Eleanor Finch
A class constitution is a collaborative document that outlines the shared values, expectations, and responsibilities within a classroom. It is a written agreement between teachers and students that establishes a sense of community and shared responsibility among students, encouraging them to take ownership of their learning and behaviour. The process of creating a class constitution helps students understand the importance of rules, rights, and responsibilities in a democratic society. It also empowers students with decision-making and leadership skills as they actively participate in shaping their learning environment. The constitution-making process involves individual reflection, small group discussions, and whole-group discussions, ensuring that every student contributes to the final document. This document will include rights, responsibilities, rules, and consequences, with the flexibility to amend it as needed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To promote values and principles, and establish rules and expectations |
| Research | Research existing constitutions for ideas and language |
| Individual reflection | Students reflect on what helps them learn best |
| Group discussion | Divide the class into small groups to discuss and assign specific aspects like rules, rights, responsibilities, consequences, and amendment procedures |
| Whole group discussion | Bring the class together to compile individual components into a comprehensive classroom constitution |
| Rights | Identifying rights empowers students to think about what they need and deserve as learners |
| Responsibilities | Identifying responsibilities pushes students to understand their role in ensuring rights are not violated |
| Non-negotiables | State upfront the rights and responsibilities that govern the classroom |
| Amendments | Be open to amendments in the future |
| Signing | Ensure everyone signs the constitution and keep it in a public place |
| Copies | Make copies for each student to have for themselves or to share with their families |
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What You'll Learn
Define rights and responsibilities
When making a constitution for a class, defining rights and responsibilities is a crucial aspect. This process empowers students to reflect on their needs, rights, and roles in creating a positive and fair learning environment. Here are some steps and ideas to guide you through this important undertaking:
Understanding Rights and Responsibilities:
Begin by ensuring that students grasp the concepts of "rights" and "responsibilities." Engage them in discussions to define these terms in their own words and provide examples from their lives outside of school. Explore whether everyone's definitions are the same and how these rights and responsibilities apply in the classroom context.
Identifying Individual Rights:
Ask students to consider what rights they want to uphold as a class. You can prompt them with questions like, "In our class, everyone has the right to play, work, or be safe." Encourage them to fill in the blanks with their own ideas. This process helps students recognize the importance of each person's right to learn and thrive in the classroom.
Connecting Rights and Responsibilities:
Emphasize the reciprocal relationship between rights and responsibilities. For each right, there should be corresponding responsibilities to ensure those rights are respected. For example, "To protect our right to be safe, we will use materials appropriately and walk (not run) in class." This approach fosters an understanding of the balance needed to maintain a harmonious learning environment.
Group Work and Brainstorming:
Divide the class into small groups and assign each group to focus on specific aspects, such as rules, rights, responsibilities, and consequences. Provide guidance while encouraging independent and collaborative thinking. Each group should brainstorm ideas and discuss their designated topics before presenting them to the whole class.
Consolidating and Finalizing:
Once all the groups have shared their ideas, consolidate them into a single document. This process involves discussion, debate, and compromise to create a constitution that reflects the shared values of the class. Encourage students to actively participate in this process, as it is an essential part of democratic decision-making.
Signing and Displaying the Constitution:
After finalizing the class constitution, have each student sign it as a symbolic gesture of their commitment to uphold the outlined rules and values. Display the constitution prominently in the classroom, and consider making copies for students to take home and share with their families.
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Establish shared values and principles
A classroom constitution is a written agreement between a teacher and their students that outlines the shared values, expectations, and responsibilities within the classroom. It serves as a framework for creating a positive and respectful learning environment and helps to establish a sense of community and shared ownership among the class.
To establish shared values and principles, it is important to first determine the purpose of the constitution. What are the values and principles you want to promote? What rules and expectations do you want to establish? Having a clear understanding of your goals will help guide your writing.
Next, you should research existing constitutions that are similar to what you are trying to create. Look for your own ideas and language to guide your writing. For example, if you are writing a constitution for a student organization, your university may have a sample constitution that you can use as a starting point. You can also examine the origins and purposes of rules, laws, and key constitutional provisions for inspiration.
Once you have a good understanding of the purpose and structure of a constitution, you can begin to identify the specific values and principles that are important to your class. This can be done through individual reflection, small group discussion, and whole-group discussion. It is important to ensure that every student plays an active role in the creation of the constitution. During these discussions, you can explore the rights and responsibilities that govern the classroom, as well as the terms "rights" and "responsibilities". Students should be given the opportunity to frame these terms in their own words and provide examples from their own lives.
Finally, it is important to make space for disagreement and experimentation. For example, you can allow students to see what happens when "the right to speak freely whenever we want" is part of the constitution. Through this process, students will learn that while this right is important, it needs to be balanced with the "responsibility to respect one another by taking turns and giving everyone a chance to speak and be heard".
