Class Councils as a complementary evaluation instance and participation in school

Abstract

With a bibliographic nature, the main purpose of this research is to bring up all dissertations and thesis available on the Thesis CAPES Database (Brazilian Governmental Coordination to Improve Graduated Personnel) that had the Class Councils as a subject of study, from 2000 to 2011, to identify how such matter is being discussed in academic researches on the Elementary Education. The analysis of the researches showed that the Class Councils are considered in some cases as an instance of students evaluation, and in other cases as an opportunity of participation in school matters. Generally, the researches that consider Class Councils as an opportunity of participation value the formation of political people and the democracy exercise. As a practice of shared responsibility, the Class Council can strengthen democratic school management and promote the relationship improvement, respect and welfare of the school community. Furthermore, it can develop critical sense on the students, a parental autonomy, as well as an opportunity to review teachers’ pedagogic practices. Specially the Participative Class Councils still face many challenges, such as  the uneven culture of participants and the political power concentrated in the hands of principals and teachers, matters that must be transformed.