STUDENT LIFE:It's an honour only a few teenagers ever achieve, but it can launch careers and open doors. AINE KERRtalks to the head boys and girls at a selection of secondary schools around the country
KEENLY CONTESTED ELECTIONS and appointments in schools all over the country give birth to leaders of the future and mini-politicians of today among a band of determined teenagers. Earning the title of head boy or head girl is often an unspoken six-year-long ambition that tests the resilience, enthusiasm and all-rounder capabilities of students moving up the education ranks. Some of the teenagers must lobby and impress students and teachers through an election process; others must leave the final decision in the hands of senior management; and some are interviewed after students nominate their choices.
Often, the elected representatives are multi-taskers and all-rounders in sports and studies. in many schools, such as Cistercian College in Roscrea or Scoil Mhuire in Buncrana, the students have a democratic vote when choosing who will enter negotiations for less homework, more resources, more free time. They are the go-to people when bullying issues arise, when tensions flare between teacher and student, or when advice is needed on a potentially controversial change to school uniforms.
Cistercian College, Co Tipperary
Cistercian College in Roscrea in Co Tipperary, a seven-day Catholic boarding secondary school, has appointed a house captain (head boy) every year since 1906. One former house captain, Prof Thomas A Martin, claimed it was a coveted tribute paid by the severest critics a student can have: their fellow students. Often, the chosen student is a good athlete with academic standing and the elusive elements of personality and leadership.
The election is for a leader, not a messenger, for someone who can keep school management onside by ensuring good student behaviour and cooperation, in return for privileges and concessions. When the students pile into the hall for voting, there is a knowing recognition of the star performers.
Writing of his experience in the 1950s, Prof Martin said: “Some of them will say ‘Yerra man, don’t be codding yourself. I haven’t a chance. Jim is a dead cert, for heaven’s sake.’ Others will laugh contemptuously and say how miserable they would feel in the job, even if the voters had the stupidity to elect them. Others still will engage their friends in some topic which has nothing whatever to do with the election, with apparent unawareness of what is going on. But all are secretly perspiring in anticipation of the event.”
Leaders have come and gone while undertaking their duties for a job now more than 100 years old. Past students of Roscrea, such as Martin, often talk about their years of study based on the name of the captain when they entered or left, rather than by year in digits.
Thus the academic year 2011-2012 year may become known as the Shane Kelly year. Just two months ago, Kelly (18) from Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, was elected as the 2011-2012 first house captain in Cistercian College. When he first arrived at the college, Kelly got involved in everything, from various team sports to debating competitions, before travelling to Uganda in Transition Year to visit village orphanages.
“It was a great experience . . . we brought out toothbrushes and giving them was like giving away X-Boxes,” says Kelly of the hundreds of toothbrushes that he bought after fundraising. “It changed how I value life.”
Since taking up his position and donning the school uniform – which features stitching displaying his first house captain status – Kelly has been careful not to negotiate on every single issue or proposal from students. He concentrates instead on reasonable suggestions with workable solutions. One recent concession was the addition of a tea and toast snack for sixth-year students at 7.30pm, between study periods. It’s a minor victory but an important one for students engaged in the Leaving Cert offensive.
Negotiation with school management isn’t by appointment. “There’s an open-door policy. Whenever there’s a problem, we can be very open about it; we can always go and knock on the principal’s door,” he says.
St Clare’s Comprehensive, Co Leitrim
DETERMINATION sparks innovation in the case of many of the aspiring leaders. Shannan Feeley (18), a head girl in St Clare’s Comprehensive in Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim, was involved in everything from student councils to first-year mentoring programmes and multiple trips to the Young Scientist exhibition before she was declared the school’s head girl in September. Her election posters were particularly innovative.
Having been elected one of six prefects by her year group of more than 90 students, a week of canvassing followed, ahead of the much-anticipated elections. There were heartfelt speeches before a gaggle of almost 200 fourth and fifth years, and a staffroom of teachers (also armed with voting rights) as Feeley competed against two other female prefects.
“I just said I was a good listener, that I’ve always been involved in the school. I said I represented the school well always, and would do my best when given the opportunity,” says Feeley.
Full-scale canvassing took place over a week before votes were cast over two days in the ballot box in the middle of the school hall. Supporters wore election stickers, handed out leaflets and pointed undecided voters to Feeley’s posters adorning the corridor walls. They looked distinctly professional – Feeley’s uncle is a Fianna Fáil councillor. His election posters were chopped, changed and finessed, saving the crucial “Vote Feeley” appeal.
