What if student government wasn't a popularity contest? What if students who wanted to be leaders were judged by their experience and how well they could defend their goals?
That's the idea behind the Prefect System at Westminster Schools of Augusta, where the student government consists of eight seniors who have specific, service-oriented jobs in the life of the school.
The admissions prefect, for example, welcomes new students and gives campus tours. The student-life prefect organizes fun activities around school, including homecoming, and the academic prefect coordinates tutoring programs and assists students with class and exam schedules
.Headmaster Jim Adare brought the idea of a prefect board to the school two years ago. He also helps organizes a summer leadership trip to Colorado for the incoming board.
"You don't take this on because you get a better parking spot or because you're a big deal. You take it on because you believe in serving your school and community," Mr. Adare said. "It's based on giving, not on prestige and privilege."
To become a prefect, each candidate fills out an application, which requires an essay. After the essays are reviewed, the candidates are individually interviewed by a faculty committee and a group of the previous year's student prefects. Their selection goes to the headmaster, who holds final approval.
Chemistry teacher Susan Smith, who sits on the selection committee, said popularity is not an issue, but the ability to inspire other students is."You have to consider how they are received in terms of proving leadership," she said.
Candidates are asked to give ideas on what they would do and then questioned on how they would accomplish those goals.
"You can kind of tell whether they have thought things through," Ms. Smith said.
Students who are selected in the spring for the next year's board spend a week backpacking through the wilderness outside Aspen, Colo. The trip provides a "leadership-bonding journey," school officials say.Drama teacher Anna Grace Carter, who has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, helped lead the students on the trip.
"Part of it was to put them in an element that they are not comfortable with. One, it shows their true character. And two, it allows them to work through situations that they are not familiar with. We see how they act under pressure," she said. "In school, there is social order. But out there, there is no social order. It's just you and your tent and the trees and the rain."
The eight seniors chosen for the prefect board this year have a long list of responsibilities. So far, the group is happy with how things have gone.Allison Hood, the service prefect, organized the first of two community service days for the school in which all students from the high school spend a day helping somewhere in the community. They went to low-income schools, nursing homes and hospitals.
"We went down to Jenkins-White Elementary School, and we helped in different classrooms. Some other people went into nursing homes. They have an events coordinator, and they helped them with activities," Allison said. Mr. Adare said the prefect board is not forcing the students to boss around classmates.
"We never ask you to take on a role of an adult," he said. "We never ask you not to be a student. And that is an important distinction so there isn't this sort of hierarchy. You're not lording it over anybody."
Each prefect also has a faculty mentor and a student committee."I think it's good to have student leaders who are taught how to lead by example," Ms. Carter said.
Reach Greg Rickabaugh at (706) 828-3851or greg.rickabaugh@augustachronicle.com.
The Prefect Board at Westminster Schools of Augusta consists of eight seniors who each have a specific, service-oriented job in the life of the school:
Jordan Mellinger – head/campus pride
Keith Hearon – chapel
Palmer Lawrence – academic
Aaron Adams – admissions
Ashley Rogers – student life
Allison Hood – service
Libby Bitting – unity
Jenny Wiggins – publicity
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