|
|
As
students gain more experience at Midland, we expect them to take on
authentic leadership roles which are vital to the running of the campus.
Simply put, we want our students to have experiences in leadership positions,
be they senior positions of prefecting or running a job crew (see below),
making public presentations to the community or beyond, or becoming
authentic leaders in their schools and communities after leaving Midland.
Students sit on Council, as well, and almost no decision about the school
gets made without the input of students.
Senior Prefects
Many
seniors earn prefectships, a system of mentoring that Paul Squibb brought
with him from his Kent School days.
School Prefects
Two seniors are chosen by the Head of School to be the School Prefects,
who essentially set the tone for the student body. This year's School
Prefects, Tasslyn and Race, conduct assemblies, sit on council, govern
the prefects, and serve as the primary bridge between faculty and the
student body.
Class Prefects
Several seniors act as class prefects, in which two seniors are responsible
for each class. For instance, there are two freshmen boy prefects, and
two freshmen girl prefects and so on. These seniors perform countless
roles for their prefectees, including checking them in at night, helping
them with academic and social issues, being the younger students' confidants
and mentors, and being the first line of authority. The prefecting system
builds strong relationships across classes, and teaches younger students
to trust in and rely on their peers.
Senior
Heads of Jobs
Aside from being models for younger
students, all seniors at Midland must carry their weight as heads of
jobs. This means that, after putting in the service for their previous
school years, seniors take charge of the different aspects of the Midland
job system. As job heads, seniors teach the younger students on their
crews how to efficiently and appropriately do their jobs. In this relationship,
seniors work with the younger students, and so their leadership
comes in large part through example. A list of senior job heads follows:
Head
of Kitchen
Head of Horses
Head of Middle Yard
Head of Landscaping
Head of Dishhouse
Head of Ranch
Head of Lower Yard
|
Hero/Fire
Marshall
Head of Recycling/Trash
Head of Waiters
Head of Garden
Head of Upper Yard
Head of Library
Head of Mail Room |
These roles offer authentic leadership experiences
for the seniors, and teach them how important--and challenging--it
is to be effective leaders. The faculty step in and instruct whenever
needed, though part of the experience of being a head and a leader
is to be faced with challenges that aren't easily solved. This component
of Midland's program, begun by Paul Squibb in 1932, demands that all
of our students--seniors and underclass alike--take an active, vital
role in the running of the school. It teaches independence and interdependence
simultaneously.
|
