Adamson University

English and Foreign Languages Department

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements

in English Communication 2

The Effects of Student Government in Makati High Schools

Submitted to:

Prof. Bethany Marie C. Lumabi

Submitted by:

Cayabyab, Ma. Salma Kirsten A.

Racho, Marnie Martha M.

March 2015
 Areas of Concern in the Effect of the Student Government

I. Introduction

A. History

AI. Foundation of the Student Government in Schools.

AII. Implementation of the Student Government in Schools.

AIII. Constitution of the Student Government in Schools.

B. Development of the Problem

BI. Foundation of Student Government in the Philippines Schools.

BII. Policies and Services of Student Government in Secondary

Schools (Private and Public)

II. Research Literature

The Makati Supreme Student Government

A. Advantages of the Student Government in Secondary Schools

AI. Fulfilment of the services of the Student Government

AII. Motivational effects of the Student Government

AIII. Discipline, Peace and Organization

B. Disadvantages of the Student Government in Secondary Schools

BI. Incompletion of help in the Student Population’s Grievances.

BII. The misunderstandings between school administration, teaching

faculty and the Student Government.

C. Status of the Student Government in Secondary Schools

CI. The Schools’ Student Government Organization’s Activeness

CII. Recognition of the Student Government Organization

 CIII. Operation of the Secondary School’s Student Government Organization.

III. Conclusion

A. Effect of the Student Government to High School Students

B. Results of the Survey

C. Improvement of Student Government in Secondary Schools.

 Areas of Concern in the Effects of the Student Government in Highs Schools

I. Introduction

A. History

AI. Foundation of the Student Government in Schools

A Student Council is a representative structure through which students in a post-

primary school can become involved in the affairs of the school, working in partnership

with school management and staff and parents for the benefit of the school and its

students.

The foundation of the Student Government, Student Council or Student’s in

schools can be traced from the Youth Activism that started as early as the era of Pre-

Modern Europe where students enjoyed having no civil rights.

In the middles ages, the ideas of the student government ideas started. The

council was first brought to America in 1779 when it brought and started in the College

of William and Mary. In the University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson started the

advocate of establishing a Student Government in the campus to educate the students

in terms of citizenship. There was a massive increase of the student government

population in the twentieth century; their reason was to improve the students’ better

communication to each other. In 1886, President Harrington’s initiative to establish a

student council in the University of Washington came into view.

By the year 1920’s fraternities and sororities had become the center of many

college societies. These social organizations over-ruled many student organizations in

the campuses.
 The first national student organization of student government leaders, the

National Student Federation was founded in the year 1925. They supported many

reforms on education and restrictions on student population behaviour. In High Schools,

the student government have become a vital component of the school culture in this

decade. The Student Government stood as the head of the clubs that operated outside

the standard curricula. Student councils and their advisers were responsible in

promoting the social activities, monitoring the halls and lunchrooms and organized

assembly programs. Here the Student Government was a special kind of “authority in

which students stood at the bottom of the long chain of command.

The Student Government reached in the Post War era and stood in the

predictable aspect in any high school life. In those years, high schools have become a

center of patriotism and the student government stood by the principal’s side as a

cooperative partner in managing the school.

In 1950, the Student Government in colleges hit high-water mark as the larger

and demographically diverse student population entered the campuses. In 1947, the

local Student Government formed a national union and was called the National Student

Association in a conference in the University of Wisconsin and had its first headquarters

in Madison not very far from the University. They felt that each student government

should have greater responsibilities and involvement not only in the social affairs of the

students but also in the matters of education that were faced by their own institutions.

The Student Government declined in its importance in the 1960’s when the

students played significant roles in fighting for civil rights and antiwar movements. The
National Students Association’s reputation was marred when the Central Intelligence

Agency revealed that the NSA had been providing funds for international student

exchange programs and had exerted unofficial influence on its policies since in the early

1950’s.

In the early 1970’s there was a wide transformation on educational governing

policies. In secondary schools the student council had been focusing on dropouts and

drug cases in the campuses than the monitoring of the lunchrooms and hall behaviours.

As the years went on, the importance of students’ involvement in governance began to

fade. High school involvement was declined even more and experts’ proposals for

increased student participation were often precisely the same ones reported

accomplishments of a dynamic student government in the 1940’s.

By the end of the twentieth century, high school students have been involved in

government balanced demand in extra-curricular activities such as the schools’

programs were lead or organized by the student government and coordinated the clubs

in the schools. In universities, the student council officers sat in committee meetings

and managed a considerable number of student activities, budget them using the

activity fees and have provided services to their fellow students.

AII. Implementation of the Student Government in Schools

The widespread campaign of the implementation of student leadership in schools

started at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century. Like

when the Student Government idea was coined in the middle ages. After that, there was

a massive rise of the student government population in Europe. Thomas Jefferson

implemented the Student Government in the University of Virginia for the education on

citizenship.

