AJ stands for Andrew Jackson, our 7th president. His reputation for toughness earned him the nickname "Old Hickory." A hero of the War of 1812, Jackson has appeared on the $20 bill since 1928.

What does a student council do?

The school board listened to us. The School Board Listened to Us

When I was in student council, our school board was thinking about changing the length of our high school class periods from one hour to two. My principal asked our student council what we thought.

We told her that most students were happy with class length the way it was and thought two hours was too long. The school board added our opinion to those of teachers and parents and decided not to make the change.

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Having a student council helps make sure that all the students have a voice in school decisions that affect them.

Student councils do this by:

Raising issues. If members of the student council notice that students are unhappy with something in the school, they might talk to the principal about ways to change it. This could be anything from lunch menus to special events.

Student council members help students feel proud of their school.

Promoting school spirit. In many middle schools, one of the main jobs of the student council is to promote school spirit. There are lots of ways to do this, unique ideas including:

• Dances
• Carnivals
• Games
• Pep rallies
• Assemblies

Showing leadership. Student council members have to be good leaders and role models. Some student councils have special leadership activities.

These activities show the members how to solve problems and respect each other. They also can learn to help their communities by volunteering or doing service projects.

Promoting awareness of important issues. Student councils can help students understand and discuss things in the world or in school that affect everyone. One way they do this is by bringing in outside speakers.

Outside Speakers Bring New Ideas

Student councils often plan assemblies or invite outside speakers. These speakers talk to students about anything from homework to homelessness. They can make students aware of social issues that they might not have a chance to learn about in class.

Assemblies and speakers also can get people talking about things that are going on in school.

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Fundraising. Unfortunately almost all of these activities cost money. It can be expensive to have a dance or invite a speaker. So student councils also have to spend time raising money (fundraising).

There are tons of ways to raise money, either in do-it-yourself fundraisers, or with fundraising partners. These include:

• Bake sales
• Car washes
• Candy sales
• Auctions

Why get involved?

What can I do if my student council doesn't do anything?

What Can I Do?

There are a number of reasons that you might have a "do-nothing" student council:

Apathy. If your student council has a problem with apathy—which is a lack of interest or concern—get more involved yourself.

Lack of organization. Make sure your student council has a constitution or mission statement that lays out the rules and goals of the group.

Lack of administration support. Invite your principal to come to some of your meetings so he or she can see how the student council works firsthand.

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There are lots of reasons to get involved in student council at your school. It's a great way to show future employers or colleges that you care about your world.

They'll also see that you can make a commitment to helping others.

It's also a great way to get to know students from other grade levels and backgrounds.

It may seem early to be thinking about college and jobs now, but the earlier you start getting involved, the easier it is to keep doing it.

Getting involved in the student council is also a great way to:

• Gain leadership experience
• Help the other students in your school
• Learn firsthand how government works

Find out about student council at your school and get ready to make a difference!

Resources

Here is some comprehensive information about student councils:

True or False: Andrew Jackson held parties at the White House and opened them to the public. Click Andrew's head for the answer.

TRUE: Jackson was known for allowing the public to attend his White House parties.

• The National Association of Student Councils

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