Mike Domitrz argues that kids who speak up aren't being difficult, they're showing they care and have standards. He urges parents and teachers to encourage this behavior instead of shutting it down, because the ability to advocate for yourself and others matters.
Have you ever been called difficult for speaking up for yourself and/or for others? Somewhere along the way in middle school, high school, or even maybe at home, we teach kids to be easygoing and don't ruffle feathers. What can this cost them? Their voice, their boundaries. When a kid speaks up, they're not being difficult. They're being caring about something. And that's a huge difference. This means they have some standards, beliefs, and boundaries that they're willing to stand for. And that's awesome. Might feel difficult in the moment, but this is a good thing. We want to raise kids to be caring and to have a voice and to speak out for themselves and others. This is a way to encourage it when you see them doing that. Want to help more students speak for themselves? Follow me. Follow the videos here and/or reach out. Let's talk about bringing me to speak at your schools.
