Class President
Encyclopedia
A class president is usually the leader of a student body class, and presides over its class cabinet
or organization within a student council
, in a grade school class presidents are generally elected by the class, a constituency composed of all student
s in a grade level
.
The practice of electing a class president is found in most US schools, but is not prevalent in other parts of the world.
Class presidents are different from the student-body president in that they represent only a specific class of students, rather than the entire student body. Student-body presidents generally lead and represent the whole of the student body, and both positions are commonly confused with each other. Research has shown that young women are less likely to serve as class presidents than male students in co-ed learning environments.
for a class president is one year in most schools. The student holding the office usually has the option of running again for the coming year. Also, the class president in some schools is in charge of building funds for the class to use for activities, such as prom
. Students in this position are also often looked to as token student voice
representatives.
. After graduation, the senior-class president is sometimes put in charge of planning class reunion
s in the years ahead. Senior-class presidents usually continue to have the honorary title of President beyond graduation.
of the class president has been typecast
in books, movies and television. Typical storylines sometimes contain a nerd
or underdog
claiming the title from a more popular
student. The stereotype has also been used as a political allegory
since the 1800s, describing everyone from the president of the United States
to roles for African-American women in the U.S. Congress.
Fictional character
s in the role of class president have included:
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
or organization within a student council
Student council
Student council is a curricular or extra-curricular activity for students within elementary and secondary schools around the world. Present in most public and private K-12 school systems across the United States, Canada and Australia these bodies are alternatively entitled student council, student...
, in a grade school class presidents are generally elected by the class, a constituency composed of all student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
s in a grade level
Grade level
Often, people are educated through a series of educational stages, such as primary school and university. They vary around the world, and not every person will attend the same stages...
.
The practice of electing a class president is found in most US schools, but is not prevalent in other parts of the world.
Class presidents are different from the student-body president in that they represent only a specific class of students, rather than the entire student body. Student-body presidents generally lead and represent the whole of the student body, and both positions are commonly confused with each other. Research has shown that young women are less likely to serve as class presidents than male students in co-ed learning environments.
Duties and term
The primary duties of the class president usually include working with students to resolve problems, and informing school leaders and the student council of ideas emanating from the class. The president also has the responsibility of leading class cabinet meetings and organizing student activities and events. The term of officeTerm of office
Term of office or term in office refers to the length of time a person serves in a particular office.-Prime Minister:In the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister has no term limits...
for a class president is one year in most schools. The student holding the office usually has the option of running again for the coming year. Also, the class president in some schools is in charge of building funds for the class to use for activities, such as prom
Prom
In the United States and Canada, a prom, short for promenade, is a formal dance, or gathering of high school students. It is typically held near the end of the senior year. It figures greatly in popular culture and is a major event among high school students...
. Students in this position are also often looked to as token student voice
Student voice
Student voice describes the distinct perspectives and actions of young people throughout schools focused on education."Student voice is giving students the ability to influence learning to include policies, programs, contexts and principles."...
representatives.
Senior-class president
In some schools, there is a senior-class president. The senior-class president is the leader of the senior class in a high school or college. He or she is sometimes responsible for planning some of the events surrounding graduationGraduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
. After graduation, the senior-class president is sometimes put in charge of planning class reunion
Class reunion
A class reunion is a meeting of former classmates, typically organized at or near their former school by one of the class on or around an anniversary of their graduation. Former teachers may be invited as well...
s in the years ahead. Senior-class presidents usually continue to have the honorary title of President beyond graduation.
Popular culture references
The stereotypeStereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
of the class president has been typecast
Typecasting (acting)
In TV, film, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character; one or more particular roles; or, characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ethnic groups...
in books, movies and television. Typical storylines sometimes contain a nerd
Nerd
Nerd is a derogatory slang term for an intelligent but socially awkward and obsessive person who spends time on unpopular or obscure pursuits, to the exclusion of more mainstream activities. Nerds are considered to be awkward, shy, and unattractive...
or underdog
Underdog (competition)
An underdog is a person or group in a competition, frequently in electoral politics, sports and creative works, who is popularly expected to lose. The party, team or individual expected to win is called the favorite or top dog. In the rare case where an underdog wins, the outcome is an upset. These...
claiming the title from a more popular
Popularity
Popularity is the quality of being well-liked or common, or having a high social status. Popularity figures are an important part of many people's personal value systems and form a vital component of success in people-oriented fields such as management, politics, and entertainment, among...
student. The stereotype has also been used as a political allegory
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
since the 1800s, describing everyone from the president of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
to roles for African-American women in the U.S. Congress.
Fictional character
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
s in the role of class president have included:
- Pedro Sanchez, played by Efren RamirezEfren Ramirez-Early life:Ramirez was born in Los Angeles, California of Spanish and Salvadoran descent. He has three brothers, one of whom is his identical twin. Ramirez bought his parents a house with his payment from Napoleon Dynamite .-Career:...
, runs successfully for Class President in the 2004 movie Napoleon DynamiteNapoleon DynamiteNapoleon Dynamite is a 2004 comedy film co-written and directed by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess and stars Jon Heder as Napoleon Dynamite. The film was Jared Hess' first full-length feature and is partially adapted from his earlier short film, Peluca....
. - Zach Siler, played by Freddie Prinze Jr. is the popular jock and Class President in the 1999 film She's All ThatShe's All ThatShe's All That is a 1999 American romantic comedy film directed by Robert Iscove, and is a modern adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion...
. - Wilford "Wil C" Cardon is the Class President in the independent film produced by DJ Iggy, titled, The Rise of Number 45.
- Jessie Spano, played by Elizabeth BerkleyElizabeth BerkleyElizabeth Berkley is an American television, film, and theatre actress. Berkley's most notable roles were in the television series Saved by the Bell, as brainy feminist Jessie Spano, and the 1995 Paul Verhoeven film Showgirls, as exotic dancer Nomi Malone.-Early life:Berkley was born and raised...
, is the Class President at Bayside High School in the television series Saved by the BellSaved by the BellSaved by the Bell is an American television sitcom that aired between 1989 and 1993. The series is a retooled version of the 1988 series Good Morning, Miss Bliss, which was itself later folded into the history of Saved by the Bell...
. - Ryoko Asakura in the anime The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.
- Tracy Flick, Reese Witherspoon, runs for Class President in the 1999 film ElectionElection (1999 film)Election is a 1999 American comedy film adapted from a 1998 novel of the same title by Tom Perrotta. The plot revolves around a three-way election race in high school, and satirizes both suburban high school life and politics...
. - Steve Holt, played by Justin Grant Wade, is Class President of the high school that George Michael Bluth and Maeby Funke attend in the television series Arrested Development.
- Mizuki Kirimiya from the Visual Novel Yume Miru Kusuri
List of well-known class presidents from US schools
- Jane AddamsJane AddamsJane Addams was a pioneer settlement worker, founder of Hull House in Chicago, public philosopher, sociologist, author, and leader in woman suffrage and world peace...
- Molly Dewson
- Troy H. MiddletonTroy H. MiddletonLieutenant General Troy Houston Middleton was a distinguished soldier-educator who served as a corps commander in Europe during World War II and later as President of Louisiana State University...
- Richard NixonRichard NixonRichard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
- George H.W. Bush
- Bill ClintonBill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
- George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
External links
- Blogspot.com, profile on Inconvenient Bluth
- www.schoolelectioncentral.com