The key goal of the implementation of the student government was to serve the

students and to represent their interests.

AIII. Constitution of the Student Government in Schools

All of the Student Government follows only one constitution that it contains the

duties, policies and bylaws. Their duties there are to represent their interests to the

administration. To investigate any matters those affect the student body other than

those infringing upon the individual rights or reserved to the Faculty.

In the constitution, no racial, physical, mental, sexual orientations, religious

belief, and or other issue discriminations. There states that the organization is a non-

profit organization.

As stated in the constitution, the student council officers shall obey the bylaws

and policies of the campus where they are. And they are to recite the preamble upon

their win in the campus wide elections.

B. Development of the Problem.

BI. Foundation of the Student Government in the Philippine Schools

The Student Government here in the Philippines have a brief history. In 1996, the

Philippine government established the Center for Students and Co-Curricular Affairs or

CSCA. Its goal is to facilitate the co-curricular work of the student councils in the

country. After the CSCA was established, the National Federation of Supreme Student
Government or NFSSG was built to have a more organized association for all the

Supreme Student Government in every secondary school.

BII. Policies and Services of the Student Government in Secondary

Schools (Public and Private).

In 2010, according to the order from the Department of Education, they enjoined

all schools to implement the One School, One Supreme Student Government Policy. It

aims in the groundwork for better unity and cooperation among pupils and students by

providing them a venue for the improvement of their leadership skills and abilities.

There was a revision of the standard constitution and by-laws of the SSG in the

year 2009. Its objectives are to strengthen the SSG and studentry in all secondary

schools, to provide easy monitoring and evaluation the student government.

The Constitutions contain the Principles and Objectives of the Student

Government in high schools. One is to train the members for effective and efficient

leadership, help the students develop self-confidence, promote unity among leaders

and the studentry, maintain the school aspirations to promote quality education and

academic excellence; serve and protect students’ rights and welfare and represent the

studentry in the policy-making body of the school concerning students’ welfare.

It also includes the powers and duties of the Supreme Student Government. The

following are the functions and responsibilities of the student government. The student

government must formulate and recommend programs that will address relevant issues

or concerns of the studentry. They must plan and implement the policies made to

protect and to promote the students’ rights and welfare. Create committees necessary
to address the needs of the students, make recommendations to school authorities

regarding student matters, affairs and activities.

The student government must be a representative of the studentry in voicing out

their suggestions and grievances. They must also participate in the crafting or

formulation of School Improvement Plans (SIPs).

The constitution also consists of the duties and the functions of each Student

Government Officers. The constitution enumerates the roles of the President, Vice

President, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, and Peace Officer to the year level

representatives and their chairpersons. And they must organize committees to address

students’ need in every aspect especially for their welfare.

The policies include the organization of the homeroom class organizations that

are parallel to the organizational structure of the SSG. They must help the SSG in

implementing the programs and policies.

Every SSG in each school, they must have one SSG Adviser who is designated

by the Head if the School Administration. They must be preferably from the Social

Science Department with a good moral character and reputation in school and

community. He/she shall monitor the programs, projects, activities and meetings of the

SSG at all times.

As stated in the constitution, the SSG shall organize a general assembly that

shall be a forum for information and consultations which decisions shall be significantly

considered.
 The constitution also includes the impeachment, resignation and vacancies of the

officers. There are grounds to follow to impeach an officer. One is the culpable

violations of the constitution and by-laws. The second is the gross misconduct, violence

to person in authority, negligence and disloyalty to the cause of the SSG and the

school. The third is the abuse or misuse of power vested in him/her and authority.
 II. Research Literature

The Makati Supreme Student Government.

A. Advantages of the Student Government in Secondary Schools.

AI. Fulfilment of the Services of the Student Government.

The roles of each Student Government officers must be fulfilled. It was in their

preamble they recited upon their win in the campus-wide elections. Every month, the

school’s head of administration or the principal receives the accomplishment reports.

The accomplishment reports states the activities achieved by the Supreme Student

Government. They follow a certain calendar activities that would be their guide into

preparing the activities.

By the month of June for example, a number of accomplishments written for

documentation. They include the Earthquake Drills that ensure the knowledge of the

students and it is also for their welfare. Next is the number of the seminars attended by

the student leaders of each school in Makati. That included Fort Bonifacio High School,

Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino High School, Makati High School, Pio del Pilar High School,

Pitogo High School, Tibagan High School and Makati Science High School.

Every month, the duly elected Secretaries for each Student Government must

prepare the monthly accomplishment reports to be submitted to the principal or the

head of the school administration if the principal is not around. It is noted by the adviser

to ensure its validity.

