ABSTRACT
Democracy is best learned in a democratic setting where participation is encouraged, where views can be expressed openly and discussed, where there is freedom of expression for pupils and teachers, and where there is fairness and justice. (Council of Europe 1985)
Our [school] parliament is more controlled than the real one. (Boy, aged 11)
It is often maintained that schools are mini-societies that reflect the world at large and that learning to live in these will prepare children for adult life. On this premise many schools have established school councils, where representatives from each class come together in a council of students, teachers and others involved in the running of the school. Some schools have opted for school parliaments, and others have peer mediation schemes where students are responsible for helping their peers find their own solutions to problems (often in the playground). Behind all these schemes lies a belief in students having a right to voice their opinions and to be actively involved in the school community.
