Student Organizations in a High School

Abstract

From the large number of questionary circulars that are received in the office of the principal of a high school, and from the statements which one sees in educational papers, one is led to believe that the management of student organizations in high schools is a very difficult matter. It may be of interest to explain the plan of conducting these organizations in the High School of Trenton, and in doing so I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to suggestions made to me some five years ago by Mr. I. W. Travell, the principal of the high school at Plainfield, N. J. Every student organization in our high school is under the care of a faculty director, and, of course, the success of this arrangement depends on the wisdom and tact that he displays. If he poses as an autocrat, he will get into trouble, and so will the organization. If he acts as an elder advisor, the pupils will soon know that the arrangement works to their benefit, and the average American has sense enough to know where his own interests lie. One feature that has helped us to direct some of our student organizations, namely, those involving the expenditure of money, is that the principal has an independent source of income through a lunch-room which the school conducts, the proceeds of which are entirely at the disposal of the faculty. There is a faculty treasurer, who handles all school money, for whatever purpose it may be raised. There are student treasurers of the various organizations, but they do not hold any money in their names. All money collected by them is turned over to the faculty treasurer, and all bills of whatsoever nature are paid by him. This arrangement prevents the financial tangle of student organizations about which one reads. Once a year a complete statement of the finances of the school is published. It is almost a criminal act to allow the irresponsible management of student finances which one reads about in school magazines. Irre-