These accomplishment reports states that the student government for each

school dutifully fulfil their given tasks.

 AII. Motivational Effects of the Student Government

The duties of the Student Government include the creating of committees to

address the needs of the students and it also includes the making of recommendations

to school authorities regarding student matters, affairs and activities. So, in some time

around the year, the student government prepare or organize a seminar for Student

Motivations.

It involves the School-Based Leadership Training and the YES Camp provided

by the Regional Federation of the Supreme Student Government. These seminars

spearheaded by the student governments help the student in motivation for their inner

student leadership skills. The seminars are conducted either in the school premises or

outside the school for camp. They send students to camps like YES Camp and the

organizers prepare a series of activities for the student leaders.

AIII. Discipline, Peace and Organization

One of the duties and powers of the SSG in Secondary Schools is the

maintenance of the peace and order in the school. There is a certain officer for the

maintenance, it is the Peace Officer, he/she must help the administration in keeping

peace and order during meetings or any activities held by the student government or

around the school. He/she must as a disciplinary officer, if needed. He/she must act as

the chief peace officer and over all Sergeants-at-arms of subordinate organizations and

homeroom class organizations.

 Acquired from different Makati high schools are the accomplishment reports and

these included the implementation of the discipline, peace and organization in their

respective schools.

In Fort Bonifacio High School, they implemented the Class Pass; a class pass is

required to get out of the classroom to prevent the crowding of the corridors. The

officers also implemented the restriction of Gadgets, the students were prohibited in

using gadgets in the school premises and it dutiful monitored by the officers.

In Makati High School, the accomplishment reports have ‘Corridor Monitoring’

documented in the reports. The SSG officers and teachers monitor the corridors to

maintain the peace and order in the school.

The schools were active in signing campaigns for peace like the ‘Yes for Peace’

campaign that is happening all throughout the country.

B. Disadvantages of the Student Government in Secondary Schools.

BI. The Incompletion of Help in The Student Population’s Grievances.

The Student Government is required to spearhead a General Assembly with the

Homeroom class Presidents in every two months. They request the students to make a

list of their grievances on facilities, faculty and administration. These grievances are

discussed in front of the School’s Administration and the Presidents representing their

classes. The heads of the faculty meet with the Student Government and the student

body to decide on the cases or grievances.

 They address and make amends on the matters being discussed and they will

ensure the process in fixing the issues of the students.

However in the reports from the Makati City High School SSGs, the same

grievances show up every two months and have not been fixed by the heads that were

tasked to fix the certain issues. This was the case since 2010 as documented in the

Accomplishment Reports Compilation of the Federation of the Supreme Student

Government in Makati City.

BII. The Misunderstandings between school administration, teaching faculty and

the Student Government.

According to the revised SSG Constitution and By-Laws, one of the functions of

the SSG Officers is to have such powers and duties as the school authorities and the

studentry may, from time to time, grant or delegate, consistent with stated principles,

objectives and school policies.

But somehow the Student Council have many misunderstandings in the

administration and faculty. The grievances reports for example, they have not

addressed the grievances completely, simply because of the lack of budgets.

Students must pay their respective activity fees voluntarily not mandatory and

this is the start of their misunderstandings. The budget proposals for the improvement of

the facilities lack in terms of financing since only few students have voluntarily paid their

contribution. And this is the Student Government’s problem since one of their functions

is to implement policies and programs designed to protect the students’ welfare.

 C. Status of Student Government in Secondary Schools.

CI. The Schools’ Student Government Organization’s activeness

This is based on the Compilation of the Accomplishment Reports of the

Federation of the Student Government. By the data given, the SSG Secretary must

prepare the Reports to prove the activeness of their Organization. By the school year

2014-2015, the SSG in secondary schools have been very active in activities. And they

have been the ones to organize the activities held for the teachers and the student

body. Like the traditional Student-Teachers’ Week for the National Celebration of World

Teacher’s Month.

This February 2015, the FESGOM, have conducted a campus-wide elections for

the incoming SSG Officers for the next school year. And earlier this March, the

FESGOM have conducted the elections for the Makati Division FESGOM Officers and

have Leandro Nico Ponce from Fort Bonifacio High School as their incoming president.

CII. Recognition of the Student Government Organization.

The campus-wide campaigns for the elections in the Supreme Student

Government have been the means of the recognition of the Supreme Student

Government in Makati High Schools.

In the website YouTube, the SSG of many Makati High Schools have posted

campaign videos for the recognition of the party lists. They also conducted only voting

polls for the running candidates and students have great recognition of the Student

Government in high schools.

