Podcast "School Again": There's No Time for Democracy in School

– This is pleasing, because for years we have heard that young people are not involved in civic affairs or their privileges and responsibilities related to being a citizen. Now, however, young people went to the elections and voted, but as it turns out, not necessarily in the way that some older people would think they should vote. Their votes show radicalism – says Dr. Iga Kazimierczyk, president of the “Przestrzeń dla Edukacji” foundation and a lecturer at Korczak University, in the podcast “Szkoła na nowo”. – The question is what is happening in school that makes those who graduated from it so radical – she adds.

According to the expert, this is the result of the very traditional school in which they were educated and raised. - This school during the PiS era became increasingly ossified. It became a school that lacked air and space for spontaneity, for grassroots activities - she explains and adds that previously this role was fulfilled to some extent by junior high schools, but after their liquidation, this element of education was eliminated. - It is not that school was ideal before the PiS government. But during the United Right government, it became really unbearable. This is also shown by the growing number of students leaving the official education system. School has not been a space where young people feel safe and cool for a very long time - she adds.

Kazimierczyk: The archaic-hierarchical education system was to blame

Iga Kazimierczyk also emphasizes that, in her opinion, one of the biggest flaws of our education system is the archaic-hierarchical teaching system. - The atmosphere in Polish schools is one of fear and control - she explains. - Teachers do not trust students. The principal does not trust teachers. Parents do not trust teachers. So in such an atmosphere it is very difficult to have such space to act freely, from the bottom up and civically. For student initiatives to take place. In my opinion, this is the main mistake of schools - she adds.

Is there a chance for change in connection with the reform announced by the Ministry of National Education? According to the expert, democracy in schools will certainly not be restored by the change proposed by the ministry, which consists in students being able to participate in the selection of the school principal. - This idea is a bit like jewelry. If you attach a brooch to an ugly dress, this ugly dress will not become pretty. School democracy is not a process, it is not a building block of the school fabric, it is not an everyday practice, and including students in this process will not make school democracy stronger and students will not feel more responsible for the school community - she explains.