Students of high school age need to develop individual responsibility and independence. Whether they are going to college or not, they will soon have a larger freedom for which too few have been properly prepared. Experience has shown that those who are held under undue restrictions dictated by those in authority often go to extremes license when they are suddenly thrown on their own resources. If it be urged that young people of high school age are not sufficiently mature to exercise self-government without abuse, the answer is that the way to develop responsibility is to give opportunity for responsible conduct. It is not necessary to give full freedom-enough only to increase the sense of power and self-respect.
Too many rules imposed by others are irritating and often provoke disregard authority that otherwise would not be thought of. Student council and advisory board give enough of the desired opportunity in many instances.