If you could run your own high school...

Pre-College Issues High School Life
21

<p>OKAY, THIS IS INSANE! I can't believe I'm not the only one thinking about this. I was actually discussing it with my friend, and she thought I was insane. I've actually mapped out a floor plan for the school that I have wanted to build. I always thought that a really rigorous school with tradition and structure (as well as some fun) would have made me enjoy school ten times more (call me crazy).</p>

<ul>
<li>Independent Boarding School, Co-Ed (yes, for me that means uniforms...I like them)</li>
<li>Location: Las Vegas, NV (there are absolutely no boarding schools here, and there are almost no private schools)</li>
<li>Lower, Middle and Upper levels, with separate housing for girls and boys and all ages (duh)</li>
<li>Including: a dining hall (and kitchen, of course), field (for lacrosse, soccer, football, etc.), track, tennis courts, golfing area, two or three gyms, pond (for kids to hang out), astronomy and scientific studies building, dormitories, main building, one huge library, study hall, classrooms, playrooms for kids, etc.
-Financial Aid is readily available</li>
</ul>

<p>Schedule and Curriculum:
Lower School (Pre-school- 5)
- Basic Academic Training (Math, Science, Social Studies, English, etc.)
- All classes taught at an accelerated level (extra tutoring available for all students)
- Two foreign Language Requirements (choices including French, German, Italian, Spanish, Latin, Chinese, Arabic, etc.)
- Current Events and Affairs Education begin being integrated into learning at 4th grade level
- Extracurriculars: Music and Art classes are required as is the playing of two sports a year (student must play at least one instrument beginning at age 8)
- Students' academic day begins at 8:00, they then have class periods (lasting anywhere from 45 mins. to 1 hr.) with 10 min. breaks in-between, all students' days end at or before 4:10, students then have an automatic hour of homework and then free-time until dinner at 6:45, lights out at 8:45
-Clubs begin to form (students may: join Junior sports teams, join K- Kids, be elected to Student Council, join Girl/ Boy Scouts, are required to volunteer, participate in school theme nights and carnivals, etc.); students also take field trips and go to local cultural events
Middle School (6-8)
- Advanced Academic Training (Algebra and higher level math, History, Language and Written Comprehension, Developing Lit Skills, and other advanced courses)
- All classes taught at an accelerated level (extra tutoring available for all students by teachers or other students)
- Three foreign Language Requirements (must pick one major language and one rare language as well as one other)
- Current Events and Affairs Education as well as Political Groups are mostly developed<br>
- Extracurriculars: Music and Art classes are required as is the playing of three sports a year (student must continue the playing of their instrument)
- Students' academic day begins at 8:30, they then have class periods (lasting anywhere from 1 hr. to 1 hr. 20 mins.) with 7 min. breaks in-between, all students' days end at or before 5:00, students then have an automatic hour-and-a half of homework and then dinner at 6:45, lights out at 9:00 (free time is used for homework and free time)
-Clubs are formed including: NJHS, sports, Thespian Society, Young Artists, Poetry Discussion Group, Book Club, Student Council, We the People, Builders? Club, etc. ( volunteering and daily reading journal required)
-More Social Events are scheduled including dances, museum trips, etc.
Upper School (9-12)
- College-Prep Courses (including AP and AB) are required
- All classes taught at an extremely advanced level (extra tutoring available for all students by teachers or other students)
- Three foreign Language Requirements (all continued from middle school)
- Current Events and Political Education is completely developed as are youth political groups (students at age 17 or 18 are required to take a one time, 1 hr., good citizenship course)
- Extracurriculars: Music and Art classes are required as is the playing of a sport each quarter (student must continue the playing of their instrument)
- Students' academic day begins at 9:30, they then have class periods (lasting anywhere from 1 hr. to 1 hr. 45 mins.) with 5 min. breaks in-between, all students' days end at or before 6:00, students then have dinner at 6:45, two required hours of homework, lights out at 10:00 (free time is used for homework and free time)
-Many clubs are in existence and continually growing; Attendance at one cultural event a quarter is required</p>

<p>I know it?s a bit wacko, but in my experience kids are extremely hyperactive in the morning, so why not get them to school earlier? Also, Driver?s Ed is of course available for students 15 and older, and so are summer programs. Oh, and P.E. is required too!</p>

22

<p>I would make a school split into an A section and B section. The A section have different requirements with the B Section. The students would be placed in each section based on skill, inteligence, etc.</p>

