School needs some changes for students
Written by Jacob Sanchez // October 7, 2011 // Editorials // No comments
Drawn by Vincent Parras
The definition of school is an institution to educate children, and as we grow older we become students eventually reaching high school. Now at the high school level we receive various benefits for being there, but not everything that the school does for students is actually benefiting them.
One of the biggest omissions that the school is not using for the benefit of the student is the school’s wireless network. The WiFi just sits there not being used by anybody. Even in the district’s 2008-2011 tech plan it states that students are suppose to use the network. To many this is clearly a waste of money that would easily be fixed by letting students use the WiFi.
Now probably the biggest change that has occurred this new school year is with classroom doors being open at all times. They are to suppose to be open due to the school’s “unacceptable” rating from TEA, but with the door open it causes more problems than solutions. With the doors open anybody— students and staff— could walk into the room and possibly disrupt those in the class. Also many students may just stare outside the door to see what’s happening in the hallways. Doors open will not solve anything, it could instead cause grades and test scores to be lower.
Another change this year has been student use of iPods in some classes. In some departments, use of iPods has been banned in every single class, but this will not help increase test scores. In fact, students should listen to their iPods because according to a study, it has been proven that students concentrate better while listening to music. While listening to an iPod, students would be able to block any distraction in class, and focus on their work.
As juniors and seniors, students are allowed to take college concurrent classes through Midland College, while most of these classes are at the high school there is an exception— government and economics. These two classes are for seniors, but to take the college class, students must find a way to the Williams Regional Technical Training Center during seventh period. This needs to change. Those classes should be last period because some students have to come back, finish up the day, but many do not have the will to actually work.
School is supposed to benefit students so that they head into the “real world” ready to live life.
