadership, news reporting, and paticipatory action research.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child was the first international document to stipulate the systemic engagement of youth voice. Specific aims are stated in Articles 5 and 12 that clearly acknowledge the youth have a voice, that youth voice is constantly changing, and that all areas of our society are morally responsible for engaging youth voice.

[edit] Criticism

There are numerous detractors to both the concept of youth voice and the practice of gathering, invoking, extolling, or otherwise hearing youth voice. Perspectives range from what some call the inherent noblesse oblige involved: that is, listening to youth voice involves adults feeling "humble" enough to "stoop" to the level of youth. There are also a number of concerns regarding the diversity of the youth who speak, as well as the reception of those who listen.