Fostering student engagement, the Secondary School holds yearly elections for three forums – the Conseil Pédagogique d’Établissement (CPET), a school advisory committee of students, parents, teachers and staff; the Conseil des Élèves (CDE), the student council; and the Délégués, who represent each advisory class. Each of them serves a distinct function, strengthening student relationships across grades as well as with teachers, school committees, leadership, and the Board of Trustees. Over the months of September and October, student elections took handily to a new online format, continuing student participation in Lycée life, albeit virtually.
With elections for student council in September, the election process and candidate debates reflected a commitment to civic engagement that is much in demand in larger society. Anecdotally at least, it appears that more students than ever are putting forward their candidacy for student leadership positions. Many of the issues candidates raised – the consequences of COVID-19, questions of diversity and inclusion, and leadership – are ones that are being discussed widely both within and outside the Lycée community.
Ilona, one of the three candidates for CDE from 1ère, ran on a platform of “girl power,” drawing attention to the need for better female representation of the grade in the CDE, despite girls being “half of the grade”. Among other things, she addressed the inaccessibility of menstrual hygiene products in school bathrooms, questions about the PE uniform, and a desire to connect students to College Counseling at an earlier grade level, popular proposals that contributed to her electoral success. In many ways, her platform was a testament to the legacy of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and unabashedly raised concerns about gender-based equality and participation in civil society.
Gender equality was not the only topic of inclusion that was threaded through the debates. In the hotly contested elections for Terminale representatives, all six of the candidates brought up their past involvement and interactions with the Coalition, the umbrella of diversity-based clubs for students in the Secondary School. Candidate Alice presented a multi-pronged diversity program, calling for enhanced discussions that affected the curriculum and structure of classes, as well as increased awareness of mental and physical health concerns. These suggestions were echoed by candidate and experienced CDE and CPET delegate Marc, who called for a “singular [community] identity over a fractured social landscape” – prioritizing a more mainstream view of student diversity, equity, and inclusion projects
Amidst all of this discussion, it was clearer than ever that the students did not regard the 2020-21 school year as a “normal year,” and remained determined to make the best of it. As 1ère candidate Timothé said, part of the role of all student representatives was to make this year “one to remember”. We are certain they will.
The Secondary elections process is ongoing, with debates and voting for the Délégués have just finished up on Friday, October 2, followed by a second round of voting on October 19th for delegates to serve on the CPET.
About the Author :
In addition to working as Communications Manager at the Lycée, Sitara Herur-Halbert’s life experiences make them passionate about diversity, accessibility, inclusion, and civic engagement. They are a graduate of the Dual BA Program between SciencesPo and Columbia University, an Institute for Nonprofit Practice Community Fellow, and an active volunteer with NYC Pride.