Highlighting problems faced by stakeholders in elementary school student councils: students, teachers and school principals
The student council is a structure that promotes students’ participation in school governance, where student representatives represent their peers to the school principal and personnel. Although an educational contribution is noted, several barriers restrain its activities. This study aimed to identify the problems faced by the stakeholders of the student council: student representatives, teachers in charge, and school principals. Stakeholders from the student council of four elementary schools in the Montreal area participated in this study during one school year. Data were collected through individual and group interviews, as well as participant observation. Results show the complexity of this structure and problems related to both the stakeholders’ roles and the student council functioning. Numerous governance, sociological and psychological aspects must be better understood to ensure that the student council meets its educational aims.