ID: 90044

Dear school administration:

I am writing this letter to inform you with children's right to participate in the family,
school and society as whole.
According to the article number (12) in the convention of child rights 1989, which
state that ''state parties shall take assure to the child who is capable of forming his
or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the
child, the views of the childbeing given due weight in accordance with the age and
maturity of the child''. In other words they should participate in decision making and
sharing perspectives. Children are not useless as adults think; they are persons who
have their views that weight the same as adults'. Therefore, children should be
heard and their views should be respected. Giving opportunities for children starts
within their family's context. Parents should listen to their children and consider
their point of views regarding to the decisions that the family make. For example, if
parents want to move to another house, they should take their children's opinion so
that parents can consider their views while choosing the place or even in simple
things such as choosing clothes. As a result, children develop confidence to express
their opinions or advocate for themselves. Indeed, using democratic ways to discuss
with children should take a place in all families.
School is considered as the second home for children so that their views should not
be ignored and taking into account children's opinions can affect the process of
making decision at school. Because teachers and also parents want to guide and
direct children to the right path, it does not mean to make decisions for them.
Besides, children will understand why a particular decision was taken as they share
opinions with adults. Also working with the family in conferences or other ways can
make matters easier for both family and school regarding to foster children's
participation.
Moving to a large context which is the society that includes family and school make
us understand that it is an important process to involve children as citizens. Children
ID: 90044
have the right to participate in different activities in their society as adults. For
instance, children have the right to association to an assembly. There are many
assemblies nowadays that concern in different fields such as advocators for the
environment or for special need childrenetc. Therefore, adults can encourage
children to participate in such institutions to let them act as usual citizens.
All in all, the school has an important role to work in partnership with the family and
society. The school should invite families to conferences to discuss the matters of
children's education or the rules of the school and here teachers and parents should
foster children's participation. Moreover, they should take children in trips to visit
some institutions that allow children's participation as members so that they
encourage children to enroll in the society and express their view points. Also they
can send newsletters for parents to inform them with useful assemblies that are for
children. To conclude, applying participation principle can help to achieve the
consideration of best interest of children.
Yours faithfully











ID: 90044

References:
The Right to participation. (n.d). Retrieved March 29, 2012 from
http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Right-to-Participation.pdf

Promoting the Participation Rights of Children and Young People in Family Group
Conferences. (n.d). retrieved March 29, 2012 from
http://www.barnardos.org.uk/advocacy.pdf