What have you liked about your experiences in school?

Student A

I like being among friends, friendly staff was very helpful. I've enjoyed my classes, and I like math.

Student B

I like the teachers, sixth grade camp, ROTC...dances are alright, I guess. THey give out awards, you get a golden pyramid or something like that if you get like a 3.0 GPA.

Student C

Electives

Student D

Has helped me with my goals for the future. My friends, my teachers like Mrs. Hills because she teaches us and I can understand what she's saying.

Student E

I like my teachers, I have good teachers this year. I also like my friends and having fun.

Teacher A

 

 

I liked high school sports, certain teachers, and some courses.

Teacher B

 

It keeps you young. You really stay on top of everything, and it keeps you aware and youthful. I had the opportunity to change subjects so the experiences stay fresh in my head. The students and each year is unpredictable. I like the range of students and classes

Teacher C

 

I loved being around other students.

Teacher D

 

Being totally involved in the academic and athletic clubs of school.

Teacher E

Yesterday, second year Frech did orals and they all volunteered to go first and they all got good grades.

Member A

I was able to walk to school, had a smaller school size and small class sizes.

Member B

I liked athletics, marine biology, coaches, water polo, swim team, surf club, and auto shop, because I still know that information.

Member C

Athletics, Spanish class, Marine biology, coaches, water polo and swim team, surf club and auto shop. I still know how to do that stuff!

Member D

I like to see children learning new concepts, growing, developing, thinking.

Member E

 

I like my friends and my English class.

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What have you disliked about your experiences in school?

Student A

Some people aren't friendly, they try to get into your business and sometimes they think you're in their business when you just look at them. I also hate the food (quality and prices)

Student B

Too many people at school, I don't like closed campus, senior exhibitions, no lockers and its too crowded at lunch. I don't like community service, or a lot of my class projects, and I don't think they should affect your grade very much.

Student C

Lunch is too short and my grades.

Student D

Uniforms, the dress code! I don't like them because you can't state yourself.

Student E

There's not much I don't like, not all the kids arte nice though. Its not as bas as in 7th grade. I also don't like that I get here at 6:30 A.M.

Teacher A

Collleagues arte reluctant to try new things and I don't like the non-supportive administration. The class sizes and the size of the school stink and I don't like the inconsistent technology access.

Teacher B

I let my dislike of a teacher affect my performance in a class. Teachers that did not show up when scheduled.

Teacher C

The social pressures and teasing. Fronting people off.

Teacher D

There is no continuity/consistancy with the staff within the same content or subject area. Everyone does their own thing.

Teacher E

The administration doesn't always support you. I don't like it when co-workers take kids out of my classes.

Member A

Impatient teachers who didn't take free time to help me.

Member B

A lot of peer pressure. Kids want to dress like each other and yet be different at the same time. Some kids just don't fit in and it's really hard for them because they end up thinking there is something wrong with them.

Member C

All school was was babysitting, most teachers didn't care about me. It didn't have any relevance to real life.

Member D

The communication with teachers. There isn't enough time for teachers. They have lives too.

Member E

I didn't like my math class.

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What kinds of schools do you think your family wants for you? Why? (students only)

Student A

More after school acitivities and smaller class sizes.

Student B

 

Safety, cultural diversity, and good teachers that really care. Because its good for everyone, including the parents. Because this will enhance the environment to be peaceful and for people to improve academically so we will have a better future

Student C

-A year round school becasue the school year is spread out. This allows for students to learn at an unhurried pace.

-An extra day off a week to do homework. This also allows for students to hold a part-time job. If the student is going to school all year and has an extra day off then his daily workload is lighter and he or she can hold a job.

-To learn as much as possible

 

Student D

Good schools that will help us with our future goals, that teach you what you need to know when you get older. My parents want this because they want me to succeed.

Student E

Like public schools, they want quality education, more advanced programs, and a place that prepares us better for the future.

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What kind of schools do you think teachers want for you? Why? (students only)

Student A

They want uniforms, students with a strong work ethic, and more tutors.

Student B

Teachers want well-behaved schools that listen and pay attention to people. Where they can learn as much as they can, where relationships are good between students and teachers. Also, where students can ask counselors for individual help.

 

Student C

-A school where you learn as much as possible.

-A place where teachers have extra time to help students.

-Small classes so teachers can help students better.

-The teachers want these things because they care about your future.

Student D

A school that you're not afraid to come to and one that you can learn all that they want to teach you. Teachers want this for us because they care about us.

Student E

They want strict enforcement of rules, quality education, a place

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What kinds of schools do you think teachers want for students? (Parents/Community members only)

Member A

Smaller class sizes so that they can work more effectively with students.

Member B

Probably, and I would hope for the most part, that they want the very best for our kids. They probably want safe schools, no gangs.

Member C

Something that challenges them. Imaginitive and creative. Better and newer ways of teaching. School with no hassles, no conversation, no critical thinking.

Member D

A place where they can be safe, grow and develop, where they can learn, they can get prepared, and learn life experiences that will help to prepare them to be well rounded citizen in our society.

Member E

Extra help with kids. I have to really stress that my son needed extra help in math. More advanced stuff like computers.

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What advice to do you have for new teachers coming into this profession? (Parents/Community members only)

Member A

Have patience with students. Having a good rapport with parents helps with student rapport.

