6th European School Student Convention

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FINAL RESOLUTION SAFE, HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS: DESIGNING THE SCHOOLS OF TOMORROW

References

About

Cfr. Kats, Greg; Alevantis Leon; Berman Adam; Mills Evan; Perlman, Jeff.

The Cost and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings, October 2003 — Retrieved 18th January 2011 www.usgbc.org/Docs/News/News477.pdf www.hjoerring.dk/sw110496.asp — Hjørring Bibliotek, Denmark, designed by Bosch & Fjord. Pictures available at www.bibliotekerne.hjoerring.dk/Hjoerring-Bibliotekerne/ Billedgalleri/Hjoerring-Bibliotek.aspx

The Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions, OBESSU, is a platform for cooperation among national school student unions active in general secondary and secondary vocational education in Europe. Funded in Dublin in 1975, OBESSU represents the views of the European school students towards the different educational institutions and platforms and works to improve the quality and accessibility of education and educational democracy in Europe.

All member organisations are independent, national, representative and democratic school student organisations. OBESSU is a stakeholder formally recognized

2011 OBESSU – This document is published with the financial support of the European Commission’s Youth in Action Programme.

The information contained in this publication does not necessarily reflect the position of the European Commission. The European Commission cannot be held liable for any use that may be made of this information.

by the Council of Europe and the European Union.

— www.obessu.org Rue de la Sablonnière, 20 1000 Brussels, Belgium Phone: +32 2 64 72 390 — OBESSU thanks Celestina Amiet, Domagoj Babic, Viktor Grønne, Nora Kleibel and Jessie Seal for being preparatory team for the event.

6th European School Student Convention Dublin, 14th–19th January 2011

FINAL RESOLUTION

Safe, Healthy and Sustainable Educational Environments: Designing the Schools of tomorrow

6th European School Student Convention / Dublin, 14th—19th January 2011 In January 2011, the school student representatives of Europe met in Dublin to discuss the educational environment and how we as School Student Organisations can be at the forefront of creating Safe, Healthy and Sustainable educational environments. The educational environment is paramount to the students’ experience of education and, for many, determines their level of schooling far more than academic curricula. This resolution is the result of five days of work using a variety of non-formal educational styles to produce a truly democratic resolution which all of OBESSU’s Member Organisations stand behind. OBESSU presents its demands to ensure that every single school student learns in an educational environment that is inspiring, democratic and fearless!

We, the School Student Representatives of Europe stand behind these demands.

In order to achieve these, the cooperation of school students, local communities, teachers, school leaders and government departments is essential. Ensuring that every school student is afforded these standards will mean that the learning experience is greatly improved, creating lifelong learners who are passionate about education and aware of their rights.

OBESSU pledges to achieve the objectives in this document and to continue to fight for Safer, Healthier and more Sustainable educational environments.

School Services and Facilities

Sustainable Schools

Inclusive Schools

Ideal Classrooms and Buildings

The services and facilities available to school students are vital to the learning experiences.

Schools are the optimal place to learn healthy habits for life and provide students with skills they may not receive at home. OBESSU believes that schools should be the first access point of basic healthcare for young people. This is especially important when it comes to Sex and Health Education which must be available to all students from the age of 11 at the latest.

Discussing these issues from an early age at school plays a major role in the promotion of responsible behaviours. Services in all schools should be of equal standard and should be tailored to fit the individual student.

OBESSU sees two aspects of sustainability in educa-

The key to creating safe educational environments is to ensure that education removes the inequalities present in our wider society. Education must enable all school students to thrive, regardless of disability or cultural and ethnic background. Often, school students are only considered to be those who are in mainstream education; however it is important to remember that school students are also work-based learners, Early School Leavers, young people with disabilities and those in residential care units. All of these school students’ needs should be taken into account when designing socially inclusive schools, where everyone is represented.

The physical aspect of the educational environment must not be underestimated. Schools which are modern, adaptable and spacious are essential to positive learning. School students should be assured protection under the law when it comes to standards of furniture, natural light and personal space. Innovative ideas in classroom design should be welcomed, ensuring that technology is kept up to date and that classrooms can become more adaptable to different learning and teaching styles. Teaching methods must include the Information Technologies school students use at home as complement to the ‘traditional’ learning tools.

Therefore we demand:

Therefore we demand:

—— Sex education in school must cover all sexual orientations.

—— Professional counselling must be easily accessible for all students.

—— Careers guidance must be accessible to all and proved neutral information.

—— Healthy food must be free for all students and provided without profit.

—— That all school buildings and facilities are eco-friendly and sustainable.

—— That all schools are democratic where students and staff have equal voting rights in decision making.

—— School facilities must be freely available for the whole community.

—— That government invest in green technologies in the field of education, as well as using local materials and resources.

—— Students must learn how to act environmentally friendly, as an individual citizen and as a society

tion: environmental and societal sustainability.

Schools should be the epicentre of sustainability for the entire community and school students must learn how to be democratic, environmentally friendly citizens. Students learn better in eco-friendly spaces and this must be recognised. We want schools to be inspiring role models for local society and interact with their surrounds. School students should be able to use the school facilities for their own interests and should all feel a strong ownership of the school. By creating sustainable learning environments for our learning, school students will become multipliers in this field, taking this expertise out into everyday life.

Therefore we demand:

Therefore, we demand:

—— Schools and their communities must ensure physical accessibility and social inclusion of all students.

—— All schools must have anti-discrimination policies that cover all levels.

—— Both the school community and government should be responsible for making education more inclusive.

—— School communities must implement programmes such as peer mentoring, diversity committees and free tutoring etc.

—— Public authorities must promote new policies of welfare to overcome financial barriers such as hidden costs and the costs of non-formal education (books, music) and introduce a means-tested students allowance.

—— Motivating, stimulating and interactive educational environments.

—— Learning areas that are adaptable, and provide spaces for silent working and group discussions.

—— That all schools recognise the social importance of education and provide areas that are adapted to the socialising and independent learning of students.

—— That school furniture is ergonomically designed so that they do not lead to health problems.

—— That national and European minimum standards are introduced for air quality, natural light and classroom sizes are introduced.

—— That school students are consulting when building new schools or updating current areas.