Are School Councils Really Relevant?
We often hear that the biggest influence in kids achieving is teachers and I have no beef with that. That's what they are employed for, I would have thought! It's a no-brainer really. We have also been told that the Principal also has an influence...but relatively minor.
So where does the Council fit into all this...and do they make a difference? And if so, how?
Interesting questions, and ones that exercise the mental capacity of us deep thinkers from time to time,when we get a spare moment amongst the jumble of our day to day lives.
While Councils don't necessarily get a lot of attention when student achievement is mentioned or debated, I'll stick my neck out right here and now, by saying that an effective Council plays a significant role in the processes that lead to good student outcomes.
Yes, I know...Councils don't teach kids, nor should they, (as a matter of interest...our friends in the DoE don't teach kids either, however, you can put money on the fact that they think their work, directily or indirectly is contributing to higher achievement and outcomes. Indeed, if that were not the case, then as taxpayers we should surely be demanding that they do something else?)
So how does, or can the Council make a difference to student learning?
In my humble opinion, the Council does so by establishing a clear vision of what it wants the school to be, including what is to be achieved.
Sounds pretty simple...but this alone will do nothing if the talk is not walked, so to speak. So, not only must the Council establish the clear vision, to my simple way of thinking, the Council must then have the courage to follow this through to establish clear expectations by way of policy, of strategic planning, and target setting.
To get any decent results, the Council must not only establish these clear expectations, in conjunction with and supported by their CEO, they must have single minded focus on improving achievement outcomes and be prepared to fearlessly treat this as non negotiable. In other words, the priorties of the Council have to become the priorities of the school and by keeping student achievement as the key goal or focus, then the Council is also leading by example.
So there we are, Council and CEO aligned, the Council leading by example...so the job's basically over? In your dreams dear friend!
Remember, it's the teachers in your school that are the biggest influence on achievement. If they are not on board with the vision, or do not share the Council's single minded focus then, despite all the good work to date, it simply is not going to happen in your school!
At this point, the Council with the CEO, will need to ensure the culture and consequently, the climate in the school is one which will support the Councils objectives...and will achieve the Councils expectations. If such a culture does not exist, then work will need to be done to challenge and transform aspects of the current culture and climate which are not helpful, and that would otherwise impede progress.
Pretty simple really? Well,it is, but so is the theory of hammering in a nail!! As I am constantly reminded as I nurse or at times curse another throbbing finger or thumb, theory to practice can be a animal at times...and as I said requires guts, courage,and fortitude to bear the pain, and to go for gold.
After all is said and done, it may be of course that the Council has in the words of Jim Collins just got the wrong people on the bus, or in the wrong seat on the bus. If that’s the case, seek help from ASCIV, your governance advisers!
We have a choice in all of this. We can choose to be a Council that does make a difference in student achievement, or we can choose to be a Council that makes excuses.
To me and to ASCIV this second option just doesn't cut it.
Stephen Franzi-Ford,
ASCIV CEO