Member B

Jay gets bored easily. I think a lot of kids get bored, so new teachers need to be prepared for keeping the kids busy and do meaningful things. Also they need to do things that are interesting.

Member C

Don't go into teaching. Talk to parents early about problems. Go in with eyes open, don't burn out. Beware of bad apples ruining your class. First day send home teachers expectations.

Member D

Always listen, observe what's going on with children. First impressions are not always what's real. Listen also to parents and community members so you can get a real sense of what's going on and how you can best be of service.

Member E

Because it's so hard to get kid's attention, try new things that will draw them to class.

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What kinds of schools do you think parents/community members want for students? (Faculty/Staff only)

Teacher A

It depends. Schools that teach their children basic skills, give opportunity to take a variety of courses, quality education, and somewhat preferential treatment but most don't.

Teacher B

Safe schools, engaging, with extra curricular activities, discipline, communication. I don't know what the parents want. I don't think that they care. No, possibly let the students have lots of opportunities when they graduate. The reality is that parents depend on the school to raise their kids and what they really want doesn't ever happen.

Teacher C

A school that prepares them for life outside of school and gives them the skills to be a productive member of society. A school that prepares them for the technology age.

Teacher D

A school that's going to be safe and conducive to learning.

Teacher E

A place that produces literare children and people who will interact.

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What kinds of schools do you think students want for themselves? (Faculty/Staff only)

Teacher A

Students want more say in what's taught but don't have maturity or experience to do it. They are not always willing to wait for results to come through.

Teacher B

Engaging, fun, safe, extra-curricular activities, and probably academic last. My experiences at this school are that I'm used to working with only one ablility level of student so most of my experiences are not varied.

Teacher C

Schools that are fun and easy. Some want schools that are challenging. A place where they are going to learn something that they're going to use in the future.

Teacher D

A school where everyone is provided with an equal opportunity for an education.

Teacher E

Inspite of what they say, kids want an organized situation. They want discipline and tangible results.

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If you could design the perfect school, what would it be like? You can write a description or creat a graphic using pictures, words, and symbols?

Student A

More attractive, a comfortable place, more grass and flowers. New buildings, top of the line computers (4 per classroom) for projects. Friendly nice teachers.

Student B

A longer lunch, smaller classes, DJ at lunch, better food. Bigger classrooms, more computers, because everyone could learn hands on...we can learn better like that. If we have smaller classes we would have more individual time with the teacher. We should have air conditioning, no tagging, only a few trees. We should make the teachers actually teach things and talk at us the whole period. They should teach more about African dancing, teach us how to read actual Spanish books, and teach us the basics in a more fun way.

Student C

More after school clubs for more diverse students. Lots of open spaces and trees. Soft colors: green, brown, earth tones. Basketball courts to use during lunch. Computer room for students to use before school, during lunch, and after school. No fences. All classes would be grouped according to subjects, ie. All math classes in the same building. Big lunches, longer lunch: 1 hr. Kids should be able to wear what they want. More sports programs like gymnastics, swimming, and water polo. Teachers should give more worksheets and less art work and busy work.

 

Student D

20 people in each classroom so that teachers can help each and every one of them. School would be nice and clean and you can wear what you want as long as it's within the district's code.

Student E

Smaller school, more like a family. A place where no one gets made fun of and we can all learn.

Teacher A

I don't think there could be a perfect school. Technology available to students (computer lab, check out for research and word processing). Performance based assessment/education, application oriented, projected oriented. Students will have the basic skills when they enter the class. Accountibility, nobody keeps you back.

Teacher B

Right back to the 60's...with, what is it called? Not Montessori but "Calmer" system. A new school system. Probably more like special ed class where students have a IEP. Have curriculum designed to meet their needs individually. I don't see myself staying here much longer.

Teacher C

Computerized classes where teacher is a facilitator in learning. 22:1 student ratio. Less classses to teach. Class set of computers in each room. Awesome lunch room, 5 star dining. State of the art equipment, ergonomic chairs, carpet in all classes.

Teacher D

A school which helps students get on a career/ educational path. "A school within a school." Students would take traditional subjects but also courses in certain professional fields. High schools would be assigned certain fields so that the middle school students would choose the high school according to the profession that they're interested in. This will better prepare them for their future.

Teacher E

I would have a dozen students, both boys and girls. Keep straight-back chairs and tradtional things. They would have all the supplies they need. Students would get living experiences such as field trips. I would have team teaching and truly inter-disciplinary curriculum.

Member A

Smaller class size and campus size. Teacher and staff who love to work with students and parents. Work more towards academics than other activities.

Member B

I think schools should be bigger, and have more places for the kids to move around. At Morse, Jay always complains that it's too crowded in the halls everywhere. Also teachers need to be more intouch with us as parents. The perfect school would have more than one open house a year.

Member C

Teachers paid well enough. Enough books for all kids. Teachers and administrators are held responsible for their actions and work. Parent has to be involved at least one day a year.

Member D

There would be a lot more contact with parents. When you don't have contact there's something that gets missed in the child's education. Smaller ratio of students to educators. When teachers have 160 students you can't have the contact needed with students and parents that is conducive to learning.

Member E

From what my kids say, I would have more carnival type things. More involvement, definately a nice playground, not in one room all day. There would be another place where they would want to go to and learn like a computer lab.

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