Our last blog posting, I asked you to think about the importance of studying literature, both in your life as a student and in your life as a citizen of the world. The majority of you expressed the opinion that, though sometimes boring and difficult, the work of studying literature can teach you important academic skills as well as make you think about "the big questions" in life. Only a few of you commented that literature was not important at all, and was a complete waste of your time. Some examples on this side of the argument were that Shakespeare, for example, never comes up in "the real world" and that studying fictional stories is a waste when you could spend your time reading to learn a trade or skill. Whatever opinion you expressed, most of you expressed yourselves in a clear and convincing way on the blog. As an English teacher, I have my own beliefs about the importance of studying literature; however I do appreciate the dialogue and the open-endedness of the debate on the subject. Do I think there is a "right" answer to the question about whether studying literature is important? My answer is "No," it depends on your point of view.
An underlying theme I found in your comments about studying literature is a problem with school in general. Many of you voiced the opinion that, in one way or another, school could offer you a way to learn that is more in touch with your own individual interests and goals. For example, many students suggested that students should be able to select their own books to read rather than have to read the same old books with which they find hard to relate. As much as I believe in the importance of school, having been a member of a school - as a student and as a teacher - for most of my life, I can admit that there are many problems and quirks of the school system that could be improved upon to enhance the learning experience for many different kinds of students from different backgrounds and with diverse interests.
Begin your comments here by stating some of your complaints about school in general. What if anything about school makes it difficult for you to learn? Then, imagine what the ideal high school education would be like (of course keeping to the bounds of reality here - I am not talking about a playground/amusement park/country club where you spend your school days playing Nintendo Wii and napping all day!). What would be the ideal high school situation for you that would allow you and motivate you to learn? What subjects would you take? What subjects would you leave out? How would your classes be taught? Your goal in this post is to imagine the perfect school, one that you still have to go to, but that you enjoy going to and learning in every day of the school week.
Your posts must be at least 150 words. Please check for spelling and grammar before submitting. These previous criteria, plus how thoroughly and completely you answer the question, will effect your grade for this assignment.
Due Wednesday 3/18. Total = 25 points
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Well first off, I believe that up until about ninth grade, school is all about learning necessary things but I think once we get to high school math and half of science should be optional. The things I learn in math are all about shapes and geometric means. I just find it unnecessary because although I don’t know my exact career path I know it won’t involve math or the unnecessary parts of science. In science, learning about life and evolution is important and should be taught but to find out the complete ionic formula of an element equation is, to me, completely ridiculous. I think that they should influence music more because personally I find that much more interesting. Also making a business course required would work because there are many students who are going to end up in business as a career. This would also broaden a students outlook on their future career.
ReplyDeleteFreddie Reichel
Well for me, I usually enjoy school, but as much as I like school, I also have problems with it. This is the biggest problem I see with “every” single school. Schools focus on four major categories of teaching: mathematics, literature, science, and history. Though these are all important, so are all the other subjects. They are “core” classes, and the other classes get fitted with the title of “elective.” This is wrong, completely wrong; who is to say that one’s ability to sing is more important than their knowledge of how chemical compounds react and form? Who is to say that a student’s amazing ability to draw is less important than their understanding of how to add the hypotenuse of a right triangle to the square root of it’s leg?
ReplyDeleteThis doesn’t make any sense, and for one main reason: schools kill creativity. Because this is the reality of it, a lot of people are bad at math, and a lot are bad at every other “core” subject. But, it has been deemed by society that no matter what, if they can’t adhere to the mainstay curriculum, they will most likely not succeed in life. But why should one’s future be reliant on their ability to write a sentence, or recite the first paragraph of the constitution? It doesn’t make sense. Core classes are also given more credits for completing them, which draws an even thicker line between these subjects. Students should all be graded equally in each and every subject, no matter what it is, and despite its difficulty level. But that’s enough of that; I’d rather focus on positive thoughts more than negative ones.
For myself, the perfect school would be a place where anything that could be taught is taught, no matter the subject. If you were interested in history, you could go even further than just that. You could take a course on Religious Movement in Medieval Times, or the maybe get a bit mundane and study the backgrounds of Alchemy and Astrology. Though even though something like Alchemy may have ample amounts of inaccurate knowledge, the fact of the matter is that it “is” knowledge. Just because something isn’t true, doesn’t mean it isn’t important. I myself would take countless courses that focused on many ancient beliefs, just to understand how they thought. And even though I bashed the core classes in my last paragraph, they do have significant importance. This school would still require you to take the original core classes, but their credits would be worth no more than any other class’s credits. And for graduation, each student would be required to have a set amount of credits, but those credits could be in any subject that the student themselves deemed worthy. That’s my idea of a perfect school. I mean, how awesome would it be to actually study things like the Korean Language, History of Sports, or String Theory, or even a course on Gematria, or Gods Throughout History, or even an Ancient Chinese Dance course. If school were like this, I’d never leave; there would just be so many things to learn, and I would have control over what I wanted to learn.
