Summary Of Rethinking High School

The idea that the American education system requires its students to attend school for a full 13 years is absurd. The average student does not need 13 years of high school to be prepared for graduation and college, and those who do require that much attention most likely would not succeed in college anyways. In the typical high school, students and teachers waste more time focusing on sports and social issues rather than actual schooling. When one truly realizes how many days are wasted at sporting events or on silly pep rallies and activities, then it becomes clear why it’s a waste to attend school for such a large amount of time.

We have to provide multiple opportunities for students to grow and learn. We need to be a culturally diverse school district that accepts everyone and encourages a pluralistic culture. We need to work together with our

In order to grow and prosper in society, one must gain knowledge from a variety of subjects and apply the information in real life situations. High school is one source of education where adolescents are able to gain knowledge by attending classes. However, the school system has numerous flaws and fails to cultivate successful students who are driven to continue their education. Based on the texts in Conversation: Focus on the American High School and my own insight, two serious issues present in American high schools include the failure to reform the curriculum by integrating liberal arts and promoting artificial values in individuals which restricts growth.

It also showed us that value in education comes in different forms. For example, students like DeAndre valued education but didn’t think the education he was receiving was the best approach for him. It may appear the DeAndre was uninterested in learning but in reality he was interested in learning things that could help and resonated with his cultural history. I was enlightened by the way this article helped to highlight different types of students in a positive light. I resonate with this article because I went to a high school where students were labeled as noncompliant or “acting white”. I fell that more educators should read this article to get a well-rounded view of all their students especially those in the minority community. Furthermore, after reading this article I began to brainstorm alternatives to making school more appealing to all categories of students. According to the Boston Globe a new idea called community schools are entering discussions about better school models. The Boston Globe defines community schools as “both a place and a set of partnerships between the school and other community resources. Its integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and community engagement leads to improved student learning, stronger families, and healthier communities”. This idea sounds great to me because not only does it address the needs of the student

We will house kids who are products of all facets of society. For example, children of immigrants, children who have affluence, children who are loved and cared for greatly and children who may be in a situation of neglect. Teaching is about reaching out to each student, helping them to overcome challenges and be the best that they can be. It seems that an increasing number of these challenges may not be academic in nature. I believe that conquering these challenges actually beings with the little community forming within our classrooms. As teachers we have the obligation to teach our students how to have respect and compassion for one another. How to be on the same team and work together, no matter each person’s background.

Busch Middle School of Character had a wonderful sense of community, each student, instructor, and family, made sure they were doing their part. I believe it’s important for educators to understand the needs of the families and community of their students because the more resources the better. When schools actively involve parents

Growing up in the inner city of Los Angeles taught me many things; make sure you’re inside before the street lights come on, never wear all red or blue, and make sure you get a good education so that one day you can leave the inner city behind. I was fortunate enough to have both a mother and a father who stressed the importance of excelling academically because attending an inner city, LA county, public school did not instill a love of academics in myself or my peers. Our teachers had checked out, the curriculum was not inspiring or relatable, and everyday there was yet another fight happening during recess. As time went on I witnessed my classmates and I take completely different paths. The strong support system I had at home proved effective. As I went on to go to college, many of my peers dropped out, the dismal state of our public school system had clearly failed them. During my undergraduate studies, the stories of my old classmates did not leave my mind.

The two articles that I chose both went hand in hand with the struggle of learning and teaching literature. I chose the article “One High School English Teacher” because it complements my first article, “Death to High School English”. In this essay, I will summarize and interpret the first article to show the deeper meaning of it. Then I will research my second article and show the author 's credibility to help prove my argument, and finally I will tie together all my main points of my essay.

As a leader in urban education, working in under-served communities, I found that KIPP strategies worked! A highly functional learning community is an energizing place for teachers. I share KIPP’s belief that all students can and will learn, and with continued supportive guidance will succeed in life. In my current program, success and growth are the expectation with 100% of 5th graders receiving academic awards annually, and K-2 students growing five levels on the Fountas & Pinnell system during camp. These achievements are the shared results of teacher commitment and student grit.

Question 1: What key activities have you been involved in at school, in the GEAR UP program, and/or in your community? Also, describe your most significant scholastic achievement or other honor/awards to date.

When I initially began High School I thought internally, this is it, this is the point at which my life changes, this is where school work gets harder, classes get harder, the sports become more advanced, and my evaluations in High School are going to reflect my employment, and universities later on, and everything in my life has finally become a hectic roller coaster. But I know that High School is like a stream because along the way you'll find some trash, go over some harsh spots, discover a whirlpool or two, stagnate for a bit, lastly get to the end of the adventure and acknowledge you have had an awesome ride. I know this without a doubt in light of the reality that back in middle school/ junior high I got awful grades I kept saying to myself every time, that I have to stay focused and get my grades up because my grades in my previous years would follow me through high school. In middle school it was hard for me to remain centered and complete my work, and get decent grades. I had to keep my mind like a sponge and absorb all the details I could in every class.

High schools implement reforms that build student character, skills and commitment to the community. Berman, S. wants to know how to engage students to become more effective citizens. He believes that building a strong academic program for the students is important but the teachers also need to create a school that is open and welcoming.

"Then comes baby in a baby carriage" was all Rafael could think about when he sees Sonny push a carriage with various bags attached to it into his apartment. What on earth was he involuntarily being roped into? Babysitting and on the one day he wasn't busy with multiple cases or tutoring his boyfriend.

If there is no hope to enhance their education there is the hope that it can give the students a support system, they were lacking and decrease the chances of students forming unhealthy habits and behaviors. If the system doesn’t work in the academic sense it can still work in the behavioral aspect. Using MTSS can diminish and replace problematic behaviors, thus creating more time on task and teacher involvement to help the whole student body learn. Education continues to work on “Closing the achievement gap using multi-tiered academic supports requires best practices for universal screening and diagnostic assessment to understand youth academic needs (Benner, Kutash and Nelson)”. The key word in that sentence is focusing on student’s needs. Thus, creating more teachers who work to emphasize and understand the lives of their students and creating the “Down Teacher” that Dance describes and implores teachers to strive to be to meet the needs of their students. This is the best system that has been created yet to work with students. Placing this pedagogy in the hands of teachers and psychologists who work in urban education could change urban education for the better. Focusing on the students’ needs is at the fore front of a student-centered approach. To accommodate and adapt has and will always be a student-centered approach. Teachers who do not adapt and ignore the needs of student to teach required material fall under the teacher centered approach which doesn’t

The fall of 2005, marked the first I was assaulted by student. Classes were passing and I was in the hallway moving students along. I informed a student named Jimmy he need to go to class. Jimmy ignored me and continue to lean on wall talking to his friends. I informed Jimmy again he had to go class. Jimmy told me get out his face. Nonetheless, I persisted in Jimmy to go to class. Instead of going to class Jimmy walked up me and pushed me to the floor. Shocked and humiliated I pulled myself up from the floor and immediately contacted my union representative. Within hours Jimmy’s mom as the school. Throughout the meeting my principal excused Jimmy’s behavior and argued with me and my union representative. My principal and Jimmy’s mom