<p>I know that that this thread is bound to **** some people off, but at my school, student council is pretty useless. I don't always blame those who are elected, but student council has been rendered less than effective by the apathy of those elected in the popularity contest and their desire to constantly improve their college application, but self-interest isn't difficult to find in anyone.</p>
<p>With that said, your school may be different, but my school needs to change. I've started to voice my opinion, with much disdain from the popular crowd, about the idea of a direct democracy. My school has about 800 students, so it isn't incredibly large, and I honestly believe that a direct democracy would effectively improve high school life. Most kids would not be apathetic if their opinion actually meant something. </p>
<p>Perhaps this would put an end to popularity contests that dominate student government in certain high schools. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>Well, that doesn’t sound like a bad idea. I’m in my school’s student council, and it is true that we don’t do that much, I mean we hold a blood drive, go to Cradles to Crayons once, and hold dances and prom, that’s it.</p>
<p>I think I agree with you. Ours is pretty much useless here (although they think they’re something special.) I’m starting on “election day” to fill in the write-in’s with Mickey Mouse and Obama.</p>
<p>My school’s student council is basically useless as well, and my school is the same size as yours. I think the main problem with a direct democracy is that the direct democracy is already making bad choices in who they elect. Also, student council (at least the one in my school) isn’t really designed to do anything other than raise $ and hold dances. What you seem to want is a directly democratic student government that actually has some power, like the power of a school board – I have been contemplating trying to start this in my own school, but my logical conclusion is that it simply won’t happen. Maybe your school is different, but mine seems to want to leave the true decision-making to the paid adults.</p>
<p>Student council is pretty much useless at my school, too (which, by the way, also has around 800-850 students). The idea of a “direct democracy” does sound nice, but it’s too idealistic if your school is as bureaucratic like mine, where all decisions are ultimately made without any acknowledgment of the opinion of the students. I honestly don’t think student council is going away any time soon.</p>
<p>Our president this year is far from popular. I’m sure he’ll do well though, I’m pretty excited to see what he’s going to do next year. Hopefully he’ll live up to his promises. BTW, the past presidents actually did a lot. As for vice, secretary, etc. it’s a popularity contest, they barely ever do anything.</p>
<p>At my school it’s not even an after school activity, It’s a class!! (roll eyes) I don’t know where they got the idea but it is one of the dumbest things in the world. …The Student council is in charge of:
the Student store, which, by the way, is only open at ONE of the lunches ( we have two and they are split pretty evenly),
dances…prom, homecoming, etc
organizing rallies, ( they suck anyway)
and raising money for class t-shirts, etc. ( all the freshman were refunded their money because the class president was too lazy to go put the order in)</p>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>At elections, whether they are for freshman princess, ASB officers, or prom, the “officers” set up a table on the stage in the cafeteria…then people go up and grab a paper with the candidates and check off who they are voting for…THEN they HAND it back to the officers where they can SEE who you voted for!!! - REALLLY! </p>
<p>This is not suprising however…MEANINGFUL STUDENT INVOLVEMENT is what this calls for.</p>
<p>Why is it that every major decision about students, is made without students, but directly affects Only students? It’s obsurd. They NEVER ask our opinion about anything concerning the school.</p>
<p>At my high school, student council tries to raise the non-existent school spirit levels. But they’re actually pretty good, at our homecoming game, we had a decent fireworks show. </p>
<p>At middle school, however, the student council was basically a title and you ran copies for teachers if they needed it and didn’t do much.</p>
<p>It is useless at my school too. It’s a popularity contest and that’s it. They never do what they say they will do. I tried to do it in middle school and didn’t get win (I came in 3rd out of 5 people), some of my “friends” didn’t vote for me either. I pretty much voted for my friends and could careless what they said. I go to a pretty big school though.</p>
<p>My school is small enough that a direct democracy would work, considering student council comprises about 15% of student poplation! Probably wouldn’t work out, but interessting thought nonetheless. My school’s student council is fairly active, althoughour school functions barely raise money. I don’t want it to disappear though, I serve on it!!! We just need some fresh ideas…maybe I could help us…:P</p>
<p>Our student council is interesting in that to be involved you just get maybe 50 signatures and bam you’re in. I joined last year and then stopped coming b/c I was so dispassionate about it. I couldn’t see the work they did or the use. It seemed like all the student council did was make pretty posters. I also heard that most of the student council hasn’t read the list of coucil rules. so why bother.
Apathy…
a mind- numbing disease.</p>
<p>Our student council is an embarrassment. For our “field day” we have games that pit the freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior classes against each other. The student council was supposed to get kids signed up for events and raise class spirit. There were about 15 juniors there about half way through the day, since the rest had either not bothered to show up or just left</p>