Stating that I don’t like Student Government would make for a short article. Stating that I don’t like Plenary would make for an even shorter one. So, instead, let me explain why the presence of teachers in Student Government is the antithesis of what Parker stands for.
According to local Parker legend, our Student Government is both the oldest and longest running in the country. It goes without saying, however, that our beloved government has had its fair share of changes. We’ve gone through eight constitutions, 103 presidents, and hundreds of resolutions. But even though our current administration looks nothing like it did 100 years ago, these changes have all been student-led and necessary to adapt to the changing waters of time. One consistency to note, though, is the ever-present emphasis on the first half of the phrase: “student.” However, I believe that we are starting to drift from that rooted mindset.
Even though Student Government is still led by Upper Schooler students, I have felt a subtle shift in atmosphere recently. While the majority of change is still being led by those passionate about the community, I’ve had a strange inclination to lean on adult support to help me form my own opinions.
When the first “Phaedrus proposal appeared last year, I immediately felt drawn to vote in favor. But after certain adults used a student-designated comments period to convince the ensemble that the proposal would be taking away direct democratic power from all, I was conflicted. I wanted to stay true to my original mindset, but the mention of stolen freedoms swayed me. And I wasn’t alone. Unfortunately, the proposal was a bust, and while I cannot blame it all on a singular person’s words, I am confident that they certainly played a part. Thankfully, an edited version of the proposal passed just a year later, and I will note that no adults intervened in the process.
Moments like these, when adults step in, is when problems begin to arise. When we become dependent on external bodies to dictate our opinions, we lose critical thinking skills but more importantly, power. Parker’s freely accessible 2025-26 Student Government minutes made it easy to prove as such. I counted each word by hand (yes, I have too much free time) and tallied the times an adult spoke in comparison to a student. It shouldn’t come as a shock for me to say that adults made up almost an eighth of all comments made during plenary (12.6%). Granted, this data is derived from six plenary transcripts – we’ve had 13 this school year – and perhaps that is a testament to the lack of organization within Student Government, but I refuse to believe that adults should have so much space to speak within a student-based effort.
Obviously, though, we still need trusted adults to rely on in times of difficulty. One of my favorite books is Gone” by Michael Grant. It’s about this dystopian world after all the grownups disappear. Naturally, everything goes wrong: the kids start running out of food, teenagers recklessly crash cars, and no one knows how to treat basic injuries. It perfectly shows why we need adults for stability–high schoolers have not yet had the life experience to determine the best ways to move with the constantly changing world. But there is a line.
We should have access to support if a heavy, multi-grade conversation begins tipping towards an overly negative direction. At the same time, it should also be known that high schoolers are capable of holding these dialogues independently. Student Government is not meant to be perfectly smooth at all times. It is a learning environment, just like the rest of Parker is. Schools are a place to celebrate victories over failures. Students should learn how to make mistakes in a safe environment where they can be corrected without harm, else we will never learn to be fully functioning adults. I am so grateful for the support I’ve received from the adults in my life, but I am also confident in my own abilities. If students are unable to showcase what they are capable of, they will forever be stuck under the guidance of others hungry for control. Just as our forefounders expressed their wants for independence 250 years ago, we must do the same.
