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On the occasion of Back to School campaign promoted by the specialised retail company Fnac, SEK Schools students were the stars of the debate event where they were given the opportunity to explain what they wanted their school, their teachers and their education to be like. The students, as protagonists of their own learning, have expressed their opinions in this space for reflection and listening, essential for the continued improvement of the educational model.
The nine participating students from year 6 Primary and year 1 ESO, gave their opinion on how they see school in the coming years, as a new more interactive place, with new methods supported by new technologies that allow for more practical and fun learning, with less memorising, and that focuses on more useful teaching and training for the students themselves and for society.
In the first debate, Javier Trullás and Maya Sánchez from SEK-Ciudalcampo and Luz Blasco from SEK-Santa Isabel chatted with César Bona. “I would like to keep the important subjects such as mathematics or science, but adding other subjects more related to art and culture in general, including philosophy, or practical learning such as first aid”, the students said, adding that it is important to have a voice, “choosing subjects, if not all, then those subjects that we would like to investigate further and with friendly, fun teachers who make us learn without appearing to be teaching us”.
“Listening to children is a luxury and unfortunately we never do it. Their opinions count and we must take them into consideration from now on and not leave them for the future”, reflected César Bona after talking with the SEK Education Group students. “It is important to teach and help children to think; and that is why imparting philosophy is convenient even at an early age as it induces them to reason and to think and to not be so influential. It is also crucial to teach them things that serve them in life, for today’s world, and for teachers to follow guidelines less and be more themselves”.
Give more voice to protagonists at school
Maya Miramontes and Álvaro Monjas from SEK-Santa Isabel and Sara Cardona from SEK-El Castillo took part in the second panel discussion with Carlos Magro, president of the Open Education Association and member of the SEK Think-Action Tank , which concluded that “it is striking to see how clearly children view things and how adults take for granted certain issues such as, for example, that they do not like history and then it is not true. But this is a sign that the school is working well and that it is showing students new things and kindling their interest. And that is why it is essential to listen to them because we are pleasantly surprised like when we realise they are the future and are prepared for tomorrow and to help support older people”.
In this sense Carlos Magro concluded that “it is striking to see how clearly children view things and how adults take for granted certain issues such as, for example, that they do not like history and then it is not true. But this is a sign that the school is working well and that it is showing students new things and kindling their interest. And that is why it is essential to listen to them because we are pleasantly surprised like when we realise they are the future and are prepared for tomorrow and to help support older people”.
Technology has proven to be a fantastic tool to help students learn, especially in times of pandemic. And this is how students see it, confirming that, “it helps us to connect, play, interact with friends and have access to many things, and it helps us expand what they teach us in class and inquire”. They also said it helps them to study traditional methods (taking notes on paper, placing post-its, making diagrams…) to better concentrate and learn from spelling mistakes.
Finally, the surveyed students see teachers as fundamental for a new type of school of the future. They want teachers to like the subject and teach it like a game, do new things, be friendlier and teach knowledge better.
The importance of cultural support outside of school
Finally, Marta Lizaur and Juan Vallés from SEK-El Castillo and Alberto García from SEK-Ciudalcampo gave their opinion on how they see access to other cultural and educational activities that complement their learning and knowledge. For this, Silvia de la Cruz, head of Fnac Kids Libros de Callao, spoke with them about the importance of attending science events, exhibitions and book signings.
