Simple Strategies to Help High School Learning

Blog #8
Suzanne C.
Pages 266-321
Creative Connector

On pages 275-276, Gurian spoke of what needed "to be the rule" in a high school classroom to achieve successful discipline.  On his list, he included mandatory service programs.  This made me think of my own experiences with service programs both as a participant and as a recipient.  In 8th Grade we had ministry days once a month, where we would go to local organizations and volunteer.  Sometimes I didn't see why folding clothes that had been donated taught me anything, but overall I think that the experience helped me to develop character by seeing how I could help other people in the world. I attended the same school for high school and service was not required.  I know that now many schools, at least Catholic schools require their students to complete so many hours of service each year.  While I can see the benefit of this, I feel that it needs to be organized.  When you let students have a day off from school to complete the hours, some students just show up to log their hours and do nothing.  Therefore, I believe it is important for leaders of such programs to make sure that opportunities to help are provided to each student and that expectations are clearly expressed.

On page 282, Gurian shares the comments of Andrea a 12th grader at a Catholic school who did not like the dress code.  She said, High school should prepare you for college.  Wearing uniforms doesn't prepare you for college."
I understood and agreed with her comment, but also considered how having to wear a uniform for my whole school career prepared me for the future.  In some ways, it didn't.  By having to wear the same thing all the time, I saw that as acceptable professional clothing and didn't know what necessarily to chose for myself after that.  In school, we had to wear a blouse and a skirt which is not necessarily the most acceptable thing to wear in college or the work world.  However, I believe having a dress code or uniform does prepare you for a dress code that you may face in the work world.  By having a dress code in school, students can learn that there are ways to and not to dress in public.  In response to the feeling that uniforms take away individuality, I agree, but I also disagree. While we had to wear a white shirt and blue pants or skirts we didn't all look the same.  Even with uniforms you had the girls with the cool jewelry and shoes.  So individuality and problems with students being mocked for their dress and wanting to look cool can still exist even with a dress code or uniform policy.

On pages 285-286, Gurain describes the rotating block schedule implemented at Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, Clifornia.    He says, "Its students have a rotating block schedule, which allows them to have the same class at a different time on a different day during the week.  For those students whose natural rhythm is different from what a standard seven-or eight period schedule takes into account, the rotating blocks give a chance to perform at times when their biology is in synch with their educational performance demands."

I followed a block schedule in both junior high and high school.  While it could be initially confusing, I think in the long run it was helpful to me educationally.  While I only remember enjoying days when I might have my history test last and therefore had time to study during study hall, after reading Gurian I can see how the schedule benefited me educationally.  It made me a more well-rounded student because by having classes rotate so I could experience all of them at the best times for me biologically I was able to absorb more in some subjects than I would have otherwise.