Why teachers need to fight against adult supremacy

As educators, we often talk about the importance of empowering students and giving them agency in the classroom. However, there is a darker reality that we must confront: The pervasive influence of adult supremacy, which takes away agency from kids by restricting their access to freedom and controlling their bodies, especially in schools. This issue is even more intense for students of color, as the need for control is often justified under the guise of “safety” and “discipline.” As teachers, it is our responsibility to combat adult supremacy in the classroom and give power and agency back to our students.

At its core, adult supremacy is rooted in the belief that adults are inherently superior to children and therefore have the right to control and dominate them. This manifests in a number of ways in schools, from strict dress codes to zero-tolerance discipline policies to the use of physical force to maintain control. In each case, the message is clear: Children are not capable of making their own decisions and must be controlled for their own good.

For students of color, the need for control is often even more intense, as they are viewed as inherently more dangerous or disruptive. This can lead to

Ashley Clerge

harsher punishments, greater surveillance, and a lack of trust on the part of teachers and administrators. The result is a toxic environment that strips students of their agency and leaves them feeling powerless and marginalized.

As educators, we must work to combat adult supremacy in the classroom and give power and agency back to our students. This means rethinking our approach to discipline, moving away from punishment and control, and toward restorative justice and community building. It means listening to our students, valuing their opinions and experiences, and empowering them to make decisions about their own lives and education.

One way to do this is through the use of student-led classrooms, where students have a say in everything from the curriculum to the rules to the physical layout of the classroom. This not only gives students agency but also helps to build a sense of community and ownership in the classroom.

We also can work to create safe spaces where students feel comfortable sharing their experiences and expressing their opinions. This means creating an environment where all voices are heard and valued, and where students feel free to challenge the status quo and advocate for themselves and their peers.

Ultimately, combating adult supremacy in the classroom requires a fundamental shift in our approach to education. We must move away from a model that views children as passive recipients of knowledge and toward one that values their agency, their experiences, and their voices. Only then can we create a truly empowering and equitable education system for all students.

The writer is a fifth grade humanities teacher for Boston Public Schools and a 2023 International Literacy Association 30 Under 30 Literacy Champion.

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The legislation that wishes to ban important conversations about the LGBTQ+ community will not witness progress, only children’s deaths.

Throughout history, figures such as Audre Lorde, Marsha P. Johnson, James Baldwin, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Gladys Bentley, Ron Oden, Lorraine Hansberry, and Phill Wilson have paved a path of hope. They will continue to inspire today’s LGBTQ+ youths of color and their needed allies. These icons will not be forgotten; we will fight for their history and our youth’s futures.

The writer is president and CEO of the National Urban League.

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