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School politics gives all young people the opportunity to
get a taste of responsibility and leadership. As you read this,
councils are meeting to plan events and encourage school spirit.
These young people are not only planning dances and bake sales
but they are getting an opportunity to learn valuable skills.
School councils enable students to make the most of their school
year.
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A student council is just like a regular municipal or provincial
government. The members represent the students, as the councillors
represent the citizens. They bring the ideas of the students
to a higher court where decisions about school life can be made
fairly.
People run for student council for many reasons. As Kelli
Corscadden, vice president of Windhorst School, Windhorst, Saskatchewan
said in a recent interview with SNN, "I have always been
a leader in my school. Student council just seemed like the appropriate
step. I hate having a passive voice. So I took charge." |
Kelli Corscadden, vice president
of Windhorst School,
Windhorst, Saskatchewan |
Heather Williams is a delegate at Frisco High School, in Frisco
Texas.
"I'm very proactive; when ever I'm discontent about the
way something is being handled or if I want something to be done,
I go straight to the problem and fix it or present my opinion
so that it may be acted upon," she told SNN.
School councils can accomplish a lot in a school year. They
not only boost school spirit but they give people the opportunity
to become friends that maybe wouldn't have if they hadn't joined
the council.
Taes Leavitt, vice president of P.D.C.I. in Perth, Ontario
told SNN that she accomplished a lot through her council.
"We have had an awesome school year…our morale has
gone up, we have more school spirit and participation and because
of this we are helping out organizations even more than usual,"
said Leavitt.
Alicia Lauerson is a student leader
in Alberta who launched a local
chapter of Free The Children.
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The idea of politics in the classroom is not a new one. For
decades there have been class presidents and campaigns to elect
these people. The coveted role is often held by a student who
not only excels academically, but outside the bounds of the classroom
as well.
Many members of student councils are also involved in other
organizations such as SADD and Free
the Children. They often take part in other activities such
as sports, drama, the yearbook and key club. Needless to say,
it is harder than many perceive to earn your spot on a council. |
How do such students get elected to the positions in the council?
Is it their well-planned speeches? Great promotional gifts like
candy and t-shirts? Or is it based solely on popularity? 90%
of the students in a recent survey said that school politics
were just a popularity contest. They were a way for the cool
kids to help plan out how they wanted their school year to be
run.
One student from New Zealand said, "It's one big popularity
contest. Those kids don't care about me."
Whether school politics is a popularity contest or not is
a very controversial issue. Yet the fact does remain that if
some one runs for council they obviously want to help.
In what ways do these young people help out in our schools?
They plan dances and school events, sponsor poor children in
developing countries and hold fundraisers for the school.
The only main difference between these councils is the way
that they got elected. Some schools have nominations and then
everyone in the school votes on the candidates. In other cases,
a council is elected and then from the group the roles are assigned
like president and secretary.
In one school in Ontario, the teachers select the nominees.
Then, the Grade 12 students pick the candidates out of the teachers'
nomination lists. After the candidates are chosen, they have
one week to campaign. At the end of the week, each candidate
and one of their friends give speeches telling you why you should
vote for them. Then everyone votes to see who will get on the
council.
Class politics are a way for kids to reach out and make a difference
in their schools. Although they are not for everyone, they are
beneficial to those involved. I think schools politics are a
positive experience for anyone who chooses to participate in
them. |
