MY SCHOOL by Dr .Nilesh Gopal das Joshi (beginner reading books for adults .txt) 📕

to staff issues and to increase awareness of school policies. Participate, assist, and advise in decision making processes that affect the staff’s relationship with the larger school community (e.g. nominate staff representatives to serve on institutional task forces and committees, when appropriate). Present ideas that originate from the staff to the school principal. Develop recommendations for new policies or changes in policies pertaining to staff. Promote and advocate staff professionalism and support opportunities for leadership development. Contribute to making the school’s educational community an efficient, fulfilling and attractive work environment.

Functions of the Staff Council

To help the headmaster to plan and implement all the academic activities of the council To discuss problems of discipline and advise the headmaster on how to solve the problem To advise the headmaster regarding action to be taken against pupils for misbehavior. To provide information regarding problems relating to working conditions and advise the headmaster in that respect To advise the management on steps to be taken for the development of the school To assess academic work periodically To plan important festivals and celebrations and other co-curricular activities To support the teachers whenever they experience problems and difficulties

Activities of Staff Council

Distribution of workload of teachers Organization of curricular and co-curricular activities Evaluation of curricular and co-curricular activities Celebration of functions Preparation of school timetable Discussion of day to day issues

STUDENT COUNCIL

Student council is a union of students either democratically nominated by the headmaster to participate in designated areas of school administration. It helps teachers and school administrators in conducting literary activities, cultural functions and sports, etc. It is the body to represent the entire students to share student ideas, interest, and student council exists at the elementary, middle and high school level.

In India, student councils have been introduced in almost all Private and Public Schools.Student councils in India may be elected, nominated or selected after interview (or written examination or both).

Functions of student council

The student council helps share students’ ideas, interests, and concerns with teachers and school principals. They often also help raise funds for school-wide activities, including social events, community projects, helping people in need and school reform. Most schools participate in food drives, fundraisers and parties. Many members learn skills that were an extension of their formal education.

Student councils operate in many forms. In elementary schools, there are typically one or two student representatives per classroom and one presiding set of officers. However, many secondary schools have one set of officers per grade level.

An example of the structure of an elementary student council may include a president, a vice president, secretary, treasurer, sergeant of arms, fundraising officer, historian, boys rep, and girls rep. These roles may be assigned or voted on, either within the student council or by the entire student body. They may also reflect descending grade-levels, with the president in the oldest grade, and so forth. Secondary school governments often have more independence and power than younger governments. Often a student government is overseen by a sponsor, which is usually a teacher at that particular school. Most junior or middle school student councils have a constitution of some sort and usually do not have a judicial branch. Compared to elementary school councils, junior high and high school councils generally have fewer people.

In some schools, a student council representative is assigned to each class. That person passes on requests, ideas and complaints from students in that class to the student council. In other schools, the elected Class Officers are automatically members of the student council.

Student councils usually do not have funding authority and generally must generate their operating funds through fundraisers. Some student councils have a budget from the school, along with responsibility for funding a variety of student activities within a school.

Why have a Student Council?

The Education Act, 1998 recognises that Student Councils are an increasingly common feature in postprimaryschools and have worked to the benefit of many schools. The Act seeks to extend the success ofthis model to other post-primary schools throughout the country.Students have a valuable contribution to make to the effectiveness of their school and their involvementin the operation of the school is itself a valuable part of the education process for the students.

A Student Council provides an opportunity for students to engage in a structured partnership with

teachers, parents and school managers in the operation of their school. Research indicates that StudentCouncils can improve academic standards and reduce dropout rates in schools. Student Councils cancreate a sense of ownership of the school and its activities among the student population.The establishment of a Student Council gives students an opportunity to acquire the sort ofcommunication, planning and organisational skills which will be of benefit to them in their future lives.

It enables students to take responsibility for projects, and to demonstrate that they can manage and

bring such projects to successful conclusion. Moreover, the contribution made by a Student Council tothe development of school policy in a number of areas can have significant benefits for students andthe school. School policies are far more likely to be successful where they are clearly understood andaccepted by all partners within the school community.

The Education Act recognises that students of a school will take the lead role in the establishment andoperation of a Student Council, although the Act also provides an important role for the Board ofManagement in supporting the establishment and ongoing development of the Student Council.

At the end of the day, a Student Council will thrive only if students themselves are committed to theconcept and to making it work.