 CIII. Operation of the Secondary Schools’ Student Government Organization.

The high schools in Makati have only one Supreme Student Government in each

school. An order by the Department of Education in the magazine, The Student Leader,

the mandated thrusts, programs and activities of the Supreme Student Government

shall be focused on. They have to comply on the approved activities given by the

Department of Education with the help of the Center for Students and Co-Curricular

Affairs.

The activities with be organized with the help of the voluntary contribution of the

students that include the SSG Fee worth fifty pesos one student. And funds are

increased by the collection and disbursements of the SSG Developmental Fund with the

help of the respective advisers with the school administration and teaching faculty.
 III. Conclusion

A. Effect of the Student Government to High School Students.

The effect of the student government to high school students depend how the

student government organization managed the welfare of the students and the school.

They are the one who keeps the peace, balance and discipline in the school. So, if the

student government officers have no capability to keep the peace, balance and

discipline in the school. They are not effective leaders. Without them, no one will

discipline the students because not all the teachers and staff can handle a hundreds or

thousands of students. No one will voice out all the student body, student government is

also the voice of all students. The student government officers are the students’

connection to the management of the school, if there will be a meeting the student

government will be their representative and stand up for the entire student wants. The

effect can be good and bad. The student government teaches the student how to

choose and vote the right leader.

B. Result of the Survey

Based on the survey that conducted in Fort Bonifacio High School in Makati,

some of the students don’t feel the student government organization. They are having

second thoughts if there is such an organization maybe that’s the reason why half of the

students answered that they are having a second thoughts to participate or not to join

any of the activities. The survey also shows that half of the students are not satisfied on

the student government’s works and performance. It means that the student

government officers’ performance is not enough to satisfy the students.

 Although the performance of student government officers did not satisfy the

needs of service that students are looking for, most of students agreed that the student

government organization help them in their grievances but some of them still not feel

and having a second thoughts.

As the role models and leaders of the students, they should obey and apply the

policies of the school to all the students especially to themselves. The big question is, if

any of the officers offend or broke any policies of the school. 23 out of 54 students

answered ‘Agreed’ that some of the officers broke policies. 18 of them having second

thoughts while the rest of them believe that the officers did not broke any policies.

Maybe those student who disagree, has a deep faith on the student government.

33 out of 52 disagreed, that the student government should blame for a

scandalous event that will ruins the school reputation.19 of them answered maybe and

the others agreed. Many students says that the student government organization help

in keeping peace, balance and discipline inside the school.

C. Improvement of the Student Government in Secondary Schools.

According to the American Student Government Association, Analyzing

Infrastructure is one. Reviewing and analyzing your structure and core documents such

as your constitution, bylaws, and election code will ensure that you're maximizing your

effectiveness and help you close any loopholes.

Enhancing Voter Turnout. You'll achieve this through creative marketing

strategies, use of technology, and new paradigms of when, where, and how to run your

elections.
Increasing Recruiting and Retention. Improving Your Image. Boost awareness and

opinions of SG across campus through a strategic outreach plan including public

appearances, advertising, and marketing.

Developing New Services. Create new "signature program" services that address

your student body's needs and desires and raise awareness of SG in the process.

Ensuring Smooth Transitions. Improve your transition materials and retreats so

that your successors step into office fully knowledgeable and competent to carry on

where you left off, making the change seamless.

Comparing Your SG With Others Nationwide. We'll help you compare and

contrast your current levels of effectiveness and efficiency with SGs at similar

institutions to find areas of improvement.

Enhancing Administrator Relations. Improve your relationships with

administrators, faculty, and staff by analyzing how "friendly" they are to the concept of

student governance on your campus.

Improving Media Relations. Improve relations with your campus media, create

strategies for generating positive and accurate coverage, and develop a plan for how

(and if) to respond to negative attacks.

 REFERENCES

Altbach, Philip G. 1974. Student Politics in America: A Historical Analysis. New

York: McGraw-Hill.

Department of Education and Science.(2002). Student Councils: A Voice for

Students.

Federation of the Supreme Student Government. DepEd.(2010-2015). Accomplishment

Reports Compilation.

Freidson, Elliot, ed. 1955. Student Government, Student Leaders and the

American College.Philadelphia: United States National Student Association.

G. Wallach. Macmillan Reference Books. (2003). Encyclopedia of Children and

Childhood: In History and Society.

History of Student Government. (video file). Retrieved from:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8npEeRLpFNs&feature=youtu.be

Magna Carta of the Student. Retrieved from:

https://SCAPnational.wordpress.com/events

(NFSSG) A Supreme Student Government Publication, NCR.(2010, special

edition). The Student Leader.

Smith, Joe. 1951 Student Councils For Our Times. New York: Teachers College,

Columbia University.
 Team Nationalista Campaign. (video file). Retrieved from:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oQW3l38LLg

T.L.Ridon, Kabataan Partylist Representative. House of the Representatives:

House Bill No. 1098