Relavant Site in the making: http://wp.ics.edu.hk/icssp/
Word Count (from title below): 1848
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Manifesto of the ICSSP:
The ICSSP (International Christian School Student’s Party) is a party by the students, for the students. We aim to better not only the school community, but the system and lives of the students themselves through the active participation of the student as an individual, and as a collective body. To achieve this, we fight for equality in the making of policy, planning of events, and any other subject in relation to the student. We aim to foster community in the bearing of a beneficial and equal load of responsibility. We desire the propagation of Christ’s values through the encouragement and validity of the basic principles of socialism. We encourage deep and critical thinking, as well as adherence and passion for one’s beliefs in the struggle to pass or reject policy. Finally, our most ambitious goal yet; we aim to bring a light to the world in fostering change in ourselves.
As the ICSSP, we dedicate ourselves to the struggle for equality in the making of policy, planning of events, and any other subject in relation to the students. This would include the student’s involvement of planning schedules, decisions regarding school rules, whist defending one’s decision, so on and so forth. We plan to act on this in making a new “triumvirate of bodies” to help guide the school, together as a community. This triumvirate would include teachers, student representatives, and the administration/school board to form “The Grand Council”. Each group would wield an even amount of power, one collective vote, in order to pass or veto a proposed motion. Both the proposing party and opposing party would present their respective cases to argue for or against the proposal based on a predefined stance by greater vote. In the case of the students, either a direct vote via online survey, or a vote through an Advisory representative. In the case of teachers; what was decided in staff meetings. In the case of the Board; what was decided beforehand. Each group would be represented by all significant persons involved, as well as all whom would like to join; a minimum of three (3) persons. In the case in which the deciding party is unable to decide, the decision can be adjourned.
The student would be represented in The Grand Council by a new Student Council. The Council, as is, has no effective power but the power of protest. Even the best of Presidents would take one’s whole high school career for significant change to occur. The current Council itself is a vague organization, hardly showing itself as a body. Meetings are exclusive, and non council members have less of a say, or no say at all. The new Council will seek to change all that. Wielding significant power, the Council would have a fighting chance in truly representing the student in the preposition, passing, and vetoing various protocols; allowing change to come in mere weeks. The Council would also take up a prominent position in the school life of students in regards to events. Meetings will be open to all those concerned and non council members would be able to vote on the direst issues regarding them, such as schedule formation and change. The outcome of such decisions will be given, as well as the reasons. This fighting chance in itself would encourage students to actively participate in the community, now the issues they can control concern them to a greater degree.
The teachers would be represented by the best persons possible; themselves. It is my understanding that there are two teacher representatives already on the Board of trustees, and that the teachers meet in staff meetings on Mondays, and/or Fridays. The new system would bring little, yet significant change to that. Those two members of the board would gain full independence, and would organize the stance of teachers. Staff meetings on Monday/Friday would then include proposals to be presented in the great council (with significant arguments), and/or brief discussion on adjourned decisions on previous proposals (with significant arguments). This would be referred to as The Union of Teachers, or Teachers Union. Other than this, teachers may organize themselves as they wish.
The Board of Trustees and Administration will represent themselves as stated above. And will have to present a valid argument for or against a proposal. A collective stance will be reached beforehand, and will be represented by a minimum of three (3) people as stated above. They will be known collectively as The Administration, or the Admin.
As the ICSSP, we aim for mutual understanding and a strong sense of community in the bearing of a beneficial and equal load of responsibility. As all three bodies hold equal power, all three bodies are responsible for the running of school community. As each party is responsible for presenting a reasonable and valid argument for their stance, all would learn to empathize with each other. The community as a whole would learn the hardships of one another in hope of creating a stronger and more understanding community. In the running of the community, students would learn in a positive manner, a responsibility for their actions and decisions. If something undesirable happens, the blame is shared and the desire for improvement would hopefully awaken; if success ensues, then praise is shared, and a sense of reward awakened. Please keep in mind that financial matters, and matters regarding tuition will be left to the Admin, unless specially requested.
