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SCHOOL DEMOCRACY

SCHOOL DEMOCRACY. Presentation Shawlands Academy 25 October, 2004. BBS Kirchdorf/Austria. Content. School Democracy & the Austrian School System School Democracy & BBS Kirchdorf. BBS Kirchdorf. HBLW/FW HBLW: 5 years (age 15-19) FW: 3 years (age 15-17) HAK/HAS

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SCHOOL DEMOCRACY

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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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