Kingswood Oxford High School - Retrospect Yearbook (West Hartford, CT)

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STUDENT COUNCIL The student council faced a period of transition in the past year. It was a time of transition from a complex, representative government to a more streamlined, oemocratic form. It was a period of pessimism when the widespread feeling emerged that student government could do little, that it was a sham — a play government. Yet out of the destruction of many of the old illusions and myths of the potential of student power emerged a determined effort to consolidate the powers that students already have to meet the new reali- ties of student voice and student responsibility. 1970-71 was for many involved in student gov- ernment a year of frustration. There was frustra- tion in the relationship between student govern- ment and the “school establishment.” As one student played the game “power, power, who’s got the power?” in an attempt to find out just where the authority to change a hair code lay, others asked where and what power did the es- tablished student government have to effect change. Although student council members took part in the attempt to change the hair code, the action itself took place outside the structure of the council. Aside from the qualified success of the hair code proposal, the action served as a stimulus for a change in the structure of student government. The most significant change that has been adopted by the student council is the new consti- tution. The complexities and ambiguities of the old constitution spurred a desire to change, but the most urgent need lay in the fact that the es- tablished student government was falling behind Clockwise: Moller, Schwartz. Marvin. Perlman. Russell, Treas.. Smyth, Pres., Hauss. Sec., Krevolin, Dunsmorc. Wypcr. Grody. Missing: Talbot, Connolly.

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PREFECTS Prefect Dick Screen helps lower school student with some math. Tutoring and counseling for lower school students was a main concern for the 1971 Prefect body. The Prefects, charged by Headmaster Lazear at the time of their appointment with examining the role of the Prefect at Kingswood and determin- ing its future, have spent 1970-71 constructively. Concentrating their energies on three areas: discipline, the maintenance of upper 'school- lower school ties, and student spirit, the Pre- fects attempted to maintain a balance be- tween the various power elements at Kingswood while retaining their student’s viewpoints. Elected Chairman Jim McDonald cited the Prefect's functions as “things that could be done by any responsible senior — I think the Prefect is outmoded.” Brennan. Watson, King, McDonald (Chairman), Smyth, Montgomery. Missing: Screen. ACTIVITIES

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Bruce Smyth (left) debates his point of view while Bob Perlman intently listens. Decisions were usually reached through extensive debate and consideration of every point of view. Spectators would frequently join in the discussion. the demands of the student body. Students wanted to speak out for themselves, they no lon- ger wanted to be represented. The new constitution, based on the New Eng- land town meeting system, will involve more students directly in student government, and co-ordinate the many student committees. The year began with a new student lounge in Seaverns Hall. The removal of the old pews and the introduction of comfortable chairs and new tables was the first action of the student council. Once accomplished, the renovation of the chapel occupied little of the time of the council, for maintenance by the students who use it was a major part of the council’s decision to renovate the chapel. The Kingswood-Oxford Fair provided the next area of involvement for the Kingswood council. Joining with the Oxford Service Club, the coun- cil managed to put on the most successful fair ever, raising almost $2,600 for local chairities. While neither the Kingswood council nor the Oxford Service Club could claim full credit for the success of the fair, the kudos goes to the leadership of both groups for working together so well. Another prominent project undertaken by the council was the magazine drive, again co-ordinated with the Oxford Service Club, with money raised by the students, the one dollar for every two dollars matching grant by Mrs. Anne Roberts will make possible comfortable facilities in the new student lounge, to be located in the Roberts Science-Arts Center, currently under construction. In spite of normal operations, this year’s coun- cil, ana its President Bruce Smyth, have absorbed much student criticism. The implementation of a stream-lined, democratic form of student govern- ment was the council’s major achievement this year. In the words of council President Smyth, who was instrumental in the writing of the new constitution, “We accomplished one major objec- tive: the new constitution. Many student com- plaints about student government should now be answered” 29