11.07.2015 Views

Intercultural Education in the Post-Primary School - National Council ...

Intercultural Education in the Post-Primary School - National Council ...

Intercultural Education in the Post-Primary School - National Council ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

SCHOOL PLANNING 3STUDENT COUNCILSAs <strong>the</strong> representative structure for all <strong>the</strong>students <strong>in</strong> a school, <strong>the</strong> Student <strong>Council</strong>can play a very important role <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>development of an <strong>in</strong>tercultural schoolenvironment. In fact work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>partnership with school management, staffand parents on plann<strong>in</strong>g for an<strong>in</strong>tercultural school can provide <strong>the</strong>Student <strong>Council</strong> with a focus that couldlead <strong>the</strong>m to be <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> a number ofrelated activities. For example:• liais<strong>in</strong>g with Pr<strong>in</strong>cipal and Board ofManagement on <strong>in</strong>tercultural issues ofconcern to students• <strong>in</strong>volvement with <strong>the</strong> school plann<strong>in</strong>gprocess of <strong>the</strong> school• mak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir views known <strong>in</strong> relation topolicies that are be<strong>in</strong>g developed ormodified to reflect an <strong>in</strong>terculturalperspective, for example <strong>the</strong> receptionand <strong>in</strong>duction of new students• mak<strong>in</strong>g suggestions for improv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>physical and social environment of <strong>the</strong>school• contribut<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> development of aschool charter that celebrates diversityand promotes equality• ensur<strong>in</strong>g an <strong>in</strong>tercultural balance <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>school newsletter/magaz<strong>in</strong>e• mentor<strong>in</strong>g programmes for newcomerstudents.The Student <strong>Council</strong> should listen to <strong>the</strong>views of <strong>the</strong> students <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> school whendraw<strong>in</strong>g up <strong>the</strong>ir calendar of activities for<strong>the</strong> school. In this respect it would beimportant that <strong>the</strong> council would ensurethat newcomer students to <strong>the</strong> school arerepresented <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> collection of views.Fur<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong>formation on <strong>the</strong> work of andsett<strong>in</strong>g up of Student <strong>Council</strong>s is availableon www.studentcouncil.ieTHE INVOLVEMENT OF PARENTS AND THEWIDER COMMUNITYParental <strong>in</strong>volvement is crucial to astudent’s success <strong>in</strong> school. The<strong>in</strong>volvement of parents <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> formaleducation of <strong>the</strong>ir children complementsand acknowledges <strong>the</strong>ir central role <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>child’s development. Parents may feelreluctant about approach<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir child’sschool. This may be particularly an issuefor parents from m<strong>in</strong>ority ethnic groups orfor those whose first language is not thatof <strong>the</strong> school. In order to improve schoolcontact with all parents and <strong>the</strong> widercommunity, schools might consider• support<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> work of <strong>the</strong> parents’association and encourag<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>association to become <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>development of school policies and plans<strong>Intercultural</strong> <strong>Education</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Post</strong>-<strong>Primary</strong> <strong>School</strong> 23

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!