The role of the Student Council

The main role of a Student Council as set out in the Education Act is "to promote the interests of theschool and the involvement of students in the affairs of the school, in co-operation with the board,parents and teachers".A Student Council will set its own objectives, which will vary from school to school. Some generalobjectives could include:

­ To enhance communication between students, management, staff and parents

­ To promote an environment conducive to educational and personal development

­ To promote friendship and respect among pupils

­ To support the management and staff in the development of the school

­ To represent the views of the students on matters of general concern to them

A Student Council will identify activities that it would like to be involved in organising, although thefinal decision on the activities of a Student Council should be agreed with school management.

Many schools that do not yet have a Student Council may already have a well-established class

captain, prefect or mentoring system. In some schools students play a valuable support role for school management for example by assistingin the running of the school shop and/or library or helping to maintain order in corridors betweenclasses and during breaks.

The Education Act provides that a Student Council shall act in co-operation with the Board of

Management, parents and teachers. A Student Council should not through its activities interfere with,or detract from, the authority of school management or the teaching staff of the school. It is thereforenot a function of a Student Council to discuss or comment on matters relating to the employment orprofessional affairs of the Principal, teachers and other staff of the school, or to become involved inany issues that fall within their professional competence.

The Student Council and the Principal

The role of the school Principal is of central importance in the establishment and operation of a

Student Council. In assisting the Board of Management in the development of school policy, and inworking with teachers and parents to implement it at day-to-day level, the Principal is centrally placed inall aspects of the school’s operations.

In the initial stages, the Principal, together with the other teachers, can assist in the development of aStudent Council in several ways, for example, by discussing with students the role of a Student Counciland the role of individual representatives on the Council, by facilitating the holding of elections and byadvising on an appropriate constitution or statement of objectives. As the Council develops, andbegins to expand its role, the Principal will assist in guiding the Council’s development, so as to allowfor a constructive and purposeful Council.

More generally, the Principal can promote a school culture which recognises the potentially valuableinput that students can make, through a Student Council, into the development of the school.

The Student Council and Teachers

Developing a spirit of partnership and co-operation between a Student Council and teachers has

benefits for both. The Student Council can play an important role in recognising and supporting thework of teachers. Similarly the interest and support of teachers will be of great value to a StudentCouncil, particularly during the early stages of its development.

It is generally desirable for a member of the teaching staff to attend meetings of the Council. The

support and guidance offered by a teacher will be very useful to a Council when planning its activities,and providing for a teacher to attend Council meetings will help to build a co-operative and goodworking relationship between students and staff of the school.

The Student Council and the Parents’ Association

The Parents’ Association can make a significant contribution to the development of a Student Council, byencouraging and supporting students in the establishment of a Council and by supporting the Council inits activities.

A Student Council may find it useful to meet with members of the Parents’ Association from time totime or to invite a parents’ representative to attend Council meetings or to assist it in particular

activities. This will help to ensure good communication between the Student Council and the Parents’Association.

Key functions of Student Councils

The functions and activities of a Student Council should support the aims and objectives of the

Council and promote the development of the school and the welfare of its students. In planning andundertaking activities during the course of the school year, the Council should:

promote the interest of students among the school administration, staff and parents help to share the burden of teachers to maintain the discipline Make teacher-pupil relation friendly To participate in developing the school educational projects and to promote it to students To promote and encourage the involvement of students in organizing the school activities To consult students on any issue of importance To inform students about any subject that concerns them Helps to develop democratic values Promotes personality development of students To officially represent all the students in the school work closely with school management, teachers and parents, involve as many students as possible in the activities of the Council.

There is a wide range of activities of benefit to the school community which a Student Council maywish to undertake, some of which are:

Representing the views of the student body to the school management

This should be one of the fundamental aims of every Council. It involves talking and listening to thestudent body, considering their views and concerns, and discussing these with the school managementon behalf of the students.

Promoting good communications within the school

Improving communication within the school community is a shared responsibility and a Student

Council can contribute to this process. Making presentations at staff meetings to keep staff informed ofactivities, keeping a Student Council notice-board or organising a regular newsletter are just some waysthe Council can communicate with the students, school management and staff, and parents.

Supporting the educational development and progress of students

A Student Council can contribute to the learning environment for students in the school by, for

example, setting up study groups for students in exam classes or homework clubs, or organising

lunchtime activities such as language clubs.

Assisting with induction and/or mentoring for new first year students

Starting secondary school is a challenging new experience for 1st Year students. A mentoring

programme where senior students help new students to find their feet can help their integration intothe school community.

Contributing to the development of school policy

The Student Council can actively contribute to the development of school policy in a wide range ofareas such as bullying, uniform requirements, behaviour code and extra-curricular activities. TheCouncil could form sub-committees to consider individual policy issues, to consult with students, staffand parents on those issues and to represent the Council’s views on those issues to schoolmanagement.

Assisting in school sporting and cultural activities

Student Councils can assist in organising and developing sports and