Scoil Mhuire, Co Donegal
Domhnaill Harkin (17), head boy in Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana in Donegal, had an additional election hurdle to navigate before his appointment. After 16 prefects were selected by students, the top two boys and girls in the polls then went forward for interview before the principal and year head. The four waited together outside a school conference room, before being summoned one by one.
Questions followed on why they should be appointed the student head, how they would represent the school, how they would describe the school to visitors, how they would respond to first years with problems, and how they would promote physical education in the senior cycle. “It was my first time to do an interview and it was a really good experience,” says Harkin, whose pitch won him the position of head boy.
Coláiste Chraobh Abhann, Co Wicklow
“I’m not a nerd . . . I’m a bit sporty and I work hard as well,” says Calvin Swords (18), head boy in Coláiste Chraobh Abhann, Creowen, Kilcoole, Co Wicklow, when asked about his recent election to the job. “I’m a determined person and that’s why I want to achieve the best in everything I do.”
The GAA captain, rugby and soccer enthusiast became a leader among students in fifth year when he was interviewed for the position of “peer mentor”. Eight weeks of training followed selection, and he was given responsibility for 15 first-year students. Every morning, he spends 10 minutes discussing their problems, minor and major, and taking questions from them.
Swords, who hopes to become a social worker or physiotherapist, says he simply “wanted to give something back”. When it came to prize day at the end of fifth year, the former “boy of the year” was among those traipsing up and down receiving various awards.
By this time, students had already filled out forms nominating their prefects, outlining reasons why they should be appointed and the leadership qualities demonstrated. Swords remained unaware of the voting intentions of his fellow students.
Later on prize day he was declared head boy. With it came extra pressure. “I have to make sure I’m a role model every day. I can’t put a foot out of line, not that I would anyway, but I always have to represent the school to the best. If I do something wrong, all the younger kids are looking.”
Sharing the daily grind with Swords is the school’s head girl Caressa O’Toole (17), a former class captain from first to third year and a prefect who was elected by students. Swords and O’Toole organise weekly rosters for corridor duty and lunch line-ups, oversee weekly sporting activities, and share responsibilities for meeting and greeting visitors to the school, while also organising Diversity Week – and making speeches over the intercom.
Swords says organising meetings with the principal to thrash out student issues was daunting. “I was most anxious about speaking out. I found that very hard at first.” Issues raised range from bullying to more trivial concerns, such as a request from senior girls to change bathrooms.
For O’Toole, the role of head girl means she gets to know everyone pounding the school corridors and can often help students stay out of trouble. “There’s an element of working to prevent things happening. Being head girl means a lot because it’s a reward for being yourself. I didn’t change in any way to become head girl. When I told my family, one of my sisters cried. It’s an honour and it’s really nice to know that it’s because of who I am and the way I acted. It’s definitely given me more confidence . . . knowing that what I’m doing is right.”
Marino VEC, Dublin
The tentative steps of first-year students making the transition from primary to secondary school are a key concern for senior student leaders. Kelsey O’Toole (17), head girl at Marino VEC in Fairview, Dublin, was lucky when she arrived at her new school five years ago: almost her entire class from St Laurence O’Toole’s in Sheriff Street arrived with her.
But for other first-year students, it can be quite lonely, which is why Marino’s Buddy System is so important. O’Toole, one of the 12 “buddies” in the school, talks to first-year students every morning, and is their appointed contact person if a problem arises. Sometimes the first years arrive with complaints about too much homework. “I just tell them they have to do it,” says O’Toole, who has a no-nonsense approach when it comes to workload complaints but is more sympathetic on other matters.
Newtown School, Waterford
Ruth Harrison (17), head girl in Newtown School, a Quaker boarding school in Waterford, is also in charge of a first-year group, sits down with them every day, and helps them when they’re homesick. Sometimes, she’s called on to check on the first-year boarder girls, to ensure lights are turned off at the right time. It’s during occasions such as this that she gets to observe, listen and advise.
“They just need someone to talk to,” says Harrison. “It’s funny with first years, because when they first come in, all of a sudden you’re this big person to them . . . it’s kinda strange . . . but people have a different respect for you, I guess. It’s a nice feeling being able to help.”
All of the student leaders are guided and motivated by their own experiences, ever-willing to learn and broaden their knowledge. Many go to extraordinary efforts fundraising and take enormous pride in charity work.
Stephen Scallan (18), head boy in Newtown School, travelled to Romania for two weeks to help with the construction of new houses. The experience, he says, was both eye-opening and humbling. On arrival, the construction team were advised that it would take five weeks to complete the building works, finish all painting, drainage and window fittings. The work was done in two weeks.
