Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-08
A Self. Governing School.

Chicago's "School City" election has
taken place. and the result has been
very satisfactory to the majority OF
voters. There is but one high school
city in the country, and that Is at the
Hyde Park high school the largest
high school in Chicago and exceeded
in point of numbers by but four other
high schools in the country. one OF
the most difficult problems in school
management is to secure ready and
willing obedience to such rules ana
regulations as seem to be salutary and
necessary for the best good or all.
Countless experiments have been tried,
but the trend of late has been very
marked in favor of student govern
ment. the idea being that young peo-
pie. as well as old. will obey with
greater alacrity rules made by them
selves than those made by others.
Five years ago Principal c. w. French
of the Hyde Park high school put into
effect system of municipal govern
mcnt by and for the students of the
school. Neither Principal French nor
any of the teachers connected with the
school now makes any rule regarding
discipline whatever
lie Scf1oDl Is tbilSi'itltu ~ i'' an III
dependent municipality. charter
was drawn up which was adopted by
the scholars in convention. and under
this the government of the school is
carried on. Early in the school year
the citizens of the School City
choose delegates to 4 convention 10
nominate the officers for the succeed
ing half-year The school course is
four years long. and the number of in
dependent classes in the school is Is
Delegates to the nominating conven-
zion are chosen by the various class
rooms. This convention meets and
dominates candidates for the various
offices which are to be filled. A few
days later a general election is held
and officers are elected from the
names suggested by the nominating
convention.
The officers elected are mayor. city
clerk. city treasurer. city attorney. a
Municipal council of Is one from each
of the Is classrooms and four judges.
one from each If the four classes.
The council of Is aldermen formulates
all rules for the government of the
school. and thc board of judges re-
turns indictments for infractions and
tries all malefactors. The mayor APP
points a chief Of police. who selects 20
policemen. who, in their turn. enforce
all the rules promulgated by the board
of aldermen. a teacher sits with the
judges to aid them in their delibera-
tons if necessary. Any policemen dis
covering a scholar violating a rule of
the council reports the fact to the
board of judges. If this board finds
the case one which merits its atten-
ton. il votes an indictment. The
scholar is brought before the board
and given a chance to defend himself.
After hearing the case the judges vote
to acquit. eXonerate, or censure the
accused. ana they may. indeed. vote
some penalty.
Not only does this miniature city
government give the rising generation
of voters an excellent idea of munic-
ipal government. and in this way is
of great value to the scholars attend
ing the school. but it has greatly i'm
proved the department of the school.
The pupils realize that they are re-
sponsible for good behavior, and q
strong sentiment exists in favor of
good order and against dsorderly con-
duct.-Boston Transcript.