- Caleb Rosenquist
School in geneeral to me is hard in ways because if you moy not feel like doing anything one day your not going to feel like learning either. There are many ways of teachers teaching and some kids learn different ways for example verbaly or phisically. I myself cannot learn verbally because i need to be situated in class or I tend to become bored. When students interact they tend to learn better I believe. If their was a school that was just perfect Iwouldnt want to go to it. i know that may sound crazy but a perfect school just isnt right for anyone because you need mistakes too happen around you so you can learn from other peoples mistakes.
ReplyDelete~Brandi Johnson
I have many complaints about school in general. For one thing I have a hard time concentrating when people are constantly talking especially in math class and this makes it very hard to learn. I also do not like how all of the grades are weighted. I hate how tests and quizzes are worth like 70% of my grade because I usually do all of my homework, but in the end if I do bad on a test or quiz it dramatically effects my grade. In my ideal school I would have all the work divided up equally so that even if you do bad on a test you can still do good if you do all your other work. I would also only have to take math and English as mandatory classes and have everything else be electives because those are the only 2 classes I feel that are really important and everybody needs. If school were like this every day it would make life a lot easier, stress free, and maybe even fun.
ReplyDeleteJon Kelly
The problems that I have in school are taking subjects that I will not be using in the future. For instance, I am not going to major in anything having to do with Chemistry or Physics so I don’t see why we have to take it if we are not going to pursue it in our future. Then there are the many academic tests we have to take such as the PSSA for reading and math, PSAT, PSSA for science, and the SAT. I don’t see how we can prepare for these test while doing research and the many tests we get weekly in our classrooms. In my ideal high school instead of doing subjects we won’t pursue in the future we only do subjects that will help us pursue the goals we will do in the future. Instead of having so many academic test we only have one that covers everything and college only has to look at that one and our GPA. Discussing topics more class instead of giving so much test weekly in each class and only has one test a marking period in each class. That is my ideal high school.
ReplyDeleteMya Lofton
Tony Cairone
ReplyDeleteSchool is a complicated and yet sometimes a great learning area, but there’s tons of obstacles that make it hard for me to learn. Fist the other students in the classrooms make it so there’s not even a teacher up there and they just keep on talking, while I’m talking as well but I also want to learn. Another reason is the teachers’ way of teaching the classroom their knowledge. A good example is Mr. Rendine and how he uses the PowerPoint and his comparison with movies, books, and life. A bad example is just taking boring notes and listens to a monotone voice speaking. I think the best school ideal for learning would be playing games all the time. I mean when a teacher plays an educational game for the students, all the kids participate and they get some knowledge out of it. If the teachers do that every day, then they would be in control. The situation that would motivate me to learn is something I’m interested in and then form it into an educational way like playing a mini baseball game in class with asking me questions and if the questions are right, then we “play ball”! Also, finding a game on the internet and doing the same thing. The education that would motivate me to learn would have to be like a modern teenager life education like reading a book about a teenager my age or make us do skits and acts in class that would encourage me to do. I would then take English, world civ, and Spanish. I’d then leave out math and chemistry. My class would be taught with the things they only like to do. If I teach them the wrong way or something they don’t like then they won’t listen. I would teach them with a game each day and just give them basic homework.
Well my ideal high school would motivate me is that classes would be more fun and less tense in class as in teachers would crack more jokes/do fun assignments which I mean most classes do but the classes that don’t have to lighten up and just enjoy having fun teaching. Having classes that are fun to go to longer like History/English because in those classes the teacher actually make you open your minds and think about which makes things more interesting. Classes that I would leave out is Chemistry like its ok but not fun besides the lab and I would take out Geometry because its boring and pointless maybe its because of the teacher but I find Geometry. Most classes jump from unit to the other, which gets students confusing and stuff I just think they should stick to one subject till they hit the main part of the subject. Overall I think school should just have more interesting teachers to teach that would most likely motivate my peers and me.
ReplyDeletefrom: steve pham
Some things that I hate about school are waking up early to be ready for the bus, the homework that teachers give out, getting yelled at in class, being called on when you are not ready, and there is not enough time to hangout with friends between periods . Some things that make it difficult for me to learn in school would be the people around me talking, or even just how the teacher approaches the topic. An ideal high school would be arriving to school around 10 and classes would begin at 10:15 sharp, you would be allowed to choose the teacher you want and make your whole schedule up yourself but you have to fit everything into it. If I was able to choose the subjects I could take first I would go with math just to get it out of the way then English, cooking, gym, LUNCH, chemistry, and finish the day with free time and driving. I would not leave any subjects out but I might take an easier class in them. Some of my classes would be tough regularly other outside or experimenting what we are actually doing. This school would be awesome.
