It's a common confusion in the classroom.
Instructors often claim that they let students do whatever they want because autonomy is important. However, that's confusing autonomy with two things: structure and safety.
Having autonomy in the classroom doesn't mean you shouldn't have structure. When there is no structure or clear communication, doing whatever people want creates ambiguity and chaos that hinders people from reaching their goals.
Allowing autonomy in the classroom doesn't mean people will have emotional safety, either. Structuring and conditioning the class leads to clarity in a shared understanding of what's valued and rewarded. Empathy and caring for students before they understand their needs are how we help people feel seen, heard, and understood. When people feel safe, autonomy naturally emerges.
When we only talk about autonomy and, even worse, think that's something we can grant, I am afraid that we haven't learned to see people, let alone know how to serve.
