From the time we started Kinder Republic in 2021, actually even before, when we were conceptualising it, I’ve wondered “what is my role?”
Like, if the children are self-directing their education, what am I doing? (This is separate to the functions external to the interaction with children, such as lease agreements for premises, outreach, etc.)
I never felt quite comfortable with the term “facilitation” because there can be the temptation to facilitate towards the things that I personally consider important, than what perhaps the children would choose.
For a while (e.g. late 2023) I used an analogy of an Airline Steward - responsible for the physical safety (like how the stewards are in charge of an emergency evacuation) - but otherwise existing to do what they can to help the passengers be more comfortable.
My current conceptualisation (as of July 2024) is a bit different - it gives me more structure on what I am doing, and it gives more credibility (it is something defined in international human rights law, and since Kinder Republic explicitly places Rights over mainstream educational practice (that evolved prior to the UN CRC in 1989) it makes to connect to the law):
I am (CRC Art. 5) exercising my responsibilities, rights and duty to provide, in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the children, appropriate direction and guidance in the children’s exercise of their rights. (So not to direct and guide towards my personal preferences, but their rights)
For our child this is as parents, and for other children because the family (children + parents/guardians) have consented to us (and any other adult staff members) providing that direction and guidance to the children.
This explicitly includes (because they are often compromised in educational practice, both “mainstream” and “alternative”),
- Art 2 - Non Discrimination
- Art 3 - Best interests of the Child
- Art 9 - Not be separated from parents against their will
- Art 12 - The Right to be Heard
- Art 13 - Freedom of Expression
- Art 14 - Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion
- Art 15 - Freedom of Association
- Art 16 - Right to Privacy
- Art 17 - Access to information from a diversity of sources
- Art 19 - Protection from all forms of violence (Note: including especially educational violence)
- Art 23 - Dignity of mentally or physically disabled children
- Art 24 - Highest standards of health (Note: especially mental health)
- Art 29 - The aims of education
- Art 30 - Minority children’s rights to culture, language and religion
- Art 31 - Right to rest, leisure, play, recreation and cultural life
- Art 32 - Protection from economic exploitation
- Art 37 - No degrading treatment, no arbitrary deprivation of liberty
- Art 42 - Make the CRC known to adults and children
- GC 24 - Children’s rights in relation to the digital environment