Maimonides
Emperor
Might wanna change the wording of the poll to read "universities" instead of "schools." I voted no on the OP because I thought it meant K through 12. I would have voted yes had I read the OP 1st.
Should students help govern school districts?
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Irish Caesar
Yellow Jacket
Some role in high school districts, there should be a student "observer" on the school committe, who can participate in everything except the vote.
Of course college students should have a large stake in what happens at their college; I think that's something that's done at most schools anyway.
Of course college students should have a large stake in what happens at their college; I think that's something that's done at most schools anyway.
Evie
Pronounced like Eevee
One (voting) representative of the students sound about right to me from high school up. It's not like he'd be running the whole show himself - just representing his fellow students in a matter that will affect them. It would at once be an educational process, and make some students perhaps feel a bit more involved in their whole education.
As far as their being "unqualified", since when are the vast majority of students parents - including most of those who actually wind up on school boards - particularly "qualified"? It's not like they make you pass a test to get on the school board.
As far as their being "unqualified", since when are the vast majority of students parents - including most of those who actually wind up on school boards - particularly "qualified"? It's not like they make you pass a test to get on the school board.
Shylock
Hey smiling strange
No, that would be the equivalent of letting cows run the slaughterhouse.
University, yes. They are paying from their arse through their mouth for it, they had better have some say.
High school and below. Watch as money goes to inane projects, dances, and sports.
University, yes. They are paying from their arse through their mouth for it, they had better have some say.
High school and below. Watch as money goes to inane projects, dances, and sports.
When have any of our elected offical been particularly "qualified"?
Evie
Pronounced like Eevee
Yes, that's pretty much my point.
That might happen if the school board was nothing but students...but in all likelihood, it would be one student on a 7 or 9 person school board. If they take away his ability to set the agenda, then those silly projects could never be voted on.
Its also my understanding that outside of paying for staff, an awful lot of the money that goes to athletics comes from booster clubs outside the jurisdiction of the school board (although that might vary from state to state).
JerichoHill
Bedrock of Knowledge
I served on the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia as an elected statewide representative of all students in the university system. I was elected via a student assembly of elected Student Body Presidents and Vice-Presidents. I had a speaking role on the Board but no vote.
It was still a vote that is largely influenced by popularity. I won because we were in a "shape up or get the axe" watershed year. Our historical results were ineffectual at best, and very harmful at worst (this assembly of students, elected by students). I grew so disgusted with the assembly that I concluded that the BOR was better off without the student assembly and its BOR representation. They agreed. It no longer exists.
I never saw interest in the position except from folks who wanted political gain. It was actually that kind of club, and I am very proud that my efforts (and others) put an end to the madness.
If the best and brightest students of the state can't represent the students, if their elected presidents care more about popularity than issues that matter (like the woeful state of tech in our regional uni's in GA)...then well, good riddance.
It was still a vote that is largely influenced by popularity. I won because we were in a "shape up or get the axe" watershed year. Our historical results were ineffectual at best, and very harmful at worst (this assembly of students, elected by students). I grew so disgusted with the assembly that I concluded that the BOR was better off without the student assembly and its BOR representation. They agreed. It no longer exists.
I never saw interest in the position except from folks who wanted political gain. It was actually that kind of club, and I am very proud that my efforts (and others) put an end to the madness.
If the best and brightest students of the state can't represent the students, if their elected presidents care more about popularity than issues that matter (like the woeful state of tech in our regional uni's in GA)...then well, good riddance.
Mathilda
Queen
As a member of the board, absolutely, why not.
Kids running the whole show themselves, of course not, but I don't think anybody was suggesting that.
My seven year old was just elected the class president and got to take part to the student union meeting. And they actually have say over how a small part of the budget is spent. Like a couple of thousand euros. And guess what, it seems to work alright. I think they decided to get the toilets painted.
Kids running the whole show themselves, of course not, but I don't think anybody was suggesting that.
My seven year old was just elected the class president and got to take part to the student union meeting. And they actually have say over how a small part of the budget is spent. Like a couple of thousand euros. And guess what, it seems to work alright. I think they decided to get the toilets painted.
Irish Caesar
Yellow Jacket
No, but the school board/committee is elected by the town as a whole. Or at least mine is.
