DEMOCRACY IN ITALIAN SCHOOLS

FIRST STEPS• 1974 - For the first time, state regulations

permitted the participation of students and parents in school bodies

• From 1977 pupils with disabilities could attend Italian schools together with other students

• From 1990 onwards, various regulations enhanced the participation of non-teaching personnel, students and parents in deciding school policy

MAIN REPRESENTATIVE BODIES IN ITALIAN SCHOOLS

• Council of teachers and class parent/student representatives

• Teachers' General Assembly 

• Council of General Administration and Financial Policy

• Internal Finance Commission 

• District, Provincial and National bodies

• General Students' Assembly

• Individual Class Students' Assembly

• General Parents' Assembly and Individual Class Parents' Assembly

COUNCIL OF TEACHERS AND INDIVIDUAL CLASS PARENT/STUDENT

REPRESENTATIVES

It is composed of all teachers of each class plus two student representatives elected by the students of that class and two parents elected by the parents of the students of the same class. It is chaired by the Principal or by a teacher he or she has delegated.

ITS DUTIES ARE:• to put forward proposals regarding teaching programmes and methods and educational strategies to the Teachers’ General Assembly;

• to promote and improve relationships among parents, students and teachers

When the agenda of the meeting includes any assessment of students, neither students nor parents are admitted.

GENERAL TEACHERS' ASSEMBLY

It is composed of all teachers of the school and it is chaired by the Principal

Its duties are:

• To decide on teaching programmes and educational strategies of the school in accordance with national guidelines.

• to put forward proposals regarding class formation, timetables and curricular activities to the Principal.

• To assess all school activities periodically, in order to improve them.

• To decide textbooks to be used, on the advice of the Council of teachers and class parent-student representatives

• To elect its representatives in the Council of General Administration and fFinancial Policy

COUNCIL OF GENERAL ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCIAL POLICY

It is composed of 19 members: 8 representatives of teachers, 2 representatives of non-teaching personnel, 4 student representatives, 4 parent representatives and the Principal. It is chaired by the designated parent representative Its duties are:•to pass the budget and the final balance•to decide on school regulations•to decide on the purchase of technical-scientific equipment and teaching aids•to decide on the school calendar•to deliberate on extracurricular activities

FINANCIAL COMMISSION

• prepares the budget and the final balance

• provides to the implementation of the decisions of the General Teachers Assembly

DISTRICT, PROVINCIAL AND NATIONAL BODIES

Student, parent and teachers representatives take part in district, provincial and national bodies in order give their contribution to establishing school policy at each level.

General Students' Assembly

Students can call a general meeting once a month to discuss school activities, proposals and problems within school-time.

INDIVIDUAL CLASS STUDENTS'

ASSEMBLY

Students can call a class meeting once a month (for no more than two hours) to discuss class activities, proposals and problems.

GENERAL PARENTS ASSEMBLY AND PARENTS ASSEMBLY OF EACH

CLASS

Parents can call general or class meetings to discuss school activities, proposals and problems.