Core subjects like science and English, paired with courses in language, music and business can be a lot for students to learn. There is high concern on how to spend class time to make sure every moment is as productive and informative as possible.
No matter how class time is being used, it seems that there’s a lack of emphasis when it comes to developing in ways other than intellectually. There are many other things that should be deemed of the utmost importance.
While last month’s “Every Fifteen Minutes” demonstration in front of the school was widely attended, it wasn’t supported by the school as widely as it could have been. Some high schools require a mandatory viewing and publicize the event heavily. Concerns for using academic lab time strictly for academic purposes was such a high concern that many students who could have benefited from attending missed out on that learning opportunity (see story, page 4).
A demonstration like this can be just as informational as any class instruction and offers an important lesson that every teenager should be taught. Instead of lectures focused on the goal of graduation and next year’s courses, spending time learning about how to be a better person could serve a more beneficial role.
Character education, as it is called at the Project Parkway meetings, is a growing concern for this district. High school isn’t just a place to grow intellectually but as a human as well. On its website, Project Parkway claims that its character education goal is to “assess where each school is on their character education journey and support them in moving forward to achieve their goals in this area,” attempting to make this standard for every school.
This mindset is one that will improve students’ well-being more than any course ever could. Success takes more than just analytical smarts; it also takes interpersonal skills and decision-making based on core values.
The Josephson Institute boasts the biggest character education program in the nation, believing that because good character does not happen automatically; it is essential that it is purposefully taught. Its programs focus on trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship — all things that they think will affect a student’s effectiveness and well-being.
Overall, school should emphasize more than just striving for academic success. Preparing to be an adult means learning more than just vocabulary words and formulas, and the direction in which Parkway is starting to go is a great first step to make our students the best they can possibly be.
The next step is to get the high school community on board.