Students and student leadership

I have suggested, in another paper for this online conference, that primary school students can be strong educational partners.  For many years, it has been accepted that secondary and tertiary students are contributors to processes operating within their particular organisations.  It is probably assumed to be less of a reality and more of a novelty for this to be the case in primary schools.  My background in primary education has convinced me that a positive leadership contribution that can be made by primary school student leaders.  The proof of the pudding is in the eating and, for me, for the last 20 years, I’ve enjoyed being part of organisations in which adults and students have shared a very empowering leadership pudding!

This study

Recently, I asked students in years 4 to 6 at Leanyer School for their thoughts about student leadership.  Leanyer has had a student representative council (SRC) for the past 17 years.  I posed the following questions to the groups that responded.

Students as School Leaders These questions are about student leadership and what you think about children in the primary schools being part of the group that develops policy and the way forward. 1. Do you think that student representative councils are a good idea and why? 2.  Should children in the early years (Transition, year 1 and year 2) be members of the student council? Why? 3. What do you think the student council does well? Why? 4. What do you think the student council could do better?  Why? 5. Do you think that student leaders should set a good example?  How can they do that if you think it’s important? 6.  Do you think these student leaders get put under pressure by other children?  If you think they do, how can they handle this pressure? 7. If you were an adult or a person advising the student council, what would be the most important advice you could give to the group? Your Name _______________________                                                                   Class _________ Thank you for completing this questionnaire.

 

This paper embraces the responses of some of our students to these questions.

1. Do you think that Student Representative Councils are a good idea and why?

‘Yes, because they can help the students and can change the school to way better primary school.’ (Chloe, year 4)

‘Yes, I think that it’s a good idea because we need young brains to think up different ideas for our school and help kids in the school.’  (Katy, year 4)

 ‘Yes, because it shows them how to be leaders and it might help them to be great leaders when they grow up.’  (Briana, year 4)

‘I think they are good idea because I can help raise money for the school.’  (Alaistair, year 4)

‘Yes, because children can get lost in the school and they would help you if you were new.’  (Emma, year 4)

‘Yes, because they help and give us good ideas like they did for our “no school uniform day” and that was fun.’ (Hawwi, year 4)

 ‘I think they are a good idea because the younger students will have someone to guide them through till they are older and more independent.’  (Rochelle, year 4)

‘Yes, I do think that the SRC is a good idea because they are small group who can organise fundraisers and other activities instead of the whole school trying to manage it by themselves.’  (Holly, year 4)

‘Yes, because of anything gets out of hand inside the school grounds they would be there to sort things out fairly.’  (Darcy, year 4) 

‘Yes, because they are giving a chance for kids to represent the school.’  (Emily, year 4/5)

‘Yes, because gives children at school a chance to show that they can be leaders and help with big school decisions.  There should be a student represented at council because members have a chance to speak of assemblies which will give them confidence.’  (Siobhan, year 6)

‘Yes, because students (can) know what other students like more than do teachers.’  (Te Ngaro, year 5)

‘Yes, because we need people to show younger children good things (as in rules).’  (Alicia, year 5)

‘Yes they are a good idea because (student councillors) can help teachers to handle things.’  (Ashwin, year 5)

2.  Should children in the early years (transition, year 1 and year 2) be members of the student council? Why?

‘No, I think they are too young and aren’t as responsible.  I do think that year one and up should vote because they have responsible role models in the school who are good for them.’  (Katy, year 4)

‘No, because they won’t make very good decisions.’(Liam, year 4)

‘Yes, because it on their just a year 3 and up to be student council members.’  (Riley, year 4)

 ‘They shouldn’t because I don’t know what it takes to be on the student council.’ (Alaistair, year 4)

 ‘Yes!  They should because they could get used to being in groups with older children.’  (Emma, year 4)

‘No.  They are very young and it’s a big responsibility for them they would have a lock to learn.’  (Hawwi, year 4)

‘Maybe a few year 2s because some (of the younger ones) might not turn up to meetings and important activities.’  (Alison, year 4)

‘No, because they are too young to understand most of the things we talk about and are too young to speak at assemblies.  They are just too young to make input and suggestions toward the SRC.’ (Maddison, year 6 and SRC President 2008.)

‘And no, because they are too young of their minds are still developing.  I think it should stay with grade 5’s and grade 6/s (as they are) better organizers and leaders.’  (Lucas, year 6)

‘I think early years children should be on the council because you can never be too young to start.  Also, there should be a little committee for the younger children.’ (Dakota, year 6)

‘No, because I might mark by lots and there are two young and don’t know how to do it.’  (Alicia, year 5)

‘No, because they will forget to go to the meetings and will be embarrassed.’  (Casey, year 5)

‘No, because they are too young to handle this kind of stuff.’  (Ashwin, year 5)

3. What do you think the student council does well? Why?

 ‘Making really good decisions on holding competitions.’ (Liam, year 4)

‘I think they care for the school very well and they can help when there are fundraisers.  To help raise money makes the school grow.’  (Demi, year 4)

‘Definitely managing assemblies because they’re always prepared their speeches are always good and we all enjoy the performances they put on.’ (Rochelle, year 4)

‘I think that they are really good at fundraising and that they show lot of respect for the people around them.’  (Darcy, year 4)

‘Taking ideas of other students and coming up with fun school events.’ (Te Ngaro, year 5)

‘They give kids a chance to do something fun.  They also help to clean up the school.’  (Ashton, year 6)

‘I think they do well because they sell things to earn money which helps to make the school a fun place.’  (Casey, year 5)

