What High School Is In his article “What High School Is” Theodore R. Sizer describes the day of a student, Mark and how his average high school day plays out. Sizer feels that this accurately describes how most high schoolers spend their days. He states that “the basic organizing strictures in schools are familiar.” He describes Mark's school day and what classes he attends in which order. Sizer tells us what activities take place between students during class and during class transitions, and the activities being school and non-school related. The reader learns about what challenges Mark has to face during his high school days and what he thinks during his day. Sizer describes Mark’s school day as an average student. Attending his classes
as if they were on a conveyor belt. He mentions the school schedule and the clock and how it is “king”. The clock determines whether a student is early or late and how long an individual has to do something. Teachers try to cram as much as they can in these high schoolers heads within the time limit they are given. The students don’t have much time to rest between classes and must always obey the clock. Sizer tells the reader about the different activities that Mark and his fellow classmates have to face during their class time or any other special events that take place during a school day. Class goes as usual, listen and complete assignments given and continue on with the day. Mark along with his classmates often have a difficult time with specific problems on the board and other school work. That's what goes on in the classroom though. Outside or between class he notices behavior from other students that seems odd and he knows that it is not approvable but he ignores it. There are always those kids that an individual tries to avoid and then there are the best of buds that they waste their lunch period with. The reader learns Mark is a typical high school student. High school is a place where a kid is either just another face or special, therefore many students aren’t known as a whole person. The class attendance of a high school is typically higher in low-income areas. This usually means that students aren’t reached out to enough and don’t receive the attention they need unless they are a more privileged student. This can often cause student to struggle with their classes while they are already struggling with learning how to fit in.
"Long, Long After School" by Ernest Buckler reveals that certain individuals may struggle more to fit into society than others. This is shown by the author when the protagonist recalls his memory of Ms. Tretheway, their third grade teacher. When Wes Holman realizes that Ms. Tretheway is beautiful after he "went down in the basement and drove [his] fist through a window" (Buckler, 114) Ms. Tretheway was willing to give Wes "a whole quart" of blood this led him to believe that Ms. Tretheway is an amazing person and thus he became interested in her. Prior Wes damaging his hand, the other students avoided him since they did not want to dance with him despite being "voted the best all-round student in High School" (Buckler, 15). His interest in Ms. Tretheway alienates him from
Botstein begins his essay by listing examples to assert that the American high school is obsolete. He describes high school as if to someone who knows nothing about it, so as to better expose the failings of the institution. Current or former high-schoolers remember the team sport culture, but might not realize its harm without Botstein’s detached and somewhat analytical description.
“Fremont High School” an essay written by Jonathan Kozol presents a high school in need of transformation and support with educational advancement. Kozol writes about the limited educational opportunities available to the students that attend this lower class institution. Kozol addresses the overcrowding of this institution and lack of consistent staffing. The purpose of Kozol 's essay is to illustrate that lack of opportunity based on social class is an active crisis in the United States educational system, whereas addressing this crisis in the essay, Kozol would hope to achieve equal opportunities available to all socioeconomic class institutions.
David Denby thoroughly explains the distinction between the reality of high school life to what is portrayed in movies in the article, “High-School Confidential: Notes on Teen Movies.” He argues that many of these movies are extremely predictable and all have the same story line. Denby gives numerous examples of the cliché teen movie, which entails the skinny, blonde popular girl and her jock boyfriend who, let’s face it, has his shining moments in life, in high school. Denby’s main objective throughout this article is to distinguish whether these films reflect reality, or just what we imagine to be reality. He also touches on the other side of the social spectrum which usually consists of a quiet, female outsider who is known to be smart and
The purpose of Rebecca Solnit’s “Abolish High School” is to criticize the present high school system along with the emotional and academic strain it puts on developing minds. Solnit’s intended audience is any educated person with the opportunity to voice their opinions on the current approach to schooling.
The trivialization of high school in the present educational organization for teens has been posited in the public; however, it is one vital issue that is being debated.
