Keystone Magazine Learning the Keystone Way 2015-2016 EN | Page 61

That is why the first Student
Presidents, together with Aman-
da and me, decided to test a
different approach to forming
the student council the second
time around.
At the last Round Square Con-
ference in Singapore where I
met administrators and teach-
ers from schools all over the
world, I attended a seminar on
democracy. When we talk about
democracy to students, they
often think about freedom of
speech, and it is often linked to
political agendas. However in
student leadership, democracy
is about the cultivation of a stu-
dent voice, to allow the student
cohort to realize just how pow-
erful their voices and opinions
can be. Listening and watching
other educators present their
versions of democracy adapted
in their schools were inspir-
ing, and so I brought the idea
back to Keystone’s first Student
Council.
Initially everyone was skeptical,
including myself. The new pro-
cess eliminated speeches and
campaigning, thus removing
all opportunities to prepare or
manipulate votes in advance.
But having spent a year with
Amanda and me in leader-
ship development, the student
leaders believed that Keystone
deserved a true leader, and so
they voted for a new election
process. This was a proud mo-
ment for us.
This new process allowed can-
didates to present a one-minute
video to introduce themselves
to the student body on Election
Day. This was then followed by a
Q&​A session with a panel made
up of teachers and students.
This leveled the playing field. All
candidates had to be consider-
ate of each other. Honesty, and
a desire to serve were what we
were looking for. In addition,
the opportunity to experience
and participate in democracy in
the form of student voices was
presented fairly and equally to
all students through voting.
Leadership development at
Keystone is about helping every
student realize that he or she
has the power to do something.
This article is not about what
the Student Council can do,
nor is it to encourage everyone
to try to be in Student Council.
It is to promote the leader in
each of us, by recognizing our
strengths and weaknesses, and
working on them to become a
better leader in our own lives.
Those who voted wisely on
Friday for the second Student
Council, you have been a leader
in ensuring that this year, the
Student Council will serve you
better!
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