Self Governance
Acton has given me endless learning moments but the one golden nugget that repeatedly proves true is that children thrive when equipped and empowered to lead their peers. Throughout Acton these last few sessions and especially this sixth Session learners are stepping up more and more to the challenge of self governance. Slowly Guides and I have been equipping learners to manage and meddle with their systems, systems that they have master minded from the start, and learners are eager to take the reins and run!
In Spark a few weeks ago I asked one learner who has proven Town Hall facilitator experience if she would be willing to run her studio’s Monday goal setting Launch meeting. A learner has never operated a Launch outside of Town Hall and so I asked “Do you think you’re ready and interested in this challenge?” Her eyes widened, her head eagerly shook YES and that morning she shadowed me in the process. During her shadow Launch she couldn’t help but read over my shoulder and start running the vote. I, surprised by her interjections, encouraged her to take over. She was ready and more importantly the very next week when she ran the Monday Launch not only did she operate the meeting brilliantly but every learner gave her immense respect. Seeing your peer lead is exciting. Each child contributes to the process because they see themselves represented as worthy and important. One day they will lead too. What’s even better is to hear how this learner reported to her Mom. “I’m now basically a Guide!”
Guides are stepping back and learners are eager to step up. In fact, when injustices are found or a learner violates agreements, learners are now calling meetings during free time to hold accountability. We Guides tend to be flys that occasionally buzz a question here and there. Just this week Spark Captains called a Captains meeting to discuss the poor performance of a fellow Captain. They were tough minded and warm hearted and after a few votes they developed a Captain system that held Captains not only accountable but required excellence. Not many buzzes were needed.
As more learners gain Town Hall experience, then Monday goal setting experience, plus all their Captain management experience, there’s no reason why learners can’t create other Launches during the day. In fact, this is our leadership plan for Discovery, for learners to plan and execute socratic discussion Launches that they are passionate about. Imagine the buy-in! Now, this can’t happen over night but slowly and surely learners will be equipped to practice critical thinking, planning skills, and leadership, all connected to our Learning To Be badge curriculum.
Our learners have a rare opportunity to practice governance at a young age. Just yesterday I was reminded of this opportunity of scale when my friend who runs a large organization shared a story of her frustrations with an employee during a meeting. Her employee consistently exhibited bias and didn’t seem to know how to run a faculty meeting. As I listened to her share all I could think was wow, this employee could really use some Acton training from learners! A 5 year old in Spark seemed to run their governance meeting with greater ease and objectivity than this seasoned adult.
To give perspective, I’d like to share a comment shared with me following a recent Coffee Connect. A learner’s grandfather visited and her mother kindly shared his report of the Town Hall meeting. "In the years I've been on the village council, I have never seen a meeting go as well as the Spark town hall today.” This filled my heart and every Guides heart that I shared it with. Even better, when I shared this comment with learners the palpable pride in the room was glorious. These kids are brave self governing heroes with endless capacity to change the world.