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Enhancing School Democracy: Insights from Shawlands Academy and BBS Kirchdorf

This presentation explores the dynamics of school democracy within the Austrian education system, specifically at BBS Kirchdorf. It highlights the roles and responsibilities of student representatives, including class and school reps, and their importance in promoting effective communication between students and teachers. The presentation details the electoral process for student representatives and emphasizes the need for teacher support and student engagement. It discusses the School Council (SGA) and the challenges students face in promoting active participation in school governance, aiming for a more democratic educational environment.

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Enhancing School Democracy: Insights from Shawlands Academy and BBS Kirchdorf

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  1. SCHOOL DEMOCRACY Presentation Shawlands Academy 25 October, 2004 BBS Kirchdorf/Austria

  2. Content • School Democracy & the Austrian School System • School Democracy & BBS Kirchdorf

  3. BBS Kirchdorf • HBLW/FW HBLW: 5 years (age 15-19) FW: 3 years (age 15-17) • HAK/HAS HAK: 5 years (age 15-19) HAS: 3 years (age 15-17)

  4. BBS Kirchdorf

  5. BBS Kirchdorf

  6. The Austrian School System • Students‘ representatives - class reps - school reps - regional reps - national reps • SGA (School Council) • Teachers of Trust • School Laws

  7. Students‘ Representatives • Class Reps: • attend meetings held by school reps • report back to their class • mediator between class and teachers • can participate in class conferences (leave when vote) • represent students in their class

  8. Students‘ Representatives • School Reps • convene and chair meetings with class reps • 3 reps to the SGA (“school council“) • participation in conferences (leave when vote) • power to expel a student or prevent a student from being expelled - in agreement with the headmaster

  9. Elections of the Reps • Class Reps: • around 2nd week of the school year (= end of September) • election list in each class • each student puts 2 names in order of preference (1st = 2 pts.; 2nd = 1 point) • most points  class rep • 2nd  deputy class rep

  10. NEW at Kirchdorf 2004 • Students Representatives - What makes a good class or school rep? Last year Comenius team and student reps laid down characteristics of a good class or school rep. • Instructions for form tutors: How do you get a good class rep? Teachers encourage discussions in classes regarding the tasks of a students rep.

  11. Elections of the Reps • School Reps • around the 4th week of the school year • all students eligible • nomination = signature on an official form • vote by a ballot paper with the names of the candidates • vote possible for six favourite candidates in order of preference

  12. Elections of the Reps • School Reps (cont.) • 6 points for the most favourite, 1 point for the last • student with highest ratio (NOT number of points) School Rep • other positions: filled automatically • no clear majority  election between the two most popular candidates

  13. NEW at Kirchdorf 2004 • new strategies for school rep election & election campaign • election day: later than usual  11 October, 2004 • Before: 8 October, 2004 presentation of candidates in meeting of all students in school hall  all students get to know the candidates and their programmes, ask questions, …

  14. NEW at Kirchdorf 2004 And … • teachers encourage discussions in classes regarding the tasks and characteristics of a good school rep

  15. Elections of the Reps • Regional Students Rep, e.g. for Upper Austria • School Reps are eligible; they vote in these elections • National Students Rep – for Austria • elected by regional Students‘ Reps

  16. The SGASchulgemeinschaftsausschussSCHOOL COUNCIL • Central element of school democracy - meets regularly to discuss and to vote on issues concerning: The running of the school: • setting the curriculum • evaluating school rules

  17. The SGASchulgemeinschaftsausschussSCHOOL COUNCIL • Members of this committee: • headmaster (chairs the meeting, but has no voting rights) • 3 different parties: • Students‘ Reps • Teachers‘ Reps (elected by their colleagues) • Parents‘ Reps (voted for by the “Elternverein“ = Parents‘ Organisation)

  18. The SGASchulgemeinschaftsausschussSCHOOL COUNCIL • Decisions: • Normal topic: half of the members must agree on it to pass • Really important cases: overall majority of 2/3rds (with at least one vote in favour from each party!) is necessary for the topic to pass

  19. Teachers of trustVertrauenslehrer/innen • Does not apply to all Austrian schools! • Teachers to whom students can talk confidentially when they have problems concerning school or personal issues. • Usually the form tutor deals with mostly school issues. So the „Vertrauenslehrer“ is mainly there for personal issues. • Not used very often. Many students in Kirchdorf don‘t realise that such service exists.

  20. School Laws • Schools have to adhere to a national set of rules. • Current school laws: often very general, vague and open to interpretation. • In addition each school in Austria has its own set of rules, voted by the SGA. • New proposals by a reform commission (www.klassezukunft.at, www.bmbwk.gv.at– English versions available ) - e.g. headmasters choose their own staff - e.g. reduce number of students that have to retake a year - e.g. give schools more financial independence UNIONS FIGHT AGAINST THESE PROPOSALS

  21. moving on …BBS Kirchdorf & School Democracy

  22. To consider • School democracy takes a lot of work for being effective! • Possible reasons for uneffecitveness: • many students are not interested in school democracy • students complain behind the back of the teachers • students believe that they have no power to change anything • teachers afraid of more regulations due to school democracy • parents don‘t feel responsible and leave the discussions to students and teachers

  23. Comenius • DISCUSSION at the Headmaster‘s Meeting in Kirchdorf – 22 March 2004 • triggered off a lot in our school

  24. School Democracy … has become a big topic in our school - discussions in lessons - with headmaster and teachers - SGA, student council, school reps - school magazine - etc.

  25. NEW at Kirchdorf SCHOOL DEMOCRACY TEAM Members: • old and new school reps • various students who are interested in school democracy • some Comenius teachers

  26. NEW at Kirchdorf SCHOOL DEMOCRACY TEAM AIM: • support students reps • introduce teacher evaluation • improve communication between students, teachers, headmaster and parents • link old and new school reps • organize trainings for school and class reps

  27. School Reps Kirchdorf • regular office hours • old and new school reps work together • school magazine – regular column • get support from school democracy and Comenius team • regular meetings with headmaster, contact teachers and reps

  28. Survey • QUESTIONNAIRES on school democracy - multiple choice: 170 students - with open answers: in various classes - to grasp the current situation - to make students think and talk about it

  29. School Magazine a platform created by students for students - regular page for school reps • more articles about rights, etc. This year: editor = deputy students rep

  30. Feedback Rules - discussed and translated into English - available to students and teachers - in preparation for teacher and student evaluation

  31. Teacher Evaluation Big project: students teachers (Comenius team) school reps, … are working on questions test run soon

  32. Various Projects • Jon Fosse – • Morgen und Abend • Stereotypes • Gender

  33. … on and on … SCHOOL DEMOCRACY • We think about it • We talk about it • We do something about it! We = students, teachers, parents, headmaster

  34. Hello from Austria! Comenius Team Kirchdorf 2004 presentation by I.J.E.

  35. We are very much inspired by YOU – GLASGOW, DRAMMEN, LOGRONO, TEPLICE! Thank you!!! Comenius Team Kirchdorf 2004 presentation by I.J.E.

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