Comments on: What is it with High School

By: Shelley

Shelley — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:18:28 +0000

What???

By: Shelley

Shelley — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:14:18 +0000

Spend some time with a HS principal and you will see you are on target. Most of their day is spent managing the building and issues. Would it be helpful if we had smaller learning communities for our students.

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:12:20 +0000

Going along with Louis, our school district is doing the same thing. They are taking all students that are in the 2004 cohort. They are tracking these students and really making an extra effort to get these students through. The only reason this list came about is because we are trying to get off the state list. Why does it take this long?? Students should be focused on from the beginning. I think that there are too much going on in schools that students often come last. All the other issues push forward and students get lost in the shuffle. All students need to come forward and be the main focus!!

By: Louis

Louis — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:14:05 +0000

I was at a meeting where they were talking about generating a list to identify kids that were failing certain “core” classes and developing a plan to concentrate on those particular kids and help them be able to be more effective in their classes to get them to to better.
I think that might be a way of identifying those that need more mentoring and relationship building with. Sort of the idea of encouraging these students to take “ownership” of their own progress.
However, their is always the problem of resources. Who exactly is going to “shadow” these kids? Who is going to follow up with them? And for how long?
I certainly don’t have the answers.

By: Julie D

Julie D — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:43:02 +0000

This may sound crazy, and I’d certainly be curious to see what students felt about this idea, but here goes… I had this idea for the education system. It obviously needs revamping, and a lot of the problems stem from home life issues, which could be addressed with more concentrated social action efforts on the part of the school and community. Anyway, that aside, I had an idea that we could have a variety of schools (like magnet schools) for students to choose from. Students would have to earn a certain amount of points to attend the school of their choice. The points system would be based on a variety of factors, such as grades, behavior, home involvement, after-school activity involvement, etc. This way, students who struggled academically or students with uninvolved parents would still be able to earn points. The choice would motivate students to do their best and would make them eager to be in a place they had chosen rather than a place they were forced to be. Schools would be tailored to the students who attended them. For example, students with higher points could attend a school with more privileges. Students with lesser points due to lack of motivation or poor behavior would have to attend a strict school with few privileges. They might be required to complete community service. This way, we’re putting the choice and the motivation back in the hands of students.

By: David D

David D — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:54:21 +0000

I think that even just a little student input would go a long way. Studies show that the “factory” model of schooling doesn’t work, so why stick with it. Now, more than ever, students need to see some relevance in what we are doing in school. Student input, along with teacher input, would help shape the way that learning needs to go.

By: Tim Sullivan

Tim Sullivan — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:56:49 +0000

Wow,
If someone could solve this dilemma things would be so much better for so many. While the issues that are hurting our educational system are complex many experts try to institute quick fixes that are going to save the day. There is no fail safe methodology that works for every student. There are students that come from disfunctional enviromants yet are successful while other students have substantial support and encouragement yet are not successful. I don’t think the answer is found by asking the students but I do think their input is necessary to help to find a solution.

By: Louis

Louis — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:52:28 +0000

To comment on “Kim’s” blog, the key I think is getting kids to get over “fads” and have some self control. If the student is unable on their own “self-police” the the effective of technology for education is minimized. Back in the day, microfiche was good technology, but you couldn’t “chat” with people. The social draw temptation with todays technology and the lack of self control is too much for many.

By: Kim L.

Kim L. — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 01:04:16 +0000

I feel that students will be engaged more in their learning if we start teaching to their new technologies of Ipods, text messaging languages, and video phones caputuring every idea. This is the way our students are learning in today’s world. teachers needed to change the way they think and get on board with the way today’s students are learning. Students need to be prepeared for today’s world markets.

By: Brian Miranda

Brian Miranda — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 01:00:30 +0000

I agree and disagree. I do feel that there needs to be some responsibility placed on the student. As much as we need to know what the students like and dislike; know and don’t know, they need to own up to the fact that THEY are responsible for their education. Students need to want to learn.