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Understand rules and expectations
A classroom constitution is a collaborative agreement between a teacher and their students. It outlines the shared values, expectations, and responsibilities within the classroom. It serves as a framework for creating a positive and respectful learning environment and helps to establish a sense of community and shared ownership among the class.
The process of creating a classroom constitution is as important as the final document. It is essential to involve every student in the process, using individual reflection, small group discussions, and whole-group discussions. This empowers students to take ownership of their learning and behaviour, giving them a voice in establishing the rules and expectations for the class.
Before drafting the constitution, it is crucial to determine its purpose and the values and principles it will promote. This involves understanding the role of a constitution in governing a community and protecting the rights and responsibilities of its members. Students should be encouraged to reflect on what they need as learners to be well and what contributes to a positive learning environment.
The constitution should include rights, responsibilities, rules, and expectations for behaviour. Rights empower students to think about what they need and deserve as learners. For example, the right to speak freely is important, but it may need boundaries to ensure it does not infringe on the right to learn or respect for others. Responsibilities, on the other hand, help students understand their role in ensuring that the rights of others are not violated. Rules and expectations should be established to promote a sense of community and shared responsibility. For instance, rules about being respectful to others, arriving on time, and participating in classroom discussions.
It is also important to make space for disagreement and experimentation during the drafting process. Students should understand that their rights and responsibilities within the classroom are governed by broader school rules and non-negotiables, such as rules around cell phone usage, which cannot be violated.
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Ratification and signing
Once your class has agreed on a constitution, it's time for ratification and signing. This process will lend an air of importance to the constitution and make it official.
Ratification
Ratification is when an official document is approved and confirmed by a group of people. In the context of a class constitution, ratification typically involves each student providing their individual approval. This can be done by having each student come to the front of the class and add their signature or mark to the document. You may also want to invite a school administrator or another guest to witness the process and add to the sense of occasion.
Signing
The signing of the constitution is a significant moment in the process of creating a class constitution. After the constitution has been ratified by the students, each student should sign the document. The teacher should also sign it, as a show of unity and agreement with the class.
Copies and Display
After the ratification and signing, it's a good idea to create copies of the constitution for each student to keep and/or share with their families. Additionally, you can print the constitution in a large format or on poster paper and display it prominently in the classroom for everyone to see. This serves as a reminder of the rights and responsibilities outlined in the constitution and encourages a sense of ownership and pride in the class community.
Amendments
It's important to remember that a class constitution is a living document and may need to be amended or updated in the future. Be open to suggestions and changes from the students, as this is an essential part of the democratic process. Encourage students to think critically about the constitution and propose amendments when necessary. This could be done through class discussions, votes, or other democratic processes that the class agrees upon.
By following these steps for ratification and signing, your class will have a sense of ownership over their constitution and a deeper understanding of the rights and responsibilities that come with it.
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Regular reviews
When conducting reviews, it is important to involve the entire class to ensure that everyone's voices are heard and that any changes are collectively agreed upon. This process can be facilitated through individual reflection, small group discussions, and whole-group discussions. By actively engaging students in the review process, they have the opportunity to reflect on the effectiveness of the current constitution, identify areas for improvement, and propose amendments.
During the review, it is crucial to revisit the foundational principles and values that underpin the constitution. This includes reaffirming the rights and responsibilities of students and ensuring that they remain relevant and understandable to all class members. It is also an opportunity to discuss any new circumstances or perspectives that may impact the constitution's applicability.
The review process should be inclusive and encourage experimentation and disagreement. This means creating a safe space for students to express their thoughts and ideas without fear of judgement. By embracing diverse viewpoints, students can collaboratively negotiate and compromise on any proposed changes, fostering a sense of collective decision-making.
To facilitate effective reviews, teachers can provide guidance and support while encouraging students to take the lead. This may involve providing resources, such as templates, posters, or digital tools, to help structure the review process and make it more engaging. Additionally, teachers can model respectful discourse and critical thinking, demonstrating how to navigate disagreements and reach consensus.
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Frequently asked questions
A class constitution is a document that outlines the shared values, expectations, and responsibilities within the classroom. It serves as a framework for creating a positive and respectful learning environment and helps to establish a sense of community and shared ownership among the class.
A class constitution should include rights and responsibilities. Identifying rights empowers students to think about what they need and deserve as learners. Identifying responsibilities pushes them to understand their role in ensuring those rights are not violated. It may also outline the consequences of not following the rules.
First, determine the purpose of the constitution and the values and principles you want to promote. Then, research existing constitutions that are similar to what you are trying to create. Next, plan for individual reflection, small group discussion, and whole-group discussion to ensure every student plays an active role in the creation of the constitution. Finally, once you have arrived at a constitution the class agrees upon, ensure everyone signs it and keep it in a public place where you can refer to it when needed.
