| |
Student advocates are peers
who have developed through training the ability to aid
fellow students with questions concerning their rights
and other concerns. A student advocate needs to be thoughtful,
well-spoken, resourceful, patient, understanding, honest;
able to listen to more than one side of a story; and
open-minded and unbiased towards the administration
and students. It is the student advocate's job, when
asked, to help protect the rights of students, which
often means alerting the proper school personnel to
violations or negligence of those rights.
Additionally, the student advocate is trained to be
alert to student statements concerning depression and
suicide. The advocate is responsible for notifying appropriate
school personnel to give assistance to these students.
Student advocates’ training includes the topics
of weapons, drugs, runaway, child abuse, harassment,
and bullying. Student advocates pledge to seek appropriate
help and resources to make each school a safe and educational
climate for all students.
Student advocates should:
- Have access to and knowledge of the rules and regulations
regarding the rights of students, which are guaranteed
by MCPS and the Maryland State Board of Education, as
well as state and federal law.
- Advise students in conflict of their rights and what
actions can be taken.
- Advocate the student's side of a case in which the
student's rights have been violated or neglected.
- Be willing to give his/her time to a case, constantly
researching the guidelines and regulations pertaining
to a case.
- Be able to search out the truth from several different
stories, and be neutral in investigating a case.
- Be honest with a student while advising him/her on
a case.
- Be able to distinguish between a difference of opinion
and a true violation of rights.
- Be alert to statements of depression, suicide, weapons,
abuse, harassment, bullying, etc., and seek adult intervention
|
|
