My name is Donald Peltier and I am running for a position on our student council. As a member of this organization, my top priority would be to bring our diverse community together by listening to your input and helping to put it into action.

The concept of grouping students together in a centralized location for learning has existed since Classical antiquity. Formal schools have existed at least since ancient Greece (see Academy), ancient Rome (see Education in Ancient Rome) ancient India (see Gurukul), and ancient China (see History of education in China). The Byzantine Empire had an established schooling system beginning at the primary level. According to Traditions and Encounters, the founding of the primary education system began in 425 AD and "... military personnel usually had at least a primary education ...". The sometimes efficient and often large government of the Empire meant that educated citizens were a must. Although Byzantium lost much of the grandeur of Roman culture and extravagance in the process of surviving, the Empire emphasized efficiency in its war manuals. The Byzantine education system continued until the empire's collapse in 1453 AD.[

In Western Europe, a considerable number of cathedral schools were founded during the Early Middle Ages in order to teach future clergy and administrators, with the oldest still existing, and continuously operated, cathedral schools being The King's School, Canterbury (established 597 CE), King's School, Rochester (established 604 CE), St Peter's School, York (established 627 CE) and Thetford Grammar School (established 631 CE). Beginning in the 5th century CE, monastic schools were also established throughout Western Europe, teaching religious and secular subjects.
Mental calculations. In the school of S. Rachinsky by Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky. Russia, 1895.

If elected, I promise to plan and facilitate activities that will allow us to do this in fun, new ways. Using my experiences as an activities coordinator so far, I have played key roles in helping organize our prom, ball, student breakfast, and several other successful events throughout my three years. I will ensure that the unifying traditions of the past will continue to grow and that we will also create new, lasting ones so that everyone can get involved. I really believe that it is important for our class to feel connected and to have an identity as we start our senior experience together. With your input, we can make sure that this happens!

I ask you to take just a moment out of your busy schedules between September 17th and 19th to let your voices and opinions be heard. When the polls open, be sure to vote online!

Donald Peltier for Student Council President. Thank you!