Participatory governance
Subtitle: the role of student trustees on Ontario school boards.
Published: 2004
Language: eng
Number of pages: 227
Subjects: Student participation in administration -- Ontario.; School board members -- Ontario.; School boards -- Ontario.
Description: The study examines the experiences of student trustees in the governing process of Ontario district school boards. Data was collected from official school board meeting minutes, policies and interview with directors of education, elected trustees and former student trustees. Student trustees have been in place in 70 Ontario school boards since 1998. Their role is to provide advice to the elected trustees. They cannot vote and may not attend in-camera meetings. Student trustees' have established a provincial organization to advocate for effective student consultation and representation.Directors of education, board chairs and former student trustees related their experiences and recommendations to strength the selection and role of student trustees. The study found that the majority of student trustees are female, 17 years old, serve a one-year term and have parents who are employed by the school board. Most student trustees receive no comprehensive orientation and have little involvement in the development, review or implementation of board policy. The selection, role and responsibilities of student trustees were examined. The findings were that most boards do not have a democratic process for selection, and there is a lack of consistency and understanding of the participation of youth in political life. Suggestions are presented for action by school boards, the Ministry of Education and the Ontario Student Trustees' Association. Topics for further research are provided.
Notes: Adviser:  John Portelli.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of Toronto, 2004.

Electronic version licensed for access by U. of T. users.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 65-10, Section: A, page: 3641.