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 ...
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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