23

<p>School would start at 9 and end at 3. Lunch would go from 11:30-12:30 and students would be allowed to eat off campus. </p>

<p>There would be 5 classes a day and it would be on the AB schedule so you would be able to take a total of 10 classes per year. </p>

<p>Required classes would include: Math, Science, PE, Cooking, History, English, Language, Art, Music, and SAT prep classes starting freshman year. </p>

<p>3 APs would be required for graduation. </p>

<p>and there would be mad grade inflation.</p>

24

<p>A and B section are ranked speerately so it gives the B students a better rank from people of their own caliber. My school would be from 8-4. Teachers need more time to teach.</p>

25

<p>I guess I'll just keep adding onto my vision... :D</p>

<p>-I would not allow any SAT prep classes at my school. I don't believe in them. But I would allow/encourage student-organized SAT study sessions, in the form of a club or something. </p>

<p>-There would be a weekly, mandatory class in which the students and teacher discuss current world events. The classes would be small--all teachers and even other faculty members would be with a group during that class period--and would be made up of a mix of grade levels. </p>

<p>-Language classes would involve a lot of music (listening and singing) inthe language of interest, actual literature (or actual children's books, for the lower levels) in that language, dramatic skits, and other get-up-and-move types of activities. In fact, classes in just about every subject ought to include get-up-and-be-active components, though in some classes (language) it's more important, I think, than in others (math). But, hey, I'll wait until I'm an expert in education before I make a cut-and-dried judgment on that. ;)</p>

<p>-There would be a real language lab. </p>

<p>-Teachers in all subjects must be really good teachers and intelligent, well-educated people. Like, didn't just scrape by in college and manage to get a Bachelor's degree and a teaching certificate. They must really know what they're doing when they teach their subject.</p>

26

<p>Oh, and one more thing: you know how there are health classes at most schools? They teach you that if you have sex you'll get embarrassing and icky infections, or worse, HIV, or you'll get pregnant and have to go through the terrifyingly painful experience of childbirth, or get an abortion--and the ensuing class discussion thoroughly convinces you that if you ever want to have any friends, an abortion isn't the right choice. ...Well, okay, maybe it's not quite that bad. But you know the class I mean? It's a graduation requirement at my actual high school...</p>

<p>But in my Castle in the Sky high school, I'd have a class called "Informed Youth." Cheesy, yeah... but you see, I think that all those things--health, nutrition, sexual health, mental/emotional health, the problems involved with being a teenager--are important for kids to know... but they MUST be taught in a way that kids will take seriously. Nobody takes health classes as I know them seriously. So in "my" health class, I'll actually have the kids learn the science behind HIV/AIDS, STDs, human anatomy (...), nutrition, the various kinds of health, and so forth. The health teacher will be a science teacher, not just a home ec teacher. Likewise, the health class will be a science class--teaching the biology, chemistry, pathology, psychology, and sociology that is most relevant to adolescence and young adulthood. And the class won't be an "easy A." </p>

<p>There will be no "easy A" classes. Except PE, but, you know... oh well. :p</p>

27

<p>My school would be a large public magnet school. That way you get more funding and everyone who meets admission's standards can go for free.</p>

<p>We will be a power house in sports, I'll throw tons of money into the sports programs.</p>

<p>It will be a semi large school, but it would have more than enough GC's for the kids. No kids will fall through the cracks of a large school like I once did.</p>

<p>Each kid will have an adviser(a teacher) who periodically meets with the kid and makes sure everything is going fine.</p>

<p>Although it will be a large school, it will try and give individual attention to all the students. </p>

<p>Students who are a distraction can be put through an accelerated expulsion process, as if you don't behave you don't belong. </p>

<p>There will be a wide variety of electives and advanced courses for all that want them, along with basic courses. </p>

<p>Ya, that is all I can think of for now.</p>

<p>O ya, teachers would not receive tenure, they would be checked upon every 6 months to a year, along with surveys from students and other staff members to see how good of a job they are really doing. No one is above the rules.</p>

28

<p>I really like the idea of no tenure. God knows how many teachers I've had that have uttered "thank God I'm tenured" more than once in the classroom.</p>

29

<p>hmmm i like this.</p>

<p>*Essay based classes.
*No tests, no grades.
*Teachers write detailed evaluations at the end of each semester
*Instead of study hall, the entire school takes a 20 min. mediation break at noon ;-)</p>

<p>Graduation Requirements:
1 off campus internship
1 year of all main subjects-- Math, Science, Social Studies, Literature, Foreign Language, Creative Arts
2 terms of phys. ed
After requirements are fulfilled students are allowed to persue any and all classes they wish.
Students must write a thesis to graduate. Sorta like an IB extended essay.</p>

