My Reflections on teaching Student Leadership as Student
I believe that the goal of leadership education should be to become a vessel for social progress and betterment of society. By teaching students about their community and the world around them, as it is and was, our goal should be to teach about social progress. I believe that it is important to create “good” citizens in society who are forward thinking and recognize morality, injustice, and act on things that are wrong. As participants and mentors in the education of student leadership we must develop citizens that are active, knowledgeable members of the society at large. As an educator we must strive to embrace the challenges of our current political, social, and economic climate. This is achieved by discussing these problems in a safe, inclusive school environment.
I believe that we achieve these idealistic goals through develop positive leadership within the administration, teaching staff, and student body. I believe that the most essential aspect of this organization is student leadership. To be able to think, act, and achieve students must be given opportunities to lead in a positive, supportive environment. Students within my leadership organization plan, act, achieve, fail, and grow. All of these ideas are essential to becoming positive members of a greater community. We do not just want passive members of society. We are creating the leaders of the next generation who can contribute to improve the world.
Lastly, through creating positive student leaders we are establishing a system to make our school a more inclusive environment. Through student government we constantly work to improve relationships between students, staff, and administration. Our organization works tirelessly to create systems that allow all of us to feel safe, secure, welcome, and appreciated. Positive learning is only achieved if members in our community believe they are a member of the system. Not just an outsider who is simply “passing through”. If our student learning organization did not exist I strongly believe that the greater school system would fail. We are the essential group that enables to students to establish interests, goals, and direction that they can pursue in the future.