Coláiste Mhuire teacher Micheál Lawler (left) and student council chairperson Chris Lynn.

School giving boys a say through active student council

At just 18, aspiring politician Chris Lynn – a Leaving Cert student at Coláiste Mhuire – is a ‘veteran’ member of his school’s student council.

A member since he was in second year and currently chairperson of the council, Chris believes it has great value in the way it allows students influence aspects of life in their school.

Teacher Micheál Lawler, who facilitates the council at Coláiste Mhuire, says the school encourages active participation by students, and it encourages them to take participation seriously: “And they do if you ask them and if you engage them. But when they don’t feel engaged and they’re not being informed, that’s when disengagement occurs,” he says.

At Coláiste Mhuire, there are two students on the council for each of the junior years up to third year, and then from transition year on, three students per year.

“We hold elections, using a first-past-the-post system, and we ask the lads to write almost a small manifesto of what they what they want to achieve and what they stand for,” says Chris.

“We meet usually once every two weeks – or sometimes once a week: it kind of depends on if we have work to be doing. If there is something that really needs to be done, we meet more regularly then.

“Sometimes we are asked by the school to have a look at something, but the agenda is set by us.

“At the moment, we are organising a clothes collection for charity, or it could be that if something was brought to any of the members and that they feel is important, then they will bring it up at a meeting and we will put it on the agenda.

“When we have our meetings varies: it can be during breaks or it can be during class, but we would try to make sure it was during a non-exam subject class so we’re not missing out on let’s say maths or English, subjects like that.

“I’m also involved in Comhairle na nÓg. I was in second year when I joined and it was through the Student Council. Every Student Council goes to the Comhairle AGM, which is usually around September or October. Any student can go to the AGM, and they can join then.

“There are about 25 students on it – a good mix from all around the county. Before the pandemic, we would have met up once a month. Now we meet up around the same number of times, but we meet up over Zoom, and we try to get as much work done over that as we can

“We set a topic for each year at our AGM, chosen by the majority of the students. We always get around 200-300 attending.

“We ask them to write down what they think is the most important issue affecting young people at the moment. And whichever issue has the most votes, we run with that.

“Recently we have been doing a lot of work on the environment and protecting bees and bogs and things like that, and how we can limit our carbon footprint.

“We have been producing videos about the impact that things like cultivation of bogs have on the wildlife, and the importance of bees and bats and how to help keep that ecosystem going. We would have contact with our local TDs at Comhairle na nÓg level, and with local councillors.”

He feels the politicians could engage more with the comhairle, but feels latterly, the voices of young people are being listened to more.

“This year, there has been a big improvement. I am also on the national executive of Comhairle na nÓg, and again, at that level, the environment is a major issue for us. And so over our two-year term, we were working on trying to get a piece of legislation through to help with sustainable transport. And thankfully, Minister O’Gorman and Minister Ryan have been very helpful and we have got it in the budget – a reduction in Bus Éireann fares for young people.”