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Change in America and in the school district

December 22, 2008

By Sam Pinsky

Hall MonitorSam Pinsky Liberty High SchoolHall MonitorSam Pinsky Liberty High School  

On Nov. 4, this country witnessed the election of the first black president in our nation, more than 40 years after the Civil Rights movement. As Barack Obama took the stage in Chicago’s Hyde Park, he said, “Change has come to America.” So, if America is ready for change, how about the Issaquah School District?

The district is a lumbering dinosaur that should be displayed somewhere in a museum. Sure, we get new computers every few years, but there are major changes that need to be implemented to make this district shine like it used to, when it was the reason for couples with children to move to Issaquah.  

First, high school bell times are too early. A recent survey by an Advanced Placement psychology class found that more than three-fourths of students were most likely to be at their peak learning performance sometime around 2 p.m. So, why then are bell times and AP classes held at 7:30 a.m.? If district officials really want to give students an optimal learning environment, they would move normal bell times to about 9:30 a.m. 

Second, what’s with the Internet filter? I can understand blocking social networking sites and pornography, but sites like Youtube, which are learning tools, should be available at least for teachers, if not all students. Numerous times in my classes, a teacher or student has been doing a presentation and has not been able to present a visual aide, such as a Ken Burns clip or footage of the March on Birmingham, because Youtube is blocked.

The district used to be the jewel of the state school system. Today, one cannot even start a pro-contraception club without filling out forms in triplicate and getting district approval. There are a variety of other changes that should be applied as well, such as healthier lunches and numerous eco-friendly programs, like composting, that there just isn’t space to go into here. Let’s step out of the Stone Age.

Written by Sam Pinsky · Filed Under Schools, Schools Features 

Comments

2 Responses to “Change in America and in the school district”

  1. Steve McGee on May 26th, 2009 10:33 pm

    This a great reitteration of many people’s view. I really profited from reading it

  2. Steve McGee on May 26th, 2009 10:43 pm

    oh excuse me
    other people’s views

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