<p>Independant studies available for any student for up to 2 courses a year.
Core classes (math, literature, social studies, ect.) offered in foreign languages.
Languages offered: arabic, manadrin, spanish, german, SiSwati, french, russian, japanese, a few others
the school would have an agreement with a study abroad program, and offer scholarships to all students who chose to do so.
IB might be offered. Depending on how annoyed with it i am on the day i am founding this school.
Not divided by grade level but by intrest, ability, ect.</p>

<p>Clubs would recieve just as much support as sports!!
to be accepted, one would simply have to write an essay on their educational goals and personal educational philosophy
the school would not engage in any forms of censorship, esp. of artwork or student productions</p>

<p>methinks this sounds a wee bit like many of the colleges i am interested in.</p>

30

<p>I had two plans; neither was just a high school, but a full-fledged educational system.
The first involved setting six rounds of entrance exams, for which the first level would be administered to all four-year olds in the US, and those that passed all six rounds were admitted into an academy called Grandview, located somewhere in the central Aleutians to prevent their interaction with mainstream society, which would degrade their educational experience.</p>

<p>The second was loosely based of off the new program developed in a think tank that thought at the end of grade 10 there should be exams that separate people into tracks. I maintained that there should be a common six grades, then a general test that would separate all students into seven levels; the first four would be allowed to go to college, whereas 5 and 6 would be in the vocational spectrum, and 7 would put you in a mental institution.
The curricula would vary among each level, and secondary schools would only offer one level; Level 1 schools would be required in each county in the US.
The Level 1 curriculum is below:
Foreign language would be started in Kindergarten in all schools, but those who entered a Level 1 secondary school would start at the equivalent of grade 7 in a foreign language; that is, the student would be at the honors-level in seventh grade in both English and a foreign language. Twenty languages would be offered: Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Turkish, Arabic, Swahili, Amharic, Farsi, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese.
Mathematics would follow a standard curriculum: Algebra I would need to be covered in grade six as part of the normal education, but in 7th, Geometry would be covered, followed by Precalculus, Calculus AB, Calculus CD, and then a combined year-long Linear Algebra and Ordinary Differential Equations course.
English would tie in with Social Studies: World Literature, then American Literature, a Composition class equivalent to the current AP, a year of regional literature dictated by what foreign language one was taking similar in rigor to AP English Literature, then a survey of Western classics. Social Studies would start with the equivalent of AP World History, then move to an APUSH equivalent, followed by two years of regional study (first history, then religion and government), finished by a year-long course covering the equivalent of AP US Gov't, AP Comparative Gov't, AP Macroeconomics, and AP Microeconomics.
Science would start with Physical Science, then move on to Biology, Chemistry and Physics, where each of the latter three was taught at a college level; the final year would be one of four designated electives (Molecular Biology, Organic Chemistry, Modern Physics, and Environmental Science).
After completion of this curriculum in 11th grade one would take five 8-hour tests covering all the material learned. Those who passed would be eligible to apply for admission to any of the state flagship universities as well as the Ivy League schools, any top LAC, and places like Stanford and USC. Such universities would only look at those with level 1 qualifications. Other schools in the second tier would look at those with level 1 and 2, and the third tier would look at those with levels 2 and 3; if one was below (ie a C-class in level 3 or any class in level 4 they must attend a 2-year school.) Admissions would be based on the same items as they are today.
Extracurricular activities would be required of all students in all levels, including such things as sports and music/arts programs.
There would be no finals, just unit tests permitted during the year as well as the two comprehensive tests at end of grade 6 and grade 11.</p>

31

<p>i would have ROCK CLIMBING, better physicial activity options, school doesn't EFFING START TILL 9:00 at least, 4 quarters with 2 weeks break between each one, with 3 weeks for christmas, 2 for spring break, and shorter summer, kids should be given LESS homework and more IN CLASS WORK, seniors do NOT have to take friggin finals, no minus/plus...</p>

32

<p>If I could run a school, it would be called:</p>

<p>------------------------------------------------------------------------->THE00*L*EET00 ISTITUTE 00 OF 00 PWNAGE.</p>

33

<p>I love this thread.</p>

<p>Basic Structure:
Private, boarding or day, co-ed, {uniforms}
Admissions is based on 2 essays and an interview {with me, of course}
Grades 7-12 {Indoctrinate them while they're young, I say :)}
Normal semesters- 1st semester exam required, finals waived if student maintains A’s for the last 2 quarters
8 period day- 8AM- 4PM- No skipping lunch to fit an extra class
No humanities or sciences track- Everyone has the same grad. req., but electives are rigorous</p>

