School Students' Council Election! Why?

India is a Democracy Country, people choose whom they want to be ruled by, whether it is a Country or a School. Elections play a vital role in choosing the right leader for them, to make the student understand the process of elections and the role of leaders we at Bal Bharati Public School, Kudgi begin the process of School Elections under the guidance of Principal Sandeep Somsole and Social Science Teacher Kirti Patil.

Election Announcement: 25 June 2023

As per the Principal call, the announcement was made for the elections after all the background work for new council members, including Head Boy, Head Girl, Discipline Captain, Sports Captain, Cultural Captain, Deputy Head Boy, Deputy Head Girl, House Captains, and Vice Captains.

The committee of teachers was formed to conduct the elections.

Every election is determined by the people who show up.

 - Larry J. Sabato

Nominations: 28 June 2023

It's glad to see that the students came forward to nominate themself in the elections for different positions. 40 Students from grades VIII to X filled up the nomination form to compete for 15 positions.

Allocating the Symbol: 01 July 2023

As you know Symbols play a vital role in the elections. Finding meaningful and appropriate symbols and allocating them is not an easy job but it is a cakewalk for our Social Science Teacher Kirti Patil. The symbols are allocated to the students randomly and its meaning also explained to them.

If you want to walk fast, walk alone. But if you want to walk far, walk together.

-Ratan Tata

Campaigning: 03 July 2023

People with like-minded come together to achieve something. This rule applies to a business or an election. I have seen students coming together and supporting each other in campaigning. The students prepared their own campaigning material to go to classes and present themself in front of the voters(I mean students). 

Social Skills play a vital role in campaigning, We at BBPS Kudgi focus on the overall development of the students and we provide a platform for them to learn the most important skill i.e. Social Skills through group discussions, debates, projects, seminars, presentations, storytelling, and many more.

During the campaign, I got a chance to sit in one classroom and was listening to them, here are a few statements by our students:

• Vote for us, not for me.
• I am like your brother, I can solve your problems.
• Do you know who am I?
• I think everyone knows my name.
• Vote for me( the boy was spreading his arms like Shahrukh Khan).
• I am not the leader, I am there to serve you.
• Tell me what is my name, and what my symbol is? .................................

Electronic Voting Day: 05 July 2023

The children were eager to vote for their leader, everything was set, and the committee was ready with electronic booths, and the ink to apply on the fingers of the voters.

Technology makes our work easy and our Principal is very good at using it. With his idea of electronic voting, I made a Google Form with all the candidates' details, where the voter has to click the symbol to vote for the candidate.

Thanks to Online Classes, our children learned how to fill out and submit the Google Form. We used the Computer lab as Electronic Booth where we kept 6 computers for online voting. The voting process was completed within 2 hours, the students from Grades IV to X and all the staff participated in the voting process.

Thanks to Google Forms, we got the Voting numbers and the visual representation of the voting within seconds. To declare the winners we have considered the Voting numbers, Student Academic records, and Co-Curricular activities. The selection process was fair and transparent, no queries raised, and no objections on the winner's list.

Result Announcement:07 July 2023

The whole school was waiting for the winner's list, and the results were announced within 2 days in the morning assembly. I can see the mixed reactions on the day, few students were happy and few were not.

I am sure that parents will understand that losing is a great challenge for their children and they will support and stand with them in every situation.

Investiture Ceremony: 11 July 2023

The investiture ceremony was very well organized, and our Principal appreciated every teacher, non-teaching staff, and Group- D employee for their support and active involvement.

The parents were happy to see their children with Badges and saches and taking the oath for their position. The NTPC officials, Principal, and parents congratulated and appreciated all the winners.

Participation is very important than winning. 

Conclusion:

The election process is an excellent opportunity for students to learn different skills. I have seen the children who lost in the election, and clapping at their friend's success, I am very proud of them. 

The students understood the importance of Social Skills and teamwork and I hope the students will cherish this moment of winning the elections.

If you learn from a loss you have not lost.