From the beginning of high school, students strap on their seatbelts and prepare for one of the most vigorous races of their lives – becoming successful. With the rare occurrence of a break, kids are expected to keep on driving as fast and as powerfully as they can in order to get into a “great” college, which would be followed by graduate school and then an actual job that would make a lot of money. In American society, common values include working hard, determination, and being so productive that free time is not even a question. However, this philosophy is taking a major toll on American college and high school students. For at least 40 years, America’s future has been steadily growing unmotivated, tired, and hopeless due to the overemphasis on performing well in school. This phenomenon is appropriately expounded in William Zinsser’s “College Pressures”, which takes a look at the top four sources of tension that cause these feelings of dejection and agitation. After reading this article, I came up with a few solutions to this national problem. It is time to switch the harsh, over-encouraging green light of education to a comfortable yellow one. In order to make this ideal transition, directors of education across the country need to primarily reduce the amount of out-of-class assignments, lighten the grading system, and incorporate days in the school year that allow students to express their thoughts about school and provide useful feedback.
Throughout the length of schooling, students go through various changes. In their first year of school, children are required to make the transition from being at home for the entire day to being in school for a number of hours a day. These transition periods happen many times through the schooling years, but the most drastic changes occur during the transition from high school to college, where students weather numerous lifestyle changes. While each individual student goes on their own journey, certain themes remain common between different students. Studies are done to look at these themes identifying the numerous differences and similarities.
High school is one of those milestones in an individual’s life that will be remembered for a long time to come. Whether one’s experiences are positive and allow him to find his purpose in life or whether they are so terrible that his view of education is tainted forever, what happens in high school affects how one’s future will turn out. Leon Botstein, author of “Let Teenagers Try Adulthood,” states that the traditional high school system should be abolished because it is not benefitting teenagers. He states that cliques of popularity and athleticism and teachers who care more about money than education stand in the way of proper learning for teenagers. Botstein further argues that school stifles students creativity and that they really do not want to be in school. His argument that the traditional high school setting should be abolished is somewhat justified on the fact that cliques make schooling experiences difficult; however, his statement that children’s creativity is stifled, they are bored in high school, and that they are ready to be adults at a young age is invalid.
In “Let Teen-Agres Try Adulthood” published in The New York Times on May 17,1999, author Leon Botstein explains how the American high school has become antediluvian as a result of the social groupings among the student body structured on physical appearance and athletic ability, in which he believes the institution should be repealed. To support his position, first, Botstein discusses that student’s often mistake these standards as an outlook on life in which they misconceive that the outside world doesn’t arbitrate their success in life based on social status. Next, he proposes that today's adolescent are developing significantly earlier than in previous years when the institution was established; stating that teenagers are now closer to
As the Bobcats waited to be introduced they knew how hostile the crowd was going to be. They were in Lafayette, the birthplace of Louisiana hockey, playing the home town Acadiana Wreckin' Rams. Acadiana High was introduced, and now it was their moment. The arena speakers boomed, the band, who had a decent trip in just a few school buses, played the fight song as the announcer said, "Ladies and gentleman, the Bienville High School Bobcats." The players on the second through fourth line skated onto the ice, until the announcer began to speak again. "Ladies and gentlemen, the starting lineup for Bienville High School!
It was a typical day at Strion Middle School, and Felipe Jones was getting pushed around as usual.
Over the course of the 21st century, there has been a steady decline in the rate of high school graduates. With such an important factor to the success of adolescents, school administrations have begun to take notice of such unacceptable findings. In this process they have attempted to understand the needs of our youth and the methods that give them the opportunity to become better readers, writers and overall students. To these young individuals, these years of development are pivotal to there success as adults. Educators must work together with the student to understand their individual forms of learning, not every student is the same and must be given the opportunity to learn no matter what the circumstance might be.
“Adam Forsett is the name, and working for a crappy high school is indeed my shame” He screamed inside of his car as the windows began to fog up. He left his car with a hurry to hide his lunch in the back of the tiny refrigerator,slamming his door shut. He straightened his tie and fixed the hair piece on top of his head. As Mr.forsett gazed up at the tiny rectangular school that pays him so much, that he lives in a motel eating cotton candy every single night.
I arrived at Sacred Heart Cathedral for my first day of high school. As my friend’s mom drove through the populous streets of San Francisco, I sat in the back seat of her car running through the pages of the planner I had received at orientation. As the thick, smooth pages ran through my fingers, I worried over finding my classes, being on time to my classes, and having time to out my books in my locker. I found the page dated August 24th, my first day of high school. I had all six classes that day, French, English, Honors Algebra, Physics, World History, and lastly Scripture.