Sortition goes to school
In the Netherlands, sortition is now moving into schools. A project by the organisation ‘Bureau Burgerberaad’ is making it possible.
The so-called school assemblies follow the same principles as a citizens' assembly: the participants are randomly selected and together reflect the school community. Members of a school assembly can be pupils or students, sometimes also teachers and other staff.
Tackling problems democratically
The school assembly members work on behalf of the school management on a complex problem that the school management cannot solve on its own. The school management accepts the school assembly's proposals for solving the problem, as long as predetermined rules are adhered to. In this way, schools can tackle their problems democratically.
During school assembly meetings, pupils and students learn to make their voices heard. This strengthens their democratic self-confidence. They learn that their contribution to discussions, decisions and democracy counts. They learn that they are heard, but also that they are challenged and that they are jointly responsible for the outcome. It takes time to arrive at good advice. That is why a school assembly lasts around five days, spread over two to three months.
First pilot projects
Bureau Burgerberaad launched the first school assembly pilot projects in vocational schools in 2024. Three more such schools are taking part in the project. The school assemblies will take place from February to June 2025.
The aim is to enable school assemblies in all areas of education in the long term. The ‘School Assembly’ pilot project only focuses on vocational secondary education, but primary and secondary schools have already expressed an interest in introducing school assemblies.
Democracy fitness
The Democracy Fitness programme can also be used as part of the school assemblies, training democratic muscles such as active listening, dissenting, compromising and taking action. There is an easily accessible and effective 30-minute training session for each muscle. Groups of up to 150 people can train at the same time.
Reactions to the project have been positive. ‘It was wonderful to see how open and enthusiastic everyone is about this rather exciting adventure,’ wrote Eva Rovers, co-founder of Bureau Burgerberaad after the presentation of the school assembly idea at a Firda vocational school.
Teaching a responsible role in society
‘It fits in perfectly with how we want to treat students and what we want to teach them when it comes to playing a responsible role in society,’ said Firda chairman Remco Meijerink.
The topic was the use of mobile phones at school. ‘This topic is different from the colour of the school entrance, for example,’ said Meijerink.
‘Whoever says A must also say B’
When it comes to what is done with mobile phones at Firda School, opinions can vary greatly. But Meijerink had promised that the board of the educational organisation will seriously consider the outcome of the five-day discussions in which the topic was examined by experts from all angles. Bureau Burgerberaad was on hand to provide advice.
‘We are always prepared to examine whether a recommendation is legally, financially and practically feasible. Our works council and the student council will also have a say. But of course, whoever says A must also say B.’
School assembly opposes ban on mobile phones
The school assembly at Firda ultimately came out against a general ban on mobile phones at the school, but in favour of clear restrictions during lessons. The key recommendation was: when a teacher is explaining or delivering lesson content, mobile phones should be put away. Outside these periods set aside for explanations and discussions, the devices may generally be used – for example, as learning aids or during breaks.
It is interesting to note that the question was deliberately left open-ended. At Firda – a large vocational school organisation with around 20,000 pupils, students and staff – around 100 students and 20 teachers worked in various groups to address the question of how smartphones and other mobile devices should be handled in the classroom. They consulted experts and subsequently developed their recommendations.
A wide range of options were discussed – from a complete ban on mobile phones, through technical solutions, to the idea of making lessons so engaging that students are less likely to reach for their smartphones. The outcome was significantly more moderate: not a total ban, but rules tailored to the situation.
Making lessons more interesting
On the final day of the consultation, the approximately 100 participants voted on proposals covering a total of eight subject areas. In addition to mobile phone use itself, they therefore also examined the reasons why students reach for their smartphones during lessons.
Another proposal received almost 75 per cent support: lessons should be made more interactive, practical and inspiring. Committed teachers and engaging lessons were thus explicitly seen as part of the solution to the smartphone problem. The reasoning behind this was quite pragmatic: boring lessons increase the temptation to look at one’s mobile phone.
More group activities
Another suggestion did not focus on technical rules at all. Around 70 per cent supported more group activities – such as team sports, a café or other opportunities for socialising at school.
The reasoning was that if pupils know each other better, they will, for example, find it easier to strike up conversations during breaks and spend less time sitting together in silence in front of their screens.
In this way, the school assembly treated excessive smartphone use not solely as individual misconduct, but also as a social problem in everyday school life.
There was also a vote on introducing more lessons on social and digital skills. This would include knowledge about the effects of prolonged screen time. However, this proposal only secured a narrow majority.
Difference to the student council
The school assembly differs from the student council. The school assembly is an intensive, inclusive and time-limited form of democratic decision-making. It focuses on the promotion of civic skills and participation in discussions on important issues. The student council, on the other hand, is a permanent body that represents the interests of the student body. Both forms contribute to student participation, but in different ways and with different goals.
In collaboration with the organisation JOBmbo, which represents the interests of vocational school students and student representatives, Bureau Burgerberaad has developed a leaflet. This explains how a school assembly differs from a student council. It also provides tips for student councils who would like to participate in a school assembly.
Note: This article was written with the help of AI.