In a recent Pepperbox brainstorming session, a student brought up the question, “Does leadership have too much power?” The student leadership class at Arcata High School is facing criticism for what some students perceive as an inaccurate representation of the school. Some students believe the class is more of a select group of friends than a traditional class.
“I believe it is one big friend group or the same type of student that runs leadership and gets to make all the decisions for the school,” senior Henry Lee said.
Leadership graduate Cedar Birdsall, a leader in the class last year, offered similar sentiments. “Leadership definitely feels like a group of friends. I would walk into class and see the same people I’d hang out with outside of school,” Birdsall said.
So far, leadership has been responsible for organizing events like rallies, food, and blood drives, and they have the power to plan dances, like the recent Arcata High Backyard Barbeque. They also recently chose the homecoming theme, “We Got the Beat.”
The question has also been raised of whether or not leadership has too much sway in events and happenings within the school. “Leadership has too much power because it controls all school events with no input from others,” Sophomore Josie Cunningham said.
However, some students disagree with the idea that leadership is too powerful. “Most of our decisions go through administration like Mr. Perry,” junior and leadership student Luke Moxon said.
Furthermore, while some felt like leadership is just social group-oriented, others did acknowledge that leadership has done well with advertising dances and sports games. “I think Leadership is a wonderful program at Arcata High School. I am always impressed with the students for the different events they put together including the blood drive, canned food drive, homecoming, rallies, spring week, and gratitude initiatives. These events make a tremendously positive impact on our school,” Adam Pinkerton said.
Lee suggested some improvements that leadership could make for the future, regarding how to increase the representation of the whole school and the diversity of student opinions for school events.
“A larger variety of people or maybe even two classes,” Lee said.
Other alternatives could be found in the way other schools conduct events.
Junior Mayleah Jackson-Garibay, a recent transfer from Del Norte High School participated in DNHS leadership as well currently participating in Arcata High School’s leadership.
“It was a zero period at DelNorte, there were six kids in there. Planning similar stuff but much less small,” Mayleah said. “It’s a better environment, more school spirit, and everything is just bigger.” Jackson-Garibay said.
