I found myself through my time on Student Government at LSS. It gave me the confidence to become a leader at the college level. Please allow others to find that same confidence through the time-honored tradition of elections.

When I initially entered LSS, I was a very shy and introverted child. Then in eighth grade, I was introduced to Student Council. It was here that I found my voice, earned confidence, and came out of my shell. What makes Student Council different from clubs is that it is mostly run by the students. Without officers, the Student Council would essentially become another club run by teachers. Student Council would lose its main purpose: to allow students find their voices, understand their responsibilities, and follow through with projects that hold the LSS community together. Please reconsider this decision; eliminating Student Council offices will only rob students of the opportunity to learn about vital leadership skills.

As an alumni of Laurel Springs and a former member of the Student Council, I can't help but feel outraged at the decision to remove student officer positions this year. Not only is being on Student Government an invaluable experience for the officers, but it is absolutely necessary to have them there to represent their own interests. A Student Council is not a Student Council without students, and taking away the power of the students is simply not the way to go.

I am agree that it is important for students to run for office, because it gives them a chance to experience what it feels like to be in a leadership position. Also it allows the students to know that the officers have similar interests and thus are more likely to accomplish goals.

Hello Student Government members and past Student Council Members. This is Ms. Wafer the Student Engagement Manager (SEM) at Laurel Springs School. What an amazing group of students and leaders you are to create this petition and assemble together for a common goal and cause. I think, however, there has been a misunderstanding. We certainly want to have student representation within our new Student Government structure. My focus for StuGo, as the new SEM at LSS, was to pause this year before elections took place, gather your leadership abilities and creativity to define (or redefine if applicable) the role of each representative within Student Government. My goal was to further empower the elected officials this year and for years to come. My first thought was to stop and reflect, encompassing student expertise, assistance and influence with a project of creating a student government structure unique to the setting of a virtual environment. I appreciated all of you attending yesterday’s meeting and it gave me further insight to go in a direction where student government can really make a difference. I’d love to share these ideas with you, and the ideas of your new advisors, over the coming month until we meet again in October. This will most certainly include representation and elections of elected officials as soon as we are ready to do so. It will also include a student centered, student run government with effective, tangible objectives and goals in mind. I was also inspired by Dr. Goodall during yesterday’s Symposium and I related some of her messages to the direction StuGo may go—making a difference on a global scale. Does this offer some clarity and sound like a workable solution for us all? Thanks again for you commitment and dedication. Ms. Wafer

I agree with all of the above comments. I think that it is important for us to be able to run for office. I enjoy that element of getting to feel like we get the last say in who leads student counsel, because I think it brings not only enjoyment to the officers, but to the other members as well to have students lead rather than just the teachers.

It baffles me how a Student Council can be run without students being involved. Although I was never a member of StuCo during my time at Laurel Springs, I heard many fellow classmates say how much they enjoyed their time there, and how much helped them to develop real-world skills--skills that have helped them immensely in college. Without students being involved in Student Council, it loses it's entire purpose, and deprives students of an excellent opportunity to hone valuable leadership and responsibility skills.

Accidentally deleted my comment! Original text: As a Laurel Springs alumni and founding member of the Student Council. I find this greatly antithetical to the idea of StuCo. While I see the reasoning, I think this is detrimental to student council members, especially come college application time.