Scissors & Hershey

Main Point of Sizer Article
Its basically meant to be a shortened autobiography of Sizer. It list accomplishments, jobs, and some backgroud. To me this Coalition of Essential schools is extremely valuable. My favorite line is when the article says "Schools, he argued, should abandon the one-size fits all education". I think this is so true. Not all kids learn the same way and why should they have to. While some are better readers others are better at math. While some are avid thinkers others are more hands on. No child should have to struggle with their education because they don't understand the way the teacher is explaining things. Sizer's dream was correct. Instead of standardized testing schools should offer other requirements (like Exhibitions).

Main Idea of Hirsch article
Its basically another shortened autobiography. To me his point about being able to better comprehend a text if you know the background information makes sense. It just makes it easier to relate to. I am however a little confused when he says that all students should learn the same exact things. How are we to make sure this happens? All kids work differently so this method cannot work that great. Although it is good to know a little background about everything in general just so you know. When I was younger though I remember having choices in what I wanted to further study. I learned the basic skills of whatever was necessary for me to learn and then studied what I wanted. I enjoy this freedom and with Hirsch's method I don't think I would have it.

In my own experience I find Sizer's point of view and beliefs to have been more helpful to me. Even though SOF is not at the top of the Coalition of Essential Schools I have learned to use my mind better than before, figured out that I can do things by myself if I really apply myself, and thanks to Andy's class I've learned to think about important aspects of my life. Though Sizer's beliefs may have flaws I think this again goes back to how everyone is different and how some people would be able to understand things more in SOF versus a Hirsch type of school. I think some teachers are inspired by Hirsch's point of view of teaching. That is why we learn the basics of every class first and then we go onto develop skills that are harder to understand.

School Is A Mission

I read the article about the benefits of social and intellectual awakening in schools and I really liked it. To me this is what schools should be about. Teachers should be trying to bring out the passion to learn in us not cramming our minds with the nonsense of having to respect them which is why we should listen. I think that if you see that a teacher is passionate about his or her subject it gives you more motivation to learn and respect the topic. Take for example physics with Mr. Z. Science has always been my worst class. I couldn't seem to understand the mere concepts and basic skills. Physics however I my best class. Not only do I complete understand everything but I can also help my peers when they don't understand it which is something I could never do before. I think this is because Mr. Z's teaching technique is thorough and he shows a passion for what he does. It's like he genuinely cares that vf = vi + at. This relates to the article because Ms. Kenny thinks that to make good teachers better you have to give them the "freedom to let their passion flourish". I think that this is why Mr. Z is like this (and the fact that Ms. Cartilidge was his mentor).

I think all in all these schools sound really good. The part about them not fighting because it's not allowed is a little extreme because fighting is not allowed in any school. But overall if they are improving that good in reading and the eighth graders math and science test really recieved 100% proficiency then what's bad about the school? It's doing what schools are suppose to be about. Teaching students the basic tools and necessities in life.

The article about liberal arts education I think really does define what liberal arts schools do. They are for people who don't like the pressure or discipline of structured schools. For someone who has gone through both a structured education and a liberal arts education I think it's what's best for you and what fits for you. Liberal arts schools such as SOF have positives and negatives. Some positives being we learn to be leaders rather than to blend in with your other peers, we are shown that it is our responsibility to accomplish tasks, and I think we are given a greater understanding of the world because we recieve different points of views from all our teachers on how things are done. Some negatives are that if you slack you fall behind quickly and there's not much help to get back on track, work is your responsibility and no one elses to remind you, and if you need structure there really isn't much of it. Structured schools (I call them this because I don't know the correct term for them) have both positives and negatives as well. Positives being they re usually bigger which makes it easier for some students to find their place, they provide discipline to those who need it, they offer specific classes for specific career choices. The negatives are (in my opinion) you are taught to blend in rather than stand out, they teach from textbooks (it's like their Bible), and students are usually very dependent on the teachers to give them the answers.

So again it depends on what you like and prefer. To me the liberal arts education works becasue although sometimes I do need more discipline with my studies I love the way we are taught in SOF. The fact that you can make your own decisions in most classes what you would like to study further and what makes the most sense to you. I agree with this article on what liberal arts education offers and how this helps students with their future. As for the person who commented on the article about their own experience at Dickinson (I read some of their comment). A liberal arts education is not for everyone and if he didn't like it then he should have left when he realized not stayed until the end. I feel you have to use liberal arts education in our own way to recieve the benefit. Internships are a perfect way to do this.

Hw 42-Significance

My question is What are the differences and similarities in between Osceola High School in Florida and SOF in NYC? How do these differences or similarities make the school better or worse? Or something like that.

This matters to me because I lived in Florida for a long time. I was suppose to be attending Osceola High School starting my ninth grade year. The reason I did not attend was because we moved to NEw York. I searched through many different schools when I got here and then I found SOF. I had always imagined myself in a big school so when I read how small it was, I wasn't sure but when I visited I just felt it was right for me.

Every since I was little I've seen all the typical high school movies with the cheerleaders and the football players and I always wondered where I would fit in because to me this is the school that I was going to attend. SOF is not like that however. There's not football team or cheerleading squad and I never realized how much I would have liked all this until I went to Osceola over February break to visit my best friend.

Their school has so many programs and activities to join. It's a huge campus with fields and a real gym and cafeteria. It was just what I always imagined school would be like.