School In A Box/HOW TO ORGANIZE STUDENT LIFE

INTRODUCTION

What we have seen in previous chapters should give you a good sense of what the first steps are towards building a self-sufficient agricultural school.

This chapter builds on the previous ones. It clearly and succinctly outlines the foundations on which to create a safe, dynamic and sustainable co-existence between the members of the school community. Considering that the student population spends most of its time at school, this chapter focuses on the experiences of the student body. Life on campus needs to be built around a vibrant community where students can develop their skills and talents in a safe and friendly environment.

By now you should have an academic plan of the activities that will instill the entrepreneurial spirit in the students, faculty and staff as well as in all members of the community in general. You should have also examined what the best practices are in the administration and accounting of an agricultural school looking to achieve self-sustainability.

As we advance with the information in this manual and you complete the different activities, you will be able to evaluate the goals that were pursued and the way in which they were achieved. With that information you will be in a position to establish new challenges for your organization.

This chapter will serve as a guide for school directors, faculty and all those involved in the life of the students to learn how to share experiences, hopes, needs and desires.

BASIC PRINCIPLES
The goal of this section is to give you the basic principles that will affect the decisions around structuring student life.

a. Life as a student
Life as a student implies making a hearty commitment with the entire school community. It is about developing positive attitudes and an open mind in order to learn how to deal with the difficulties life is bound to bring along. The challenge consists of overcoming the obstacles and hurdles in life, hence the importance of educating strong, well-rounded persons of character.

Leadership, effective listening, team-work, solidarity, organization, responsibility and a sense of belonging are only a few abilities and skills that teenagers should develop during their schooling experience.

NOTE: This chapter will explore the basic principles that guide student life in a self-sufficient agricultural school. It will be especially useful for those schools that operate in co-educational settings composed of male and female student populations.

Student life in a co-educational FSS School looking to achieve self-sufficiency must be grounded on the following basic principles: