Students acknowledge tough role

Press, 29 July 1989, Page 9

Students acknowledge tough role

By

MARITA VANDENBERG

Student representatives on the new school boards of trustees believe they have one of the toughest jobs on the board. Student representatives from throughout Canterbury got together on Thursday evening to informally discuss how they were coping with their new responsibilities. A spokesman, Simon Telfer, a Burnside High School seventhformer, says the meeting was positive, with few students voicing any difficulties.

“Most of the students found there was tremendous interest from the public about how they were managing," he said. A few of the 18 at the meeting said they had had difficulty in relating to the adult board members within such a formal context. “A couple felt uncomfortable with all the terms used, but the majority were very happy with their boards.” Simon Telfer said communicating with other students was a problem he had experienced. In that respect student representatives had one of

the toughest jobs on the boards. He kept in touch with the 2000 students at his school by using a suggestion box, visiting assemblies for feedback, working through the school council and by keeping a high profile so students knew who to approach. Students had been pleased to hear that the $55 paid to other members of the board would now be extended to student representatives. The group intends to have another informal meeting in two months.