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Students as Co-creators of Educational Environments

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Handbook of School Mental Health

Part of the book series: Issues in Clinical Child Psychology ((ICCP))

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Abstract

Creating the conditions necessary for young people to actualize their full potential and thrive requires a paradigm shift that involves establishing systems and structures that cultivate and sustain a shared vision of equity and a culture of co-creation. Such a shift recognizes young people’s capabilities, leverages their knowledge and wisdom, and utilizes their contributions. This shift also acknowledges that students can achieve at higher levels when schools teach them how to see, name, and challenge oppressive and unjust systems. A whole person, whole school culture involves creating an environment in which students partner with adults in the design, implementation, and evaluation of curricula, services, programs, practices, and policies. It means that all stakeholders value collaboration, meaningfully engage young people in bi-directional ways of work, and cultivate connectedness and belonging which benefits adults and young people alike. This chapter provides an overview of key concepts, typologies, and frameworks and provides a background on the history and research supporting students as co-creators of educational environments. This chapter also provides applications and discussions of these key concepts and frameworks, as well as examples and testimonies from the field.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Adultism is described as the oppression experienced by young people by adults and adult-created, adult-centered systems. It relates to the socioeconomic and sociocultural disparities and power relations pervasive to adult-child relations (LeFrançois, 2014).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. WestEd, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Christina M. Pate

  2. Peer Health Exchange, Oakland, CA, USA

    Angela Glymph, Treasure Joiner & Reanna Bhagwandeen

Authors
  1. Christina M. Pate
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  2. Angela Glymph
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  3. Treasure Joiner
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  4. Reanna Bhagwandeen
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Correspondence to Christina M. Pate .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA

    Steven W. Evans

  2. Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA

    Julie Sarno Owens

  3. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Catherine P. Bradshaw

  4. Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    Mark D. Weist

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Pate, C.M., Glymph, A., Joiner, T., Bhagwandeen, R. (2023). Students as Co-creators of Educational Environments. In: Evans, S.W., Owens, J.S., Bradshaw, C.P., Weist, M.D. (eds) Handbook of School Mental Health. Issues in Clinical Child Psychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20006-9_13

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