FROM COMPLIANCE TO EMPOWERMENT
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comes from enduring the challenges of a just cause with a dedicated group. We must be careful not to deprive our students of the empowering experience that comes with organized ethical defiance. The path ahead for them may not always be clear or easy, but it is shaped by the courage to face adversity.
10. Be mindful of who needs empowerment. Just because a student is athletic, outspoken, and popular doesn’ t mean they are able to successfully advocate for themselves. In fact, these are often the students who need the most support. The social pressure can be so intense that they lose themselves in the crowd, self-sacrificing out of habit rather than conscious choice. Pay attention to who you focus on, and consider whether you might be unintentionally overlooking a student who needs help with self-advocacy.
11. Step back. Allow kids to shine on their own and be the cheerleader from the stands. Once they have taken flight, it’ s not about your role anymore. We have all seen the teacher who despite doing great work with kids, cannot help but publicly congratulate themselves on the achievements of their students. It is essential that we shift from the“ I am so proud of you” to the“ you should be proud of yourself” phrasing. Doing so allows kids to depend less on external affirmation and find accomplishment and approval within themselves.
By empowering students to question, challenge, and think critically, we don’ t just prepare them to follow rules— we prepare them to create their own paths. As Albert Einstein famously said,“ The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education,” suggesting that rigid authority, traditional structures, and expectations can hinder independent thinking and personal growth. By shifting from a compliance-driven system to one that values independent thought, we nurture future thinkers and leaders— those who will question the world around them and, in turn, change it for the better. So, the next time you see a student challenging authority, pause to consider— are they the next great thinker, challenging the status quo? •
Works Cited
“ By empowering students to question, challenge, and think critically, we don’ t just prepare them to follow rules— we prepare them to create their own paths.”
Gatto, John Taylor, Hamza Yusuf Hanson, Nabila Hanson, and Dorothy Sayers. Educating Your Child in Modern Times: How to Raise an Intelligent, Sovereign & Ethical Human Being. Fons Vitae Publishing, 2003, 78.
Page 16 Summer 2025 CSEE Connections