ReplyDelete-lisa m
some complaints i have for the school system are learning environment,and literature studies. kids need a good learning environment not some big building that keeps you cooped up in one room for 50 mins every period. there should be a period called nature studies where the whole class goes outside and has an outdoor lesson. this would give fresh air and more room to relax and comfortably learn. also what literature is studied. kids should be given more book report type assignments where they can pick what they want to read and tell the class about it so they know if its interesting or not. the ideal school situation for me would be an 8 period day like it is now with a lunch gym and outdoor period with 4 major subject periods and an elective period. also smaller class sizes with 10 to 12 people so there is better motivation to get help from a teacher knowing you wont have to wait for them to get to talk with you.
ReplyDelete-gerry
The things that i don not like about school are the times that we have to arrive and the time that we leave at. I mostly don't like being in school for 7 hours a day from 7:40 to 2:35. The waking up early is the most annoying part of school for me and staying for almost 7 hours a day. I also don't like how we have to take classes like chemistry if we don't want to have a career in science or chemistry studies. An elective or class that i would like to add to school would have to be a driving school and an advanced driving school. The driving school would be just regular driving for people who do not yet have any behind the wheel experience. The advanced driving school would be like drag racing with high performance vehicles and high speed racing and also drifting. In order to be able to be in the advanced driving school you would have to pass the regular driving school (unless you have your liscence already) and you will have to have a driving instructor riding shotgun with all the time or you will be kicked out. I would like to have lunch, the major classes, and the advanced driving school elective for my everyday schedule.
ReplyDeleteNick Snodgrass
NADIRAH,I think the perfect ideal school would be a school that students can read and write whatever they want. I think we shouldn’t have to pay for lunch and I think every Friday we shouldn’t have any school and once a month we should be able to go to fun places of our choice. Also that we shouldn’t have homework, we should get paid for our hard work. Maybe if we get paid some kids will work harder at there school task. Since we do complete a lot of hours at the end of the week, Also that college and university should be free if you complete the requirements to get into the school. We shouldn’t have school so early in the morning and we shouldn’t get detention if we are late for school. We should have more of a fun gym period and not have to take swimming if we don’t want to. I think we should be able to listen to music on our iPods as long as we do our work and also talk on our cell phones.
ReplyDeleteWell first off Id like to say that some teachers really just can’t teach for there life. They just continue to talk and talk thinking they know exactly what there doing and that there actually teaching us but in reality there not at all. Its basically seems as though they got there degree and then said “hey I’ll be a teacher” I’m offended because then it just wastes my time. In my eyes a simple school would be decide what you what and what you want to do with your life then go into school and take the classes necessary. Afterwards go to the college of your choice for you specific job. As long as I would be able to go to school and pick the classes that I need for the life I choose I would have to problem going. In school we should have more of a say on what we want then what people think we need.
ReplyDeleteAtiyyah S
♪Ashley Melvin♪
ReplyDelete…..I think that the school should have fun teachers that keep you laughing and not sleeping, period. Teacher like that teacher you more, I have an explain to prove this too.
We shouldn’t have to take subjects that aren’t very important, if we know what we want to do in life. If someone is inspiring to become an Actor or something like that, we don’t really need to know how to cut open a frog, but if someone is inspiring to become a doctor or a neurosurgeon, or something then they’d need that.
Teacher need to be upbeat and not be like “okay, take out you *yawn* notes and then we’ll do some worksheets…..*yawn* I’m going to sleep, now so do your worksheets *yawn* *falls into sleeping coma*” Some people learn better, if the class is fun, not so boring a person hyped up on caffeine could fall into a sleeping coma just by listening for a second. Teacher like that need to stray away from the notes, worksheets and whatever other things, and just have fun! Maybe the teacher could give a group project, relate the notes/worksheets to something interesting or get off topic for a few minutes and talk about something funny or interesting. Yeah, teacher should be fun and my Explain is that, Last year I had a teacher for Algebra and he was so boring most people failed his class, and in the middle of the year we got a student teacher, and for a little well most of us in the class actually passed, but after she left and the original teacher took over again the grades went down again….-__-
There is some complaints that I want to share. The time range is outrageous! Coming to class at 7:40 is unhealthy for the human body. Even if you obtain sleep waking up very early may not be right. Changing the time and still obtaining time is good. Another is why do we learn things that obviously don’t need to. We should focus more things that we want to do in our lives. Yes a language is good to know but if you are architect then why learn that language?
ReplyDeleteTory Kain
Some things I hate about school and waking up so early, but I would rather go in early and get out early then go in late and get out late. Also how strict school is about cell phones, ipods anything like that. I understand more about the cell phones, but I think we should be allowed to use our ipods through the halls and in study halls and at lunch. I think we should be able to use cell phones during lunch and study hall also. My ideal school starting in 10th grade, because you should take everything we do now until then, would be to only have about four major subjects, they would be English, math, world civilizations, and chemistry I guess but it should be optional. Classes would be taught how they are now but we should be able to do more partner work and only have maximum one test a marking period and three quizzes. Also you could pick to take extra classes like your language shouldn’t me mandatory and you have to take gym but if you don’t pass you don’t have to go to summer school. And all other extra classes like cooking, law, art, etc are optional. And you can leave after you are done your classes so your not there the whole day with study halls filling up your schedule.
ReplyDeleteJessica