Student Empowerment - Israeli Model

Aims

The project will focus upon two main areas:

1. a) Our Immediate Environment Becoming aquainted with the main environmental problems of our immediate environment, and finding the initiative, involvement and responsibility for reaching suitable and realistic solutions for these problems.
   The immediate environment involves three areas: the school and area of the school dormitories; the Negev; areas where the students live (outside of school - this school is a boarding school).
   In this area, the aim of the project is to bring the residents to the awareness of their part in the improving the way we relate to the environment, by changing negative patterns of behaviour (towards the environment) which are now prevalent among the general public. The main means of achieving this aim will be educational and explanatory.

2. b) The 21st Century Schoolhouse Learning and coping, through cooperation with six learning groups in different geographical areas of the world. In the 21st Century Schoolhouse groups from Salem, Oregon, USA; Perth, Australia; West Capetown, South Africa; Recife, Brazil; Toyama, Japan.
   The aim of the project, here, is to bring about an awareness of the attitude towards environmental issues all over the world, through learning about the main environmental problems typical to the different areas of the world.
   During the year, the students will get to know each other and the main environmental problems typical to the areas and countries where the students live. The pinnacle of the activity will be at the International Summit for the project participants which will take place in Autumn 1997 in Oregon, United States. There delegates from six groups for the different areas of the world will meet with the aim of drafting - "The Bill of Rights of the Environment", distribute this bill throughout the world, initiate legislation on behalf of this bill in as many countries as possible and have it adopted by the international forum.

Student Government

Roles of the Student Government

1. Working together with the teaching staff on directing the project.
2. Creating contacts with the other participants of the project in other parts of the world.
3. Initiation and creation of contacts with different outside contacts, who are relevant to the project (research institutes, public and government agencies).
4. Participating in planning the International Summit in the United States.
5. Participating in choosing the Israeli delegation to the summit.
6. Responsibility for creating the product of the activity of the project towards the immediate environment - in a concluding exhibition (museum) and in another public and educational activity.

   Guidelines and Central Duities of the Officers

   Head of the Student Government

   Responsible for government meetings, work meetings and writing of protocol, responsible for the running of the government, contact with the teaching staff, reporting to the student body in Israel and the overall international student body about the activity taking place in the project.

   Responsible for Finances

   Responsible for collecting funds and resources towards the special activities taking place in this project. Responsible for the distribution of these resources according to the various needs, responsible for creating a budget and monitoring its correct implementation.

   Responsible for Foreign Affairs

   Responsible for initiating contacts between the different student groups throughout the world, and for establishing international ties.

   Responsible for Scientific Issues

   Responsible for collecting scientific material, contacts with research institutes, initiation of research projects in relevant areas, publication of research.

   Responsible for Legal Matters

   Responsible for collecting judicial information, contacts with legislative bodies, drafting of legislation, overseeing the judicial aspects of the project.

   Responsible for Public Relations

   Responsible for publicizing the information from the project among foreign contacts, drafting and distributing position statements, posters, stickers, videos and any other material. Responsible for conducting propoganda which will lead to changing attitudes towards the environment.

   Responsible for Communications

   Responsible for creating local and international contacts by means of the Internet, monitoring for relevant material in the media. Responsible for contacts with the media in order to publicize the ideas of the project.

   Responsible for the Environment

   Responsible for making the public more enlightened as to environmental concerns. Responsible for contacts with "Green Groups", initiation and implementation of projects towards improving the environment.
   Those responsible for public relations, communications and the environment will be members of a committee which will deal with the concluding exhibition (museum) and increasing public involvement in environmental concerns.

   Responsible for Documenting the Project

   Responsible for documenting the activities taking place in the project: through picture, sound and all other relevant means. Will represent the Israeli group in the Editorial Staff of the project's International Magazine. Responsible for presenting the activity which took place in Israel at the International Summit.

   Election Process for the Student Government

   The Head of the Student government and the officers will be elected according to the following process:

   A student interested in being elected to the Head of the Student Government - will present his candidancy according to the following conditions:

   • will produce a list of at least 15 student signatures who support his candidancy
   • will be the head of one of the parties competing for their place in establishing the Student Government.
   
   The candidates for the Student Government will register with the Election Committee until the final established time and date. A candidate may conduct election propoganda from the date of his registration with the Election Committee.
   The candidate for the Head of the Student Government must receive over 50% of the votes cast to be elected. If no candidate receives such a majority, another round of voting will be conducted the next day in which the two candidates who received the most votes in the first round will compete.

   The project participants will establish political parties. Each party will put together a "party platform" in which it will present its principle positions with regard to the environment. Each party will present up to 9 members as the party's candidates for the positions in the Student Government. Each party must register with the Election Committee by the time of the set date. Propoganda is allowed from the moment that the party is registered with the Election Committee.

   The members of the Student Government will be determined according to the proportional number of votes which each party receives in the general elections, in which all of the project participants will take part.

   Election Committee

   Monitoring of the election process will be under the responsibility of the election committee which will be comprised of teachers from the project staff. The election committee will confirm the list of candidates and the candidates for the Head of the Student Government. The Election Committee has the authority to okay the members of the Polling Committee, censor election propoganda and announce the election results. The members of the Polling Committee will evaluate the activity of the students and their involvement in the Student Government.
   Head of the Election Committee: Oded Bar.
   Members: Asa Baumer, Hannah Sivan

   Polling Committee

   It will comprise of one representative from each of the competing party lists. The committee will be responsible for the proper voting procedure and for the counting of votes. The Head of the Polling Committee will be appointed by the Election Committee.

   Appealing the Election Results

   The election results may be appealed with the challenge that the purity of the elections was not upheld, within 24 hours after the publication of the election results. The appeal will be considered by the Election Committee. The decision taken by the Election Committee will be final.

   Election Propoganda

   Election propoganda is allowed from the moment that the party or candidate for the Head of the Student Government is recognized by the Election Committee and until two hours before the hour the voting starts. All propoganda taking place outside of this accepted time framework will be judged as harming the purity of the election process.

   Appointment of Positions in the Student Government

   After publication of the election results, the Head of the Student Government will meet with the elected representatives of the different parties, and through negotiation will decide on whom to appoint to the various positions from these representatives. The Head of the Student Government has the power to change the distribution of tasks and responsibilities among the members of the Student Government according to the policy set out by him.

   Time frame for the Election Process

   Nov. 13, 1996
   • Explanation of the process before the student body

   Nov. 13-20, 1996

   • Establishment of political parties, collecting signatures, preparation of party platforms and registration of the parties with the Election Committee.
   • Candidates for the Head of the Student Government collect signatures, register with the Election Committee, establish party guidelines and party platform.

   Nov. 20, 1996

   • Election Assembly - the candidates and parties present their platforms before the student body.

   Nov. 20-27, 1996

   • Party propoganda and election assemblies

   Nov. 27, 1996

   • Voting for Head of the Student Government and the Members of the Student Government.
   • Election results will be posted by 13:00.
   • At 16:00, the first working meeting of the Student Government will take place (Head of the government and the elected representatives).