Regardless of a school's size or whether its setting is rural, urban, or suburban, the establishment of a student council organization can serve as a unique and valuable learning laboratory for civic education. Student council teaches students many intangible life skills and allows students to take on different roles and learn when to step back,…

Describes a successful program for granting recognition to students who excel at leadership. (IRT)

A middle school teacher describes the way in which a gifted program gained prominence and its students acquired peer esteem through a model congress approach in which students learned parliamentary rules and debate principles. (CL)

A study of the Brazilian revolutionary socialist student movement focusing on attempts made by the United States Agency for International Development to restructure Brazilian higher education, and on the efforts of Brazilian students to resist American intervention in their educational system. (EH)

The principal of DeLand (Florida) Junior High School describes a system which has been successful in overcoming apathy toward his student council. (Editor)

Recent high school reform efforts strongly recommend that schools model democratic principles and give students, teachers, parents, and community members a significant role in school governance and the decision-making process. Specific recommendations include the creation of site-based decision-making councils, student leadership forums, and…

This paper explores the roles and responsibilities of student trustees in California Community Colleges from two perspectives, that of a student representative and that of a trustee member of the governing board. The different views reflect different assumptions about the student trustee position. The concerns expressed include frustration about…

Leaders of student governments at the Big Ten universities have formed an organization to solve common problems and revitalize student activism on their campuses. Issues include: combating racism, sexism, and homophobia; pushing universities to establish better ways to recruit and retain minority faculty and students; etc. (MLW)

Describes the marked changes in the functions and effectiveness of student leadership groups the author has observed in her work as a student council advisor for over 20 years. (SR)

Designed to help develop informed and capable student leadership in student affairs at Evergreen Valley College (EVC), this student government guide and text for Government 91 focuses on the major leadership needs and objectives of student government within a participatory framework. After an explanation of course objectives and requirements,…

This guide is intended to help student councils better represent students and improve school life. An introductory chapter presents a short history of student councils beginning with the formation of the National Association of Student Councils in 1931. Chapter 1 outlines responsibilities of a student council and its relationship with students,…

This document presents the results of a survey conducted to determine whether students involved in student government view this work as a leisure or learning experience. A sample of 91 students at California State College, Long Beach were surveyed. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire that sought demographic information and attitudinal…

Introduces ad hocracy, an emerging alternative system of junior college government, which encourages informal student involvement, allowing students to participate in activities of special interest without demanding lengthy commitments. (TP)