New Britain herald., 1917-06-28
WALTER POHIlNfAN. Treasures, Glass of 1917.

when children in school accepted both instruction and discipline as it was given to them, 1t was quite an easy matter to govern q school, but today when a pupil is given the responsi- bility of studying each subject and forming conclusions for himself, it Is only natural that he carry the same principle into the matter of discipline, and ask for a share in his govern ment. This condition makes student government necessary to the welfare of school. The problem is we'll stated by the Indian poet and philo- sop1er Tahore, who has conducted a secondary school in India since 1902, with self-government system. He said: Whether educational institu- { tions of both the East and the West should turn out men or machinee, or just operators of machines. is ono of the gravest problems of the world that needs immediate ssolution-I de- cided to found schpol where the students could feel that there was . higher and nobler thing in life than practical ef1ciency''
 Probably the greatest value of student<government Is that 1t leads to a great democratic spiritin the school. At first the pupils are likely to be rather wary and to distrust the ones put in charge. but gradually the spirit changes. It makes them proud of their school for they feel that. they their own. It is also of value be- cause by helping in the management of their school affairs, they best learn the meaning of membership in civic society. They exercise their charac- ters in community action daily and come to realize the power of 'co- operation. It teaches them respect for, and obedience to the law of the school and its officers. Then the laws seem lass strict and harsh when the students themselves help to make the regulations concerning them intimate ly. Instead of thinking the one who breaks the rules smart. they look down upon him and treat him as a real offender.
 Another good result of student student for college life. Many col- leges are apt to be aristocratic and snobbish. especially in regard to secret fraternities. and they do not set the high schools a good example. It has been found that those taking part in student-government In high schools . are pushed to the front in college ac- tivities, to head important commit tees and by their familiarity with re- sponsibility, make themselves felt as a great influence for the common welfare.
 Student-government has been intro- duced into the high schools of our country gradually but not until this year was 1t established in our own school. Until now 1t has been very successful. and great results are ex- pected in the future.
 At the beginning of the school year. section officers were elected-that Is a chairman. a vice chairman, . sec- ] retary. and an assistant secretary. It
 Is the chairman's duty to take charge of the class when the teacher Is 1 absent and the secretary's duty is to take the attendance each day. The chairman and the secretaries of the section rooms with the class officers make up what is called a sub-council 1 in each building. Both of these sub- l councils elect a chairman, vice ] chairman, a secretary, and an assist ant secretary. who act as officers of the grand council. which is composed
 of the two sub-councils. The officers of one serve as officers of the grand
 council for half the year and vice
 versa.
 Three regular committees have
 been at work this year.-namely. the progress, efficiency, and traffic coln-
 mittees. The progress committee. aa it's name suggests. thinks out plans for
 the progress of the school. This l committee is really the brains of the efficiency committee which attends to the carrying out of the ideas of the progress committee. Since these two committees work we'll together. joint
 meetings are often held. The pro. gress committee has from fifteen to twenty members and 1t elects a chair 1 man and a vice chairman to conduct
 the meetings.
 Il The purpose of the efficiency com mittee is to promote higher stan
 dard of efficiency in the school as . whole and among the individual stu
 dents. This committee has from
 twenty to thirty members among
 whom arc three lieutenants, who art
 each responsible for the work of from
 eight to ten members. As executive over the whole committse. there ts [ chairman and . vioo chairman. te whom the ueutenants are responsible Meetings are held weekly and vAEioui matters which tend toward tho off. ciency of the school ara discusned If thought necessary. Q committeA \ appointed to investigate the MAAto, before any definite action is tass10 One of the things which the commit. tee makes a great effort to do. la q promote a. spirit of cooperation Ae, tween the members of the comnlt&el