FROM COMPLIANCE TO EMPOWERMENT go too far off the rails. However, the structure and flow of the lesson, corralling the students, and soliciting genuine participation falls on the shoulders of the 8th graders. It is a spectacular disaster at times, but fail or succeed, the students know that they did so on their own. The learning is theirs to own, to reflect on their mistakes, and to emerge stronger from the experience.
6. After failure, give students something to believe in again— themselves. It might feel counterintuitive to believe that discipline promotes student empowerment, however, the deepest connections educators establish with students is when they fail. Meeting students where they are, encouraging them to try again, and offering a fresh start helps them develop resilience and selfworth. As Anatole France said,“ Nine tenths of education is encouragement.” Empowerment doesn’ t mean avoiding consequences; it means helping students learn from them.
“ It might feel counterintuitive to believe that discipline promotes student empowerment, however, the deepest connections educators establish with students is when they fail.”
7. Students need permission to be human. As educators, we must stop demanding that students push through when they need a break. Giving permission to a student to leave a room when they are upset with a prescribed game-plan such as getting a drink, visiting the office, etc. shows that we see them as individuals, not as students who want to disrupt or annoy. Scripting a scenario can be powerful in helping students communicate their needs with their friends and teachers, and avoid the panic caused by impromptu questioning. Teaching students to advocate for themselves in tough moments helps them develop confidence for the easy moments.
8. Allow students to be multidimensional characters. Just as we must acknowledge the complexity of historical figures, we must avoid limiting students to a single trait.‘ You’ re an artist’ or‘ You’ re an athlete’ can unintentionally box them into one identity. Instead, we should encourage them to explore the depth of their potential, allowing them to recognize the full spectrum of who they are and the many futures they can create for themselves. Empowering students means helping them see themselves as dynamic, multifaceted individuals, capable of achieving greatness in countless ways.
9. Do not shield student activism from its natural consequences. We must allow students to experience the natural consequences of activism— whether success or failure— as it fosters resilience and ownership. There is a unique strength that
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CSEE Connections Summer 2025 Page 15