This editorial represents the opinion of 12 out of 13 Outlook editors.
Every spring, Aragon’s hallways become chock full of posters peppered with pop culture references and shiny glitter. Somewhere under the bright colors is a name, and occasionally a picture: the candidates for the impending student election. But no students’ posters talk about what they want to do to improve the school — not at the fault of the candidates, but because the school election process benefits popularity and attention-grabbing candidates more than it benefits students who run on policy and merit based campaigns. Candidates go out on a limb to run, but the Outlook believes that their effort has not quite been respected by the system of student government at our school.
Student government ought to offer opportunities for students to exercise responsibility, voice their opinions, and make serious decisions that will impact their peers. Today, our student council doesn’t engage in enough decision making. Their roles consist of setting up fundraisers and planning school events, and their responsibilities, while substantial, don’t come with any true political power. As a result, students don’t run campaigns based on policy. Without real issues to debate, the election becomes a popularity contest rather than a meritocratic one.
Student council should have a larger role in decisions which affect the school. For example, when the school integrated flex time into our bell schedule last year, student focus groups were conducted, and Leadership was consulted. While class presidents and ASB council are required to take Leadership, not all student concil members had a say in the matter. However, the Leadership involvement is a step in the right direction. Leadership will also be reviewing results from the Healthy Kids Survey and responding to it, showing that student government’s power is increasing, but still needs improvement. The student government needs a larger role in how students’ high school experience play out — compelling students to vote based on who will make changes they want to see at Aragon.
Without actual power, candidates have to campaign in a way that is meant to garner attention, not prove their merit. Flashy campaign posters and comical speeches seem to be the only way candidates can get attention. Thus, serious candidates get undermined by funnier ones because comedy gets attention — earnestness does not.
Granted, it does take guts to run for an election. Putting oneself in the limelight of the school is a daunting idea. Furthermore, recent implementation of video speeches for candidates is a step in the right direction. These speeches allow students to make their qualifications for the position clear, but they still don’t make up for the absence of policy.
In the end, if people made more of an effort to campaign seriously, their victories would be more rewarding.
In the spirit of democracy, we want to hear your opinion on how to solve these issues. Send a letter to the editor to aragonoutlook@gmail.com, or come talk to us in Room 157 during seventh period. Our student government is a privilege, not a right, and it is high time to regard it as such. Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that the article represented the opinion of 13 out of 14 editors. Furthermore, an earlier version of this article stated that student government had no say in the the flex time decision at all.
