A Year of Student Government
This article describes the school's opinion of its' Student Government Association in the 1920's.This and other articles may be found in the University Archives.
Citation for this article is: "A Year of Student Government," Training School Quarterly, Volume 8, pp. 204-208.
At the close of the first year of student government it seems fit to pause and look back over the year and see whether or not it has been a success. It seems to be the verdict of the school, executives, faculty and students that it has been pre-eminently successful. In an endeavor to show this to the public, statements are given from the different points of view. These are from the president of the school, the executive head; the lady principal, as one of the nearest to the students in their home life and perhaps the most nearly concerned; and a student not on the council, as a spokesman for the student-body; and a report from the president of the Student Government Association, speaking for herself and for the School Council. Instead of getting one statement from one memberof the faculty, pains was [sic] taken to get the consensus of opinion and the faculty was unaminous in its enthusiastic approval of the work of Student Government.
These statements are given below and speak for themselves.
To make a school democratic and thus to prepare students for the duties of citizenship here there must be some type of organization that gives to the student body an active participation in the affairs of the institution.
There are certain duties in the operation of a college that belong to the students; others that teachers must handle and still others that must be dealt with by the officers. School government really means a from of goverment that allows an active participation of teachers, students and officers in certain college activities. There is both strength and democracy in co-operation.
This year the Student Government Association has been very helpful to the management of the school. It has brought to the student body a higher ideal of individual and group responsibilities. It has been a means of developing higher ideals of citizenship. It has strengthened school spirit and it has given a correct idea of one's responsibility as a citizen in the school community. It is through the Student Government Association that our students have prepared themselves for the responsibilities soon to come to them as citizens in State and nation.
When people realize their civic obligations, conducting a government becomes less arduous. This has been made clear in the management of our school this year. Viewed from the standpoint of the chief executive this has been the easiest year we have had and I attribute much to the splendid work of the Student Government Association. Our association is purely democratic, giving to the student body the actual functions of government as the students will find them in after-school years. It is a pleasure for me, as president of the school, to say a word of commendation for the spirit shown by the student body and a word of praise for the splendid way the officers of the association have managed the affairs of the association during this year.
Robt. H. Wright, President
Student government has proved from the first its practical value and has taken a permanent place in the administration of the school. It came not as a result of a nervous desire for change, but as a natural result of persistant effort to develop self-control and self-expression. It has come to array a selfless desire to serve against thoughtlessness, carelessness and idleness. To care for, rather than to be cared for, might well be its slogan. It is a constructive as well as a conservative force, since it has come not, as some thought, to destroy, but to upbuild; not to sustitute, [sic] but to mantain; not to license, but to encourage sane use of personal and corporate liberty.
The record made during this, its first year, has proved its right to permanent place in the school's activities. Poise, dignity and fearlessness have characterized its council in the discharge of its duties. Nor were these duties few or easy. The blazing of a new trial never is. Not one of its offices has been a sinecure.
And while the school recognizes with pride and gratitude the work of its officers and of each individual in the "line up" their chief recompense must and will be the incentive to greater achievement to which their successful administration has given rise.
Though not yet a year old, it is recognized as an indispensable moral and executive force in student affairs and as the strong right arm of the student management. Its council in its activities has been the exponent of the civic consciousness of the whole school. Hence its rulings have met with the hearty support of officers and teachers; though to gray-haired experience the sanity and fairness of its decisions and their sure executions have not yet lost the charm of welcome surprise.
The purpose of its being is not alone to preserve such order and integrity of living as will insure to each student an opportunity to get the best the school can give; but in its broader intent it exists to give students such practical knowledge of legislative, judicial and executive obligations as will be demanded of women in the wider but not more important fields of civic duties awaiting them outside.
Mrs. Kate Beckwith, Lady Principal
We are all very proud of our Student Government Association. Although the organization is quite young it has already been a wonderful help to our school.
When student government came into power last fall conditions from the very first improved. The girls realized that they were responsible in every way for the success of the association. Knowing full well that starting any movement is especially hard every effort possible was directed toward the success of the movement.
We feel that the student government is ours. We govern ourselves and therefore we are responsible for our own conduct. When one is responsible one will not bend the rules of the school just for the fun of it. We may want to study with our best friend, but we cannot with a clear conscience, so we stay at home. By doing what we think is best we learn self-control. Unless we learn this valuable lesson how can we expect to control others when teaching?
Splendid ideals are encouraged by our student government. We are placed wholly on our honor. We are given the opportunity to keep a watch on ourselves and report any wrong doing. Truth is strongly advocated at all times.
This year every class is taking an active part in the affairs of the school. In years gone by only the seniors felt a particutlar interest in the government of the school. Now every girl, knowing that the government is ours, feels the responsibility equally as great. This develops strong leadership and character not only in the senior class but in every class here.
The girls have responded nobly to the efforts of the association. The behavior has been excellent. Because of our conduct we have won many privilages.
Although our Student Government Association is less than a year old I am sure no school has a better one than we. I am sure it will become better and more helpful each year.
Louse McCain, '22
About the middle of November, 1920, an infant organization came to the Training School to stay -- Student Government. Since that time the organization has had the support of the entire student body, the faculty and the officers of the school.
We have had our ups and downs. Many hours of labor and much anxiety have been put into the organization. Anxiety? Yes! Anxiety concerning the duties and problems of the council; anxiety concerning individual girls; anxiety concerning the relationship of council and school officers and faculty, and between council and student body. And yet with all its work it has been a labor of love.
We believe that student self-government means student self-expression. If our school needs something that it does not have, let's get it. We believe that in loyalty to our school and to our better selves we must stand for right ideals, We believe that small rules should be enforced as well as large ones, for there are principles behind the small rules or they would not be made.
We believe that student self-government should be student self-government, not council government. The basis of this democratic government is shown in our manner of election of officers and members of the council. Each student expresses her own personal opinion when she casts her ballot.
The council? What of that? We believe that the student's council must be made up of girls who are not extremists. They must not be over-lenient, nor must they be over-harsh; instead they must find that middle trail and be sane and uninfluenced in their judgments. An extremist has no place on the council and the votes of the studnet body prove that they do not think so either.
There are many times in making decisions that we would much prefer laying our hands on the defendant's shoulder and saying, "Go, my sister, and sin no more." But that would neither be right nor just. So, for the sake of right and justice, we, as members of a Student Government Association must hold before us that fine thing -- personal honor, our neighbor's honor and our school's honor. We must look for the best in others and give the best we have.
In a Student Government Association there is no room for a personal grudge. It cannot thrive in such an atmosphere of honor, justice, and truth.
On the council we must forget personalities. We represent the government of the student body and when reports of misdemeanors are brought to us they are handled impersonally by the council. There has been no offense committed against the girls of the council, but instead against the government which they represent.
We feel that we have accomplished something in our work; but we realize that much is yet to be done. We have tried to find a way and make a path and we believe it will be easier for our successors.
Yet we know that they, in turn, will need to blaze more and more trails and broaden the old paths as the student body grows in qualities of self-government.
Helen Bahnson, President. Student Self-Government Association, 1920-21
