In rural Stuart, Ohio, Federal Hocking High School gives students an equal place at the table when faculty hiring decisions are made, when curriculum is chosen, and when class offerings are determined. A former principal recently commented that,
“Students often find themselves preached to about values instead of practicing them. That’s why our efforts have been to focus on practice rather than exhortation. Everything we do, including classroom teaching practices, school governance, students’ experience… out of school, assessment, even the organization of the school day, is done with an eye toward developing democratic community.”
Students are also given full responsibility for all student events and various school programs, and a student serves on the local school board. (Haynes, 2014)
SoundOut Education Consulting 