‘The student council does well at organising assembly because when they do it, everything is under control.’  (Ashwin, year 5)

4. What do you think the student council could do better?  Why?

‘Fundraise more money so we can get more playgrounds equipment for the little kids.’  (Chloe, year 4)

‘Come around on Thursdays with a suggestion box.’  (Emma, year 4)

‘Some students have ideas that they want to run but when they go to the SRC, the SRC takes over all the time and people get very annoyed.’  (Rochelle, year 4)

‘Encourage students to be respectful, nice, friendly, grateful and polite.  Say “please” and “thank you”.’  (Karissa, year 4)

‘I reckon they could help out a bit more in the playground.  Quite a lot of kids are still having arguments that lead to full on fights.’  (Darcy, year 4)

‘They make good decisions because there are intelligent and people on the SRC.’ (Emily, year 4/5)

‘Not dominate because sometimes they get a bit dominating.’ (Joseph, year 5)

‘The student councils should be reminding little kids at play about school rules, for example no running on the concrete and no bullying.’  (Kristina, year 6)

‘They could take more suggestions (from others) to make the school better for the kids.’  (Adam, year 5/6)

‘They could involve kids in decisions including what they will buy with funds raised.’  (Skye, year 6)

‘Show their matters more, because some of the student councillors don’t do that.’  (Te Ngaro, year 5)

‘They need to try and help the bullying problem.’  (Ashton, year 6)

‘I think they could help people more because (sometimes) by C. children needing help and an SRC member is just watching.’  (Teegan, year 6)

5. Do you think that student leaders should set a good example?  How can they do that if you think it’s important?

‘Yes!  They could start wearing school hats, eating in the assembly hall and using better at language and be kinder.’  (Katy)

‘Yes!  If they don’t kids will think it’s okay (to misbehave).  They shouldn’t swear, by and they should use their manners.’  (Briana, year 4)

‘Yes … because they are leaders of our school.’  (Holly, year 4)

‘I think they should set a good example (as leaders) because if they don’t people wouldn’t want them in our school (as leaders) any more.’  (Jack, year 4/5)

‘They should be good role models.  They should behave, act well and be polite.’  (Emily, year 4/5)

‘Yes, because all the younger students need to “look up” to them.’  (Joseph, year 5)

‘Student leaders should set a good example, because little kids think they are doing the right thing and it will copy.’  (Kristina, year 6)

‘Yes, because we have younger children at our school and they look up to leaders.’  (Skye, year 6)

‘Yes, because if the younger children see the older children being silly they also might be silly in growing up.’  (Te Ngaro, year 5)

‘Yes and no.  I think that SRC members should set a good example also they should be able to have a bit of fun.  Just because they’re in the SRC doesn’t mean they have to go “all goody” and perfect.  I think they should just be themselves.’  (Dakota, year 6)

 ‘Yes, because little kids look at them as role models.’  (Alicia, year 5)

 ‘Yes, they can show respect and not swear.’  (Ashwin, year 5)

‘Yes, I think they should set a good example.  If it is important that I can help by asking what’s wrong and seeing if they (other children) need a hand.’  (Teegan, year 6)

‘Don’t be silly and “show” good advice to the younger children who are not your age.’  (Tara, year 5)

The SRC, its members and functions

‘They are also very generous and give up lots of their time to make our school a better place.’  (Darcy, year 4)

‘Students develop better relationships with other students.  Leaders come up with better ideas and have different relationships with students.  Leadership can build their confidence.’ (Maddison, year 6)

‘Children in the job get elected and they are mostly responsible.  If they don’t perform they should be replaced.’  (Joseph, year 5)

‘The SRC is a good idea because it gives people a chance to show good leadership and respect to everyone.’ (Kristina, year 6)

‘Student Representative Councils can let children know what they’re up to (by announcement) on a week to week basis.’ (Hayley, year 6)

‘(Student leaders gets put under pressure) because if the kids don’t like what they have done they will bully you not physically but mentally.’  (Skye, year 6)

‘SRC’s help kids learn how to be leaders.’ (Dakota, year 6)

‘Student councils give kids a chance to be “responsible teachers”.  They also give kids a chance to be mature.’  (Ashton, year 6)

Closing thoughts

Many of the students surveyed had insightful ideas and some quite novel ways of expressing themselves.  That is the reason for the interpretive brackets wrapped around some pieces of text in this paper.  The following might well be closing thoughts to ponder.  Again, it’s what the children think.

‘I think that the Student Representative Council is a very clever idea. … I think the Student Council does everything very well.  They are always trying to use everyone’s ideas.  They are the hardest working people of the whole school. They don’t mess with the rules and they set good examples of the younger fellow students.  They get put under pressure with organising and getting things done on time.’  (Anika, year 5)

Gloria (year 6) said that student leaders should take care of people and set a good example particularly the younger students.  Megan’s (year 6) exhortation to the student leaders is to tell them that they’re doing a very good job and appreciate them for what they do.  Said Malcolm (year 6) ‘My advice is to be ready for anything and give anything a chance.”  There is pressure he said. “… student leaders are put under pressure because everyone wants them to be so … so … good or time.’

Student leaders can fill important role in governance.  There are lows and highs, challenges and celebrations but above all and through all a chance for development that can stand these young people in good stead.  They become a part of present organisational structure and imbued with skills that may well help them in terms of future leadership opportunities.

My thanks to our students whose responses appear in this paper.  I learn lots from them and others each and every day.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mr Henry Gray is Principal of Leanyer School in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

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