Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Other Blogs
Here are a few blogs from my fellow classmates that I found interesting! They did a fantastic job, so go ahead and take a peek!
Norton High School Gets a Makeover
The small, suburban town of Norton, Massachusetts is in the midst of a massive addition and renovation of its high school, a building that has openhandedly and impeccably harbored the knowledge and talents of thousands of students.
The building project, which commenced in the spring of 2012, is a highly debated topic amongst nearly all Norton citizens. Olivia Karcis, an opinionated senior and upcoming graduate at Norton High School, is one of many that could not be more excited for the new addition to come
“I think it is an extremely beneficial project for both the school and our town, but I must say that I am disappointed I will not be here to utilize it,” says Karcis when asked what she thinks about the project as a whole. Karcis went on to say that “Even though the construction is a real pain, and it is noisy and smelly and there is dust everywhere, I know that the school will be absolutely beautiful by the time everything is finished.”
When asked what part of the addition she is most eager to see, Karcis immediately responded to the idea of the new science classrooms. “I am very excited for the new science wing. I am taking lots of AP science classes this year, and I know fur sure that I would definitely have benefitted from those new rooms.”
With the addition project scheduled for a completion date in late winter or early spring of 2013, it is unlikely that the current senior class will be able to fully appreciate the new facilities, which includes five new, state-of-the-art classrooms and a new school. The renovation portion of the project is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2013, just a few months after the seniors have departed for their post-high school plans.
However, it is certain that this new addition to not only Norton High School but also to the local community will provide an entirely new learning experience for future students to appreciate and preserve. As Karcis says, “our town will definitely be changed for the better.”
Norton High School New Exterior
Norton High School New Lobby
Norton High School New Entryway
American Education Evolution
The United States of America: the seemingly idyllic nation of absolute excellence, the nation citizens adore and immigrants flock too. Thriving with immeasurable imports and exports and capitalized by the almighty American dream, the red, white, and blue stars and strips of the USA seem ideal in nearly every attribute. However, alongside a massive national debt and a collapsing economy, not everything in Uncle Sam’s homeland is truly as well-off as it may seem. Perhaps, of all the country’s difficulties and troubles and hardships, the greatest may be its education. The American youth are constantly being submitted to an ever-changing education system in which they are subjected to mold to a learning style that may not necessarily be most suitable for them. Public education changes from day to day and it is evident that the drastic modifications instituted upon public school system have a significant impact on both the local and national stage.
Melissa Siegal, an AP US History teacher at Norton High School, says that “Public schools have conformed far too much to standardized testing. Teachers are, in a way, almost forced to teach material that may not necessarily be beneficial to the students. Because of the class I teach, my curriculum revolves solely around that AP test at the end of the year, and I don’t think that’s really helping anyone.” One of Siegal’s students, senior and student council president Anthony Kennedy, expressed similar views saying that “Although its always good for our education system to grow and evolve, I think we’ve comply with the national standards and international competition too much. We are constantly forced to have good grades because we are told how intense the competition is out there.”
One thing is for certain: the United States will never stop changing its education system for what it believes is in the best interest of its hundreds of millions of students. However, the only doubt lies in what truly is best for these students, and unfortunately, it is not for those teaching the material or being taught the material to decide.
More information on the American education system can be found at the American Educational Research Association website.
NHS Students vs. School Uniforms
In both public and private schools, school dress code and uniform requirements have become highly debated topics as the years progress. Whether or not students should be required to wear school-issued clothing has become an issue for not only school principals, but school adminstration as a whole. Students are beginning to speak up about this topic, a topic they are extremely passionate about, and are unwilling to give in to the demands of their schools without contributing their own input.
Students at Norton High School, a public high school located in Norton, Massachusetts, are currently not required to wear a uniform of any kind. As long as students adhere to the school dress code - shoulder straps must be at least three-finger lengths wide, dresses and shorts must be down to your fingertips, no gang attire can be worn, etc. - the school staff and administration do not have a problem with what the students wear. When asked her view on the whether or not public school students should be required to wear a mandated school uniform, Olivia Karcis, an NHS senior, said "I do think it would be nice if public schools had uniforms. Although it is highly unlikely that such a drastic decision would be passed, I think it would really give the school a clean, unified look."
Unfortunately for Olivia, her view does not represent Norton High School - or most public high schools, for the matter - as a whole. Max Marcotte, a junior at NHS, expressed an opinion extremely different to that of Olivia's: "School uniforms are only for private schools. We shouldn't have to wear that crap!" While it is clear that the student body is equally divided on the matter, the school's faculty seem vaguely indifferent to the uniform debate. When asked his opinion on what students should and should not wear, junior varsity coach and math teacher Eric Grasso stated "I think it would be nice if students all wore the same thing, but I also think they should have the freedom to decide on what they choose to wear. Really, I don't know to think. I think it all comes down to what the administation and student body can agree upon."
Although it remains unclear whether the students of Norton High School will wear uniforms in the near (or distant) future, one thing is for sure: not everyone is agreement about sporting a purple and white polo shirt everyday and a pair of pleated khakis to match.
A group of NHS students and an example of everyday dress-code
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