%0 Journal Article %T Zapotrzebowanie na wsparcie samorządów szkolnych %A Poleszak, Wiesław %J Public Management %V 2018 %R 10.4467/20843968ZP.18.010.8239 %N Issue 1 (41) %P 131-146 %K student government, demand for support, prevention %@ 1896-0200 %D 2018 %U https://ejournals.eu/en/journal/zarzadzanie-publiczne/article/zapotrzebowanie-na-wsparcie-samorzadow-szkolnych %X The paper is focused on the problems of student governments. A student government is a place where students learn the mains principles of democracy. The task of a school is to identify natural leaders and help them develop their competences. A school should prepare good leaders who could work at social and public areas. The result of this process depends on how teachers are prepared to work with students. In this paper we aim to identify advantages and disadvantages of student governments. The study was made at secondary schools in the north-western Poland. In total, 464 students and 41 teachers were studied. The results suggest how to support student governments. The study indicates that both students and teachers have limited knowledge about the mains principles and tasks of student governments. The respondents differ in their perception of advantages and disadvantages of student governments.