Contemporary issues is an elective course under the social studies wing that has been an extremely popular class for the past several years. According to senior, Alex Edelman, the class is so popular due to the freedom it allows students ranging from discussion of controversial topics to creative writing expressing their thoughts and feelings. Over four years ago, the class was taught by Brian Adam, who said, “The class was pretty popular way back then even.”

After BA, former Central teacher Cameron Poole took over the class where it grew even more popular.

Senior Chayse Williams had high praise for the style in which Poole conducted the class, “He facilitated everything well, allowed for discussion, and stood predominantly neutral on things.”

Poole left Central after the 2017-2018 year to become an assistant principal at Rockwood Summit High School.

This semester, new teacher at Central, Paige Stewart, took the reins of the wildly popular course. Stewart has never taught this course before but claimed her experience teaching AP government is very helpful.

Even with this background Stewart finds the class and conversation challenging to conduct at times, “Most of what we see in the media, which is where we’re getting our news, is so polarizing. And so what I think is a challenge is teaching students to be empathetic and seek to understand issues instead of just spewing rhetoric that is maybe out in the media” said Stewart.

The class is very centered around the media and current events so the facts are not always clear to students. But there are times when the discussion can be really insightful and productive.

“I think that there are sometimes I am presently surprised by the amount of understanding and rationality that students have,” said Stewart.

There are some differences between how Poole conducted the class last year and how Stewart has been running the course this year.

According to senior Jayden Littlejohn, the class this year has more work involved aimed at understanding the facts, not just discussing the topics. It should be noted that veteran social studies teacher BA will be teaching the class next semester. He has expressed a liking for the style Stewart has been teaching the class.

“I like the way she is teaching the class so far, should make it easier for me to pick up where she left off,” BA said.

In the meantime, Stewart will continue as the head of this popular class, helping students by exposing them to new ideas to develop a deeper understanding of our current society.