Instilling the concept of the role model

This week: Exploring school hierarchy

At school, a badge of honour – headboy/girl, prefect or house captain – not only brings the student into the spotlight but also makes him/her a more responsible individual. Friday checks out the school hierarchy and what it means.

It is an awesome event. You, at the investiture ceremony, right up there centrestage with the school authorities, receiving your prefect's badge. For a moment you thought maybe this is how the Olympic flame-bearer felt, carrying the hopes and responsibilities of a generation.

Oh, of course, there is this occasional voice that niggles you into self-doubt but, for the moment, it is the badge of honour that leads you. The memory of that awesome event makes you hungry for more - honour, responsibility and success. And a leader is born. What is the system that grooms and nurtures these leaders and their latent talents?

There is no one particular grid that schools follow. Each has its own peculiar combination of positions and responsibilities to bring out the best in their students. And, without a doubt, they are each successful in their own way.

Cambridge High School, Dubai
Hierarchy: A Students' Council of 14 members. One representative elected by students from each class, beginning with year 7, for both boys and girls. It is headed by a president and assisted by a secretary. There's also a nominated body headed by a head boy and girl. Both these bodies have mutually exclusive functions.

Taimoor Iqbal
Students' Council president, year 13
We all meet about once a month or as frequently as required. Each representative brings his/her requirements and we discuss the need and action that could be taken. Sometimes, they do bring some unreasonable demands and these have to be thrown out. Since I have to consider each suggestion on its merits, it has taught me to be systematic in my approach to solving problems.

Charmaine Taraporvala
Students' Council secretary, year 13
The fact that we are elected representatives means that we are the voice of the student body. Even when an individual student has a complaint against a staff member, we can convey this to the principal in confidence. From a shy, quiet person, I have become assertive because, having undertaken the job, I have to get things done.

Indian Islahi Islamic School, Abu Dhabi
Hierarchy: Headboy and headgirl; assistant headboy and the same for the girl's section; sports secretary, arts secretary; four captains, four vice-captains; and one prefect for each class. All these office bearers form the Students' Council.
Process of selection: Headboy and girl are elected. Three to four contestants vie for this post by filling a form (some are nominated by teachers) and they are scrutinised by a school body comprising of the principal, headmaster and a few teachers. The other office-bearers are nominated by the teachers and principal according to their capabilities in academics and extra-curricular activities

V.B. Bavakunji
Principal
Unless a student leader accepts the school rules, others will not obey him. What we look for is leadership qualities such as self-confidence, good language skills and ability to express. They have to deal with a wide array of activities from complaints about exam system or infrastructure to conducting morning assemblies. We give them complete independence on this front. This experience will surely help them in a competitive world.

Moosa Master
Headmaster
In my experience, I've seen discipline is an issue better handled by the children themselves. If they are involved in discipline, they seem better at it. For example, we've told the kids often not to litter. If we correct them, it becomes an imposition but if the assistant headboy checks them, they do it willingly. They are more cooperative to authority from their peers and treat it more as a friendly advice.

Suhail Akhtar
Headboy, grade 12
I feel a sense of satisfaction in leading my school. It's done wonders to my confidence and also made me conscious about setting an example for the younger ones. I've become more careful and responsible.

Fabina Abdul Gafoor
Assistant headgirl, grade 12
I like to be a leader and be recognised by everyone in school. I've been a prefect before and this leadership role is not unfamiliar. Even as a prefect, we used to attend the student council meetings, but as assistant headgirl I have more duties. What I love about this post is the recognition from the smaller kids.

Mohammed Niyas
Sports secretary, grade 12
In the couple of months I've held this post, I introduced new rules for tournaments. One very positive development after I became sports secretary is that I've become more responsible in my studies.

Delhi Private School, Sharjah
The hierarchy: Headboy/girl, four house captains each for boys and girls, four sports captains, one each per house for boys. The girl house captains double as sports captains too.
Process of selection: Nominated by the class teacher and subjected to intense scrutiny by a panel of subject teachers.

Abha Sahgal
Principal
Ours is a young school – only three years old and the classes go up to grade 9. So, when we first thought about starting the headboy/girl system in our school, I had doubts if it would work. Because, at grade 8, students are in a transitional phase from childhood to adolescence and it's a tricky age - at times they are extremely mature and, at others, very childish. I did not know how they would react if they were given responsibility. This is the first time in my long years as an educator that I have entrusted such young people with responsibility.

But let me say that our Students' Council has done us proud. It has brought about a healthy competitive spirit and, most importantly, they've assumed responsibility far beyond our expectations. Just one incident to explain this – we celebrated our Annual Day some time ago. The guest turnout was about 1,000, which was far above our expectations.

We were to give complimentary hampers to our guests and our teachers alone could not handle the large crowd. Without our prompting, the Students' Council was all over the courtyard, putting out extra chairs, distributing hampers, collecting garbage and making themselves useful.

Karthik Ananth
Headboy, grade 9
This position has been a turning point in my life in many ways. It has made me responsible for other people and their interests. While I do end up missing the odd period every week, it has made me more determined not to let my grades slip.

Sandhya Pratap
Vice headgirl, grade 9
Being vice headgirl has shown me a more practical view of life. It is one thing to build castles in the air about what this position can do for you in terms of popularity, but quite another to put your ideas and duties into practice. It requires a lot of discipline on our part. In the beginning, there may be petty jealousies, but if you behave normally, people begin to cooperate.

Rahul Krishnadas
Vice headboy, grade 9