“I met some of the families who were moving into the houses . . . the places they were living in were appalling. One family, there were five of them living in a room, with a communal bathroom for the whole floor,” says Scallan.
Loreto College, Dublin
Sinéad McDonagh (17), head girl in Loreto College, St Stephen’s Green in Dublin, has dedicated a lot of her free time to the St Vincent de Paul group in her school. Throughout fourth and fifth year, she helped with soup runs every Friday and could be found in the areas off Grafton Street, Dawson Street and the Ha’penny Bridge distributing sandwiches and soup prepared in the school’s home-economics room earlier that day. She also worked in a soup kitchen on Saturdays during fifth year.
Others have travelled abroad on charity work for their school. Molly Jermyn (18), head girl in St Andrew’s College, Booterstown, Dublin, went to Uganda and worked with an orphanage and hospital during her stay.
“Like everyone I’d seen the ads and collected money. This made it personal,” says Jermyn. Driven by numerous human-rights issues, the Leaving Cert student also travelled to conferences in London and The Hague to speak about capital punishment and the plight of child soldiers. Since being elected head girl, Jermyn has addressed around 150 students in each year group and encouraged them to get involved with the school’s Model United Nations.
Head boys and girls are appreciative of the honour and philosophical about the opportunity of a year of dealing with student issues, preparing speeches, organising events.
“I do think it will stand to me and hopefully, look good on the CV,” says Jermyn. “And I hope it will teach me more about human relations, getting on with people and understanding situations . . . [I hope it will] teach me leadership, how to be presentable and respectable, and make me more aware.”
Loreto’s Sinead McDonagh is intent on ensuring students don’t view her as their superior, but rather “their representative, their voice”.
Her ambition is one shared by all of the student leaders – the desire to make themselves, their school and families proud.
It’s a feat all of them have already achieved, without yet having the time or wisdom of later years to know it.
Getting ahead
APART FROM PERCY WEASLEY, head boy at Hogwarts, how many head boys and girls have you heard of? Sometimes you hear about them for the wrong reasons, such as the head boy-elect at prestigious UK public school Harrow who was forced to leave under a cloud of cocaine. Then there was the UK co-ed that appointed two head girls – and indeed two deputy head girls – because the headmaster reckoned there wasn't a boy among its 785 roll that was up to the task.
On the other hand, some appointees are so obvious they're hardly worth remarking on at all, such as the fact that Prince Charles was head boy at his primary school, Cheam, before going on to become guardian, or head boy, at his senior school, Gordonstoun.
Much more interesting are the twins Sarah and Tom Watson, who last year took the top two spots in their Scottish school, and were following in the footsteps of their big brother. That's quite the hat trick.
There is also the fact that former UK prime minister Tony Blair's son Euan (left), despite having been reprimanded by police for being "drunk and incapable", went on to become deputy head boy at his London Oratory School.
Presumably if he hadn't come to their attention he would have sailed into the top spot, a position held previously by actor Simon Callow.
Indeed, the world of arts and literature are quite well represented by former head pupils, including The French Lieutenant's Woman author John Fowles, poet WH Auden, and, surprisingly – after all, he went on to do Clockwork Orange – Malcolm McDowell.
Actor Rebecca Hall was head girl at Roedean School while fellow thespian Kate Winslet held the position at her alma mater, Redroofs Theatre School.
A number of TV personalities were appointed to their school's top spot including the current Dr Who, Matt Smith. The ninth doctor, Christopher Ecclestone, is a former head boy too, as is Private Eye editor and Have I Got News for You stalwart Ian Hislop.
On the political front, the late Brian Lenihan junior held the top spot at Belvedere, before going on to take firsts in Trinity and Cambridge. MP for Foyle and former SDLP leader Mark Durkan was head boy at St Columb's College in Derry, a position overshadowed somewhat by the fact that the school has produced not one but two Nobel laureates, Seamus Heaney and John Hume. And while it's some surprise to learn that the late Mo Mowlam, who also figured strongly in Northern Ireland politics but seemed wonderfully scatty, was head girl at her school in Coventry, it is no surprise at all to learn that former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher (left) was top dog at hers in Grantham. Mary Finan, founding partner of Wilson Hartnell PR, was head girl at St Louis High School in Rathmines. Children's writer Enid Blyton was head girl of hers, St Christopher's, in Beckenham.
Which brings us back nicely to fictional characters and Dan Dare. The space hero of the 1950s comic Eagle was head boy of his completely non-fictional school Rossall. But you don't hear too much about him any more, do you?
Sandra O'Connell
