videl wrote
Please use your best judgement with all these ideas. I've never done any school organizing and have just brainstormed these:
- Create a zine / school paper to spread around the school. Get people interested in the group and perhaps declare days of action like "on X date we will not wear uniforms" or "on X date we will provide healthier and tastier meals ourselves"
- Start a radical meme group on whatever social media platform has the most of your peers on it. Could work well with the zine.
- Try and get faculty support. This could look like having the school counselor write a piece for your zine / school paper or provide support during actions.
- If you're feeling brave and your school has some sort of talent show or something you could maybe come up with some sort of subversive performance
- Agitate students. I've been wondering why it is that students are still going to compulsory school despite all the horrible things going on in the world. Just between school shootings and inaction on climate change, you would have to physically force me to attend. I understand that kids want to see their friends and family pressure to go to school exists but I'm still surprised that a lot of kids haven't just dramatically decreased their attendance. So maybe mention this to other students. Ask "why are we attending school and preparing for the future when the adults won't take any steps to ensure that there will even be a future?" And just talk about how school sucks in general. But try not to be too much of a downer I guess.
In general, I think you want to do work that will get as many students to join you on your days of action where you will then refuse the school's way of doing things and possibly provide alternatives.
Side note: You'd probably be interested in this book Deschooling Society
Doesn't really say much about organizing on the student level but it's a good read and might help you with some ideas still.
Good luck! I wish I was as bright as you when I was your age.
videl wrote (edited )
One last thing. This is more general advice on groups. In my experience, group life typically flows in the way that is described there. Helpful to keep in mind.
Forming
At this stage everything feels
wonderful. The air is rich with
possibility, everyone is
getting along great. We think
our group is fantastic. We
might look at other groups
and wonder why they seem to
struggle so much! But the
reason it’s working like this is
that we haven’t yet agreed our
group culture, and are
managing to avoid differences
and disagreements. During
this stage, it is important that
your group:
• Take time to really meet
and listen to each other.
Create a shared sense of
purpose
• Get to know each other
better. How is each person
under stress, what do they
care about, how good are
they are sharing their
thoughts and emotions?
• Agree structures that will
help the group work well
• Create group agreements,
particularly around
decision-making.
• Recognise that rather than
just leaping into doing
stuff, giving attention to
this stuff is just as, if not
more, important.
Storming
After a while you might find
tensions arising, arguments
happening, people who have
taken on roles of
responsibility being
challenged. Things can feel
contentious, uncomfortable
and upsetting, especially to
people who don’t like
conflict. But this is a key
stage, and if your group can
get through it, it will be much
stronger and more resilient
as a result.
What’s happening is that you
have reached a stage where
there is enough trust in the
group for people to feel able
to challenge and disagree
with each other. Groups
often fail at this stage, but it
is essential, it is your group
working out how to operate.
Several things can help get
you through this stage:
• Good listening
• A neutral facilitator
• Repeating back: “what I
heard you say is…”
• Patience
• Shared purpose
During this stage, some
people may leave, and that’s
OK. This tends to be when
the need for processes and
structures is most keenly
felt.
Norming
In this stage, agreements are
reached about how you’re
going to work together, roles
are defined, structures
agreed upon, procedures for
meetings. Relationships
have deepened to a level
very different from the
Forming stage. In this stage,
all group members move
towards sharing the
responsibility and
commitment to work for the
success of the group’s goals.
Things that help this stage go
well include:
• Honouring people who
leave: this may not
work for everyone. If
people choose to step
out,
find a suitable way to
honour everything they
have brought to
the group
• It’s happening: a sense
that the group is
coming together, is
able to work well: it
feels like being part of
something exciting.
Performing
This is when you find
yourselves feeling that you
are being effective and
getting things done easily.
That feels good! You’ll find
your group competent and
motivated, with each person
clear as to their role and task.
There is good communication
and people work well
together.
The group is good at making
decisions together, and can
hold people accountable for
their tasks.
Differences and
disagreements are seen as
part of a healthy group
culture. Achievements are
regularly celebrated, and
space is made for reflection as
to where the group might like
to go in the future.
Mourning
It may be that projects your
group initiates will fail, that
people leave the group, or
even that the whole group
stops for one reason or
another. It’s important to
mark these endings
appropriately.
If one or more people leave,
mark the occasion: share a
meal; give a gift, a card.
If the group is ending, have
a shared event to celebrate
all that you have achieved.
Make space to talk about
the loss and sadness people
might be feeling, and to
appreciate what it is that
you have enjoyed about
working with each other.
You may need to agree a
way to pass on any assets
the group may be left with.
In the life of a group it is rare that its evolution happens in the sequence set out here. Often they happen alongside each other. Your Norming could be accompanied by a lot of Storming, for instance!
Fresh_Kicks OP wrote
Thanks comrade. It is important to remember that a group has to be defined first before any action can be taken. I will also keep in mind people will leave.
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