The article tells about who the head of the class is, what his responsibilities are, by what criteria they choose and how to become one.
Elected position
At all times, in all communities and collectives, there was a need for the dominance of one person who would be senior (not necessarily by age) and solve certain issues relating to the whole collective. The need for this has remained in our time. In this case, the head of the school class is a student who is an intermediary between the other children and the higher "superiors" (teachers, director, etc.). His responsibilities are clearly defined in the school charter and may vary slightly, but usually they rarely resort to such a document.
The meaning of this action is to simplify the interaction between teachers and students. After all, it is much easier for an individual who is “his” in the team to convey certain ideas and needs, as well as engage in various organizational and social activities. It is worth noting that the head of the class does not receive any advantage or privileges over other children, and if there are such thoughts, they will pass very soon, since it also bears responsibility for the actions of other members of the collective. And in addition to his studies, he needs to engage in other activities, from which other students are exempted by definition.
So what is included in his duties and how is the head of the class chosen?
The choice
Since the headman has certain responsibilities, this should be a responsible student. Simply put, a bully and a D-one will not be elected or appointed to such a position. As a rule, this is a person with good academic performance in most subjects who wants to engage in community service. And the last point is very important, they cannot be appointed to this position, a person should be interested in such activities, and the duties of the head of the class can run counter to personal interests and take away free time.
The choice is made either by a general vote for the students who have nominated themselves, or by the direct appointment of a class teacher. But sometimes it happens that there are no volunteers at all, and then they can appoint him by force, contrary to the charter. Naturally, such coercion is reflected in the activity - the student fulfills the duties of the head of the class reluctantly and poorly. But such cases are infrequent, because almost always those who want to take this post are. But what is their responsibility and what do they do?
Responsibilities
The headman solves various organizational issues and directs the social activities of the class. For example, appoints attendants, collects money for gifts for various holidays or travel tickets for students. His activities also include compulsory attendance monitoring - marking those who attend classes and truants, and if there is a good reason, providing evidence to teachers.
In the days of the USSR, when this position was of a higher importance, the headman also oversaw the performance of schoolchildren - he lectured lads and assigned them additional tasks or worked with them himself.
What does the class warden still? For example, organizes extra-curricular activities, such as going to museums, walking, visiting WWII veterans, helping the needy old people and the poor. This person makes a plan for school concerts, performances and other events.
USSR legacy
As already mentioned, such activities were especially widespread during the years of the USSR, and this position was more respected. All the excellent students wanted to become the elder, both students and teachers respected them. It cannot be said that in our time the attitude towards them has changed, but still now children are not particularly keen to take this post, since the importance of social and collective work has greatly decreased.
A similar position is found only in Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union.
Attitude
The attitude towards the headman has always been somewhat ambivalent - both before and now. On the one hand, due to the fact that he controls attendance, truants are not very fond of him, and if it does not work out, hostility only grows stronger. But on the other hand, having occupied such a position, he frees other students from a number of additional work, and for this he is respected. A person can also be removed from this post in case of improper performance of duties or abuse of their status.
So we figured out what the head of the class should do.
Institute
There are also elders in student groups, their activity is not very different from school - all the same attendance control, organizational issues and more. But with the difference that affairs at the institute are more important and “adult” in nature.