As the ICSSP, we desire the propagation of Christ’s values through the encouragement and validity of the modified, basic principles of socialism. The basic principle of this revolutionary sort of socialism is demonstrated in a more “social” sense rather than in economical senses. We will call this form of socialism, Academic Community Socialism. Our goal is a free, united and harmonious school community, free of “oppression” through unfairness and misunderstanding. Christ asks us two simple commandments to obey; love your neighbor (and enemy) as yourself, and do to others as one would do to you. Our system tries to fulfill these commandments by the propagation of understanding, empathy, and justice. The former two to be demonstrated in the proposition arguments of The Great Council; the latter demonstrated by the system itself. In the light of the reasons given by the bodies, participants are given the chance to fulfill these commandments, and non participants are given a chance to fulfill the previous through empathy of whatever passes. This system would be more transparent. The biblical saying goes: let one reap what one sows. So let it pass: let the community experience the benefits and praise to what successful policies pass, and let it suffer together when worse decisions are made. In this way, the System is not blamed for all short comings, and left without praise when success is met. It is in this form of socialism we are to succeed, not its previous, non Christian forms.
We as the ICSSP aim to further develop the student through the encouragement of deep and critical thinking, as well as adherence and passion for one’s beliefs in the struggle to pass or reject policy. It is our belief that society today has become too passive in thought and belief, numbed by the media of today, and the sheltered environ that the upper class provides. We seek to change this in the system of arguments, for and /or against various protocols. In order for protocol to pass, it must gain approval from two parties. To convince the second party, one must present a convincing and valid argument. The validity of one such argument would be seen to by a critical thinking of a student in regards of the consequences of various policies and actions. It would be enhanced even further by the thinking of counter arguments and counters to those arguments. In this way, Critical thinking can be fostered, practiced, and applied in a logical, valid, and creative manner.
The logic of an argument is only one side of it. Such an argument is strengthened by the passion of one delivering it. Students would be strongly encouraged to take a stance based on beliefs in various issues concerning them. For example; issues such as the current course selection protocol, MAD protocol, and various other protocols that appeals to a student’s sense of justice. Such passion can invigor a student to action, with such determination admired in the world around us, as well as in universities.
Lastly, as the ICSSP we declare our most ambitious and far reaching goal: our aim to bring a light to the world in fostering change in ourselves. A wise man once said; to change the world, you must first change yourself. It is our belief that the change in this system; a system to be brought about from the ground up; a system that begins with the individual, would influence us so to carry change with us for the rest of our lives. It is with you, the individual that a greater community starts with. Once this great system is strong and in place, the individual will be even more so. It is the foundation of becoming good and Christian citizens. In our passion and thinking skills, we will carry on, as individuals when the time comes, or as a greater community. In this system, we hope to bring change to our own future communities, in empathy and understanding and fulfill what Christ asked us to be; A Light to the World.
In conclusion, we state our anthem, not as a mere declaration of our beliefs, but as a pledge to the people and our greater community, to be held in our hearts and minds as one free, single, united party:
(To the tune of the majestic sounding soviet anthem)
United forever, in friendship and savior,
Our mighty Ideas shall ever endure,
Our Great Student Union will last through the ages
The Dreams of Our people, their fortress secure.
Long live our school community,
For us students and humanity
Long live the students, united and free!
Strong is our friendship tried by fire,
Long may our humble sign inspire,
Emblazoned on our hearts for all men to see
Through days dark and stormy in time of transition
Our eyes sought the bright sun of friendship above,
And our Student body, with faith in its Council,
Inspired us to build up the school that we love
Long live our school community,
For us students and humanity
Long live the people, united and free!
Strong is our friendship tried by fire,
Long may our humble sign inspire,
Emblazoned on our hearts for all men to see
We work for our future, for creed and our comrades,
And bring to our futures a light to the world,
Our school and our efforts, will live on forever
And all generations will honor her name
Long live our school community,
For us students and humanity
Long live the people, united and free!
Strong is our friendship tried by fire,
Long may our humble sign inspire,
Emblazoned on our hearts for all men to see
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