<p>Grad Req.:
6 years of math (Pre-algebra or AlgI in 7th}
5 years of science {Your basic 7th and 8th grade sciences, just accelerated. Chem and physics must be at least honors}
6 years English- Senior year must be either AP or 'Literature: Books That Shaped Our World Today' (Basically anything the teacher and I deem essential}
4 years foreign lang.- Latin, Spanish, German, Mandarin, Arabic, Korean :D
3 years PE or involvement in a sport- But the classes will be fun stuff, like Pilates or rock-climbing or spelunking
3 years fine arts- Entails visual art, music theory, and art history
2 years intensive computer sciences
10 electives</p>

<p>Special:
Senior year- If student has satisfactorily* completed most of his/her grad req, they can forego school attendance and maintain an internship with a reputable company.
*- Determined by me, of course
Discipline: Bad behavior will not be tolerated. If I have to, I’ll go all Umbridge on a class.
All teachers must have their masters; PhDs always nice. :D
APs limited to 3-4 per year. GCs will always be on hand for the burn-outs, though.</p>

<p>Bit structured for some, but you gotta have something. My school would push the fine arts as well as the sciences.</p>

34

<p>Oh yeah, and my school would be named.... I don't know yet. But it would be on the outskirts of Chicago, and the building(s) would hold the related departments, i.e. maths and sciences, languages, fine arts, the main admin.</p>

35

<p>I could let you borrow my school's name. I think it would fit. :)</p>

<p>999th post!</p>

36

<p>I would like that. I can imagine the brochures now......</p>

37

<p>The focus of my school will be:</p>

<p>-Writing. Everyone must be able to write clearly, effectively, and well for a variety of purposes and audiences. You wouldn't believe how many "straight-A" students are crappy writers. At my school, crappy-writerhood will be entirely wrung out of all students by the time they hit 8th grade. At least some kind of writing assignment will be required of all courses, with the exception of PE. Teachers of all subjects (excluding PE) must be comfortable with grading written assignments/essays/research papers. The emphasis on writing is largely meant to prepare students for further education and (more immediately) admission to institutions thereof.
-Cultural awareness. Students must be sensitive to the world that surrounds them and they must be understanding of cultural, religious, ethnic, political (and etc.) diversity on Earth. This understanding, I believe, is one of the biggest keys to reducing world conflict. World language, history, events, religion, and culture will be the topics of many courses and extracurricular activities; ethnic music and dance performances, as well as appearances by guest speakers, will take place on campus without charge to students; and travel/study abroad will be highly encouraged.
-Environmental awareness. This includes the human impact on the environment, climate, and ecology (human and otherwise), as well as the structure and operation of the planet, and ways that we as individuals (or as a group) can make a positive impact on the environment. There will be environmental science, human geography and organic agriculture classes, as well as plentiful opportunities to get involved in volunteer efforts relating to the environment.</p>

38

<p>Wow, I spelled "institute" wrong. Odd how I never noticed that. Let's just let that fade into oblivion, shall we? :D</p>

<p>1000th post! I have finally eliminated all traces of my life.</p>

39

<p>"some kind of school where only highly capable students would attend"</p>

<p>I disagree with the OP on this one</p>

<p>By the way, I totally think colleges should see these lists</p>

40

<p>It would be a traditional 4-year high school.</p>

<p>*Heavy emphasis on foreign language: each student takes two intensive language courses of their choice (out of a huge selection of languages such as Spanish, French, Chinese, German, Arabic, Japanese, Dutch, whatever can be taught) for all four years, but can take a proficiency test to drop one course if they reach fluency
*Strong arts program- state-of-the-art theatre, excellent stage crew/directing/managing opportunities as well as many acting opportunities; a dance division, extensive visual arts classes, several choirs and bands/orchestras
*A competitive sports program with everything from traditional stuff like soccer and basketball to more obscure sports like badminton and squash
*More of an emphasis on in-class work than tons of homework assignments
*There would be no censorship (even of hate speech and the like) anywhere in the curriculum, as long as the speech poses no tangible harm
*Extracurriculars would be a requirement
*Social studies classes would examine issues from all perspectives, not just those we would like to hear about
*Four years of math and english would be required; students are only required three years of social studies and science but can take harder classes after they fill their requirement</p>