NOTE: Editorials that appear within The Scroll are strictly the opinions of the editorial board. These opinions are based on research, group discussion, and personal beliefs and do not represent the views of the entire student staff, nor those of the faculty or administration of White Station High School.
E-board probably cannot do what you want them to. E-board is in charge of all the events and activities that students remember: pep rallies, homecoming dances and dress up days. But that is about it.
E-board is not a student government. Government implies power, and E-board does not hold much of it. What E-board can do is limited by the school administration. All ideas and suggestions must go through Principal Carrye Holland. So those pizza parties and longer school breaks students beg their E-board classmates for are not in the cards, even if they claim they are. E-board has a habit of making false promises that never come to fruition. E-board advertise themselves as the voice of students, but students cannot even hear them through the microphone and speakers during pep rallies. But, once again, it is not their fault. Students do not know E-board is trying to speak to them, and that is a problem. How can a “student government” not be able to convince their own constituency to even pay attention to them?
Government also implies representation, and the 2000 students at White Station High School are not equally represented by the 21 E-board members. In this way, E-board is no different than any club or extracurricular activity that holds interest meetings and has officers. And, like in every other club, having friends matters. E-board facilitates class officer elections, which may as well be a popularity contest. E-board’s internal elections are also subjective, with previous presidents selecting new ones as opposed to holding a representative election.
E-board as a whole is opaque. The students cannot see what their own representatives are doing and the same representatives are not offering any information. How would a concerned student propose amendments or suggestions if they do not know who to approach or how changes are made? All of these issues are solvable, but only with action.
Instead of being limited by the school administration, E-board should do more of what they know they can do. E-board has proven themselves capable of planning events that unite the student body. Instead of trying to plan events outside of school that involve contacting third parties and spending enormous sums of students’ and administration’s money and time, E-board should plan more in-school events using student feedback.
Rather than applying empty labels to itself, E-board should act as an intermediary between the students and administration. One way E-board has done this recently is creating class GroupMes that allow class officers to more easily reach their classmates. To further this initiative, E-board can take more feedback from polls, like they did for Homecoming dress-up days, as an effective and simple way to hear from students. By having a platform to share input, student voices can be heard, increasing student engagement and contentment with E-board actions. Students are more likely to engage if their input is considered, which, in turn, would increase attendance at events.
E-board should publicize their plans and the process of enacting them. Whether it be homecoming, class elections, or parking spot painting, students have a right to know what decisions are made about their high school experience. Allowing students to understand what goes on in an E-board meeting would decrease negative views of their actions and would increase trust between all parties. A student government should not be a closed-door, invite-only party of select students, but a collection of thoughts and ideas made possible by trusted individuals.
E-board is not wholly at fault for the complaints made against them. It is made up of classmates and peers who are also navigating high school while trying to make the adventure enjoyable. E-board is not without fault, but greater emphasis should be put on accomplishing things within reason, involving students in the process of decision-making, and sharing information of their actions and agenda.
