Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

Page 11 text:

THE REFLECTOR mal. 'mf' 4-1 Girls Il' the section room representatives consistently fail in the task of hnding a leader, might it not be better to drop the idea of section room representation and substitute some other sort, such as that from class divisions? Such a change would require the organization of 1-l, l.-2, 2-1, and 2-2 classes. We feel that the members of such classes know each other better than the members of section rooms because'they go to the same classes, whereas some section room pupils seldom fre- quent their home rooms, except to eat lunch tmany go to the cafeteriaj , to be marked present, or to be dismissed. Furthermore, much ol' the irresponsibility prevailing in Junior and Senior Class organizations might be done away with if pupils were given the opportunity to get used to the mechanics of parliamentary procedure in the lower classes. B - L1ac1sLA'rivE. Let the General Organization meet regularly, at a given time, in a given place. We think that once a week is not too frequent. Let this body gradually assume responsibility for student affairs which need betterment, such as the following: 1-The school clubs. The General Organization should form a plan whereby the various clubs should be subject to its regulations as regards size, eligibility, powers, meeting dates, etc., so as to avoid much existing confusion and overlapping of meeting dates, conflicting aims, and interlocking memberships. Some pupils be- long to as many as five clubs. 2 - The General Organization representatives should be impressed with the fact that they are representatives, and must consult their constituents. A check-up of what a representative does in the meetings should be made. To encourage more initi- ative in making suggestions at the meetings, little form slips should be distributed among the members, on which suggestions may be put in writing and collectedf Ten

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THE REFLECTORY val- -KM 4-1 Boys C - THE IDEAL. - Part IV of this report contains an outline of an ideal form of student participa- tion in school government, which, in our opinion, most closely resembles that form used in civil life. We suggest that our efforts be directed toward the final realization of this ideal form, with, of course, such adjustments as may be necessary to fit our needs. It should be remembered, however, that our immediate aim is to promote the spirit of responsibility and the desire more fully to participate, rather than to pro- vide a positive form of increased participation in school government. PART III-RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT or THE SPIRIT or RESPONSIBILITY AND THE DESIRE TO PARTICIPATE MoRE ACTIVELY IN SCHOOL GOVERNMENT - For the purpose of clearness and good order the following proposals are grouped under three general headings, listed respectively as Executive, Legislative, and Judi- cial, according to the theory of the separation of powers as used in the constitution of our civil government. While it is realized that in actual practice this separation of powers does not exist to any marked degree, the classifications nevertheless' are convenient. A - EXECUTIVE. Because of the lack of any adequate leadership, it is desirable that leadership be encouraged. If the General Organization, as at present made up of section room representa- tives, cannot find a good leader among its membership fone who knows how to pre- side, appoint committees, and get work donej let the Principal and the Teachers, Council select such a presiding oliicer from their acquaintance of worthy pupils who possess the qualifications of leadership. The qualifications for a presiding oflicer should be made more rigid and should not be dependent upon perfunctory elections alone. Nine

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THE REFLECTOR MBI' lla-y 3-2 Boys 3 - Committees of four or five members should be appointed by the president to deliberate on special problems. These committees should make reports to the entire body. This will fasten responsibility on the members and give them more time to consider matters thoroughly. ' 4--If possible, the General Organization gradually should be given a share in the responsibility of financing assemblies, the Reflector, Red Cross and other drives, and athletics. It is our opinion that greater pride matters if the students are made responsible for them. C-JUDICIAL. will be taken in such The beginnings of a student court could be established through a Junior Police Court authorized to deal with infractions of the traffic regulations. Cases could be handled through a system of tickets served to violators, and made out ence. In the beginning the Junior Police could Such a court might after school, or at lunch in duplicate for refer- the faculty adviser of act as judge. meet weekly, probably time, to deal with cases of a week's standing. A system of penalties for infractions should be devised in which the penalty shall suit the offense. Much dissatisfaction is aroused-in pupils over the fact that the same punishment is handed out for any and all offenses under the detention ,, system. junio Pat Ol The infractions of the regulations for which . r r one is liable of detention, expulsion, or other of Duty punishment should be published so that stu- dents may know the laws and so avoid offending through ignorance. Eleven