I was about to ask why I'd never heard of it!
Evie
Pronounced like Eevee
Since when is winning an election a sign of anything remotely approaching competence, or being qualified, or really anything other than the fact that the few voters who could actually be bothered to vote thought your grand-sounding empty speech sounded better than the other guy's grand-sounding empty speech?
AznWarlord
Monarch
I voted something else. My school needs improvement on one thing. Lunch. And I'm not talking because it takes bad. I'm starting to think the meals are unhealthy.
In my school, they try to keep people skinny. That means giving us fat free food. Food with no fat at all, meaning it's lacking other nutrients as well. Sure, it's fat free, but nonetheless unhealthy.
If this is unclear, hear this.
The mean for our schools burgers is pale. Not dark brown like it should be. But a light, whitish color. It has no flavor, and breaks into fragments.
Sick right?? This want to keep kids skinny is a hazard as it takes away the fat we need to supply our daily nutrients.
The students do need a say in schools.
In my school, they try to keep people skinny. That means giving us fat free food. Food with no fat at all, meaning it's lacking other nutrients as well. Sure, it's fat free, but nonetheless unhealthy.
If this is unclear, hear this.
The mean for our schools burgers is pale. Not dark brown like it should be. But a light, whitish color. It has no flavor, and breaks into fragments.
Sick right?? This want to keep kids skinny is a hazard as it takes away the fat we need to supply our daily nutrients.
The students do need a say in schools.
History_Buff
Deity
- Joined
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Highschoolers and below should get nothing. They're forced to be there, and I wouldn't trust the people I went to highschool with to be making serious decisions.
As for University, students should be heavily involved, to the point where we are appointing people to sit on our school boards. Sure we have the SU, and we elect good people, but nobody with any access to the funding stops to listen for more than 10 seconds.
As for University, students should be heavily involved, to the point where we are appointing people to sit on our school boards. Sure we have the SU, and we elect good people, but nobody with any access to the funding stops to listen for more than 10 seconds.
Irish Caesar
Yellow Jacket
I never said it was, merely that that's the system we have in place. I'd rather have someone democratically elected to a position than appointed by someone who was democratically elected (in this scenario, not in all scenarios), there's fewer steps to propagate error.
For a town school board, it should be run by representatives of people from the town, unless you know of a better way to get qualified people on it?
Excellent story. Down with the popularity contests!I'm actually pretty surprised that so many people don't want any student government at all. Perhaps I worded the polls wrongly...a limited role would basically be what almost every public school system in America has...typical student government. The kids elect class presidents, they decide what to do for crap like prom, they might get to talk to the principal if they're mad about something...but nobody actually has to listen to them.
For those that say that some of the brightest and more mature 17-18 year olds wouldn't be qualified to have an opinion on school issues ought to check out their local school board meetings/local city council meetings...or at least check out their qualifications.
For those that say that some of the brightest and more mature 17-18 year olds wouldn't be qualified to have an opinion on school issues ought to check out their local school board meetings/local city council meetings...or at least check out their qualifications.
JerichoHill
Bedrock of Knowledge
im telling ya, if we couldnt do it on the collegiate level, it aint gonna happen elsewhere.
like it happens in real politics either...lol
like it happens in real politics either...lol
We (American) do it at the college level. Its worked out great. It's actually a neat story. Our old president was busted for stealing a bunch of university money...and the trustees were going to give him a golden parachute severance package (the guy was already one of the highest paid presidents).
So the students had a massive protest...1,000+ students at a school with only around 5,000 undergrads (and only around 3,000 that live on campus)...we stormed a board meeting, and called the local media, made a big scene. The University hated the bad press, and allowed both a student representative (although I think the trustees got to approve her first), and a faculty rep. I posted links on here when it happened.
Do you remember hearing about this? It was all over the Post and the local news stations
So the students had a massive protest...1,000+ students at a school with only around 5,000 undergrads (and only around 3,000 that live on campus)...we stormed a board meeting, and called the local media, made a big scene. The University hated the bad press, and allowed both a student representative (although I think the trustees got to approve her first), and a faculty rep. I posted links on here when it happened.
Do you remember hearing about this? It was all over the Post and the local news stations
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