By Editorial Board
America was forged with the principle that all people had the freedom to make their own choices. In fact, the freedom to make those choices as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution cannot and should not be violated.
Although high schools are more like a laboratory for democracy than an actual democracy, students should have an active voice in implementing change. At FVHS, like at most other high schools, there is a system in place for students to participate in school culture—Associated Student Body (ASB), and Senate. However, if students identify a problem at school and want to change policy or practice, approaching these organizations, which are not democratic, will never suffice.
Within ASB and Senate, members, unfortunately, are not elected, rather they are weeded out through an application process, then selected by administration and ASB executive board, respectively. A third student leadership organization, the House of Representatives, or House of Reps, are either volunteers, or are selected by their third-period teachers to attend monthly meetings with ASB, the most recent of which occurred on Thursday, Dec. 10.
In that meeting it was apparent that the House of Representatives isn’t really composed of “representatives.” A better name for it would be House of “folks who sit there and listen to the summarization of upcoming events,” as that’s essentially all that happened at that last meeting. No decisions are made during the meetings, rather, there are prolonged reminders of school rules and regulations, discussions about future dress-up days, and instructions as to what to do in case there’s a lack of toilet paper in the bathrooms, or the hand dryers are broken.
Regardless, students cannot blame the House of Representatives, Senate or ASB for a lack of decision-making during these meetings. ASB and administration do a fine job of informing the student body with changes and activities happening on campus, but if students want to enact change they need to be willing to put in the effort.
Last year, Amber Lenguyen (‘15), demonstrated how a student can orchestrate such changes within the school system. Disappointed that the Lifetime Achievement award for student participation in California Scholarship Federation (CSF) did not appear on transcripts, she asked guidance specialist and CSF adviser, Clint Walters and then principal Chris Herzfeld, for such a recognition. Unsatisfied with their responses, Lenguyen conducted research on the subject and presented her argument to the district board, the elected body who governs the Huntington Beach Union High School District, who agreed with her and approved her request.
If students expect democracy-like results they should stop complaining, stop depending on ASB and the House of Reps, go through the proper channels and ultimately be prepared to face the real representatives of the people, those who were elected through the democratic process.
