On Educating Girls Podcast: Girls Who Speak Up

“When I have stood proudly and spoken confidently, my voice is often heard.”
– Student at Merion Mercy Academy

We have all experienced the significant frustrations of engaging in civil discourse in our increasingly polarized world. More and more often, we seem to live in “a culture of outrage” in which public shaming has become an unfortunate norm, and intellectual discourse has taken a backseat to shouting matches. It should not surprise us then, that for educators, it has never been more critical to be intentional about teaching the skills needed to use one’s voice when the attacks become personal, and the disagreements become fierce. For many girls, who often confront societal norms not to speak up and not to be disagreeable, this is tricky terrain. It requires the use of the courage muscle; it demands vulnerability. It takes both empathy and practice.

Host Trudy Hall engages with Girls’ Day School Trust heads Fionnuala Kennedy of Wimbledon High School, Alison Sefton of Norwich High School and Jo Sharrock of Shrewsbury High School as they discuss the challenges of creating safe spaces for this “practice,” the rules of engagement needed to ensure constructive dialogue, and the substantial rewards for both girls and parents in prioritizing this nuanced work in the classroom and at home. If you are interested in understanding how best to encourage girls to speak up and out with confidence and authority, this conversation is a must-listen for you.

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