Certainly every student has their own personal experiences and memories to drawn from but I am curious about the overall picture and conditions that would cause my children to feel this way. They have both grown into fine adults who both furthered their education at the college and professional levels and now both own their own small businesses. So just what is it that brings the strong negative feelings they have toward their alma mater and high school experience.
I didn't attend JHS I went to a private Catholic school so I have nothing to add on a personal level, And I thought at the time JHS was a good option for a diversified experience after being well satisfied with the elementary education they received. Only after becoming adults did both my children say that both Parkview and JHS was not an option for their children's (my grandchildren) education....
Any thoughts or experiences that agree or disagree with their views ??? I'm curious ???
As an educator kids from the more affluent areas sometimes receive a culture shock when attending schools with a more diverse student body. They have never been exposed to inner city kids who have a somewhat entirely different background.
ReplyDeleteJust saying this might be the cause of your children's reaction to their educational experiences.
At those ages, the children want to focus a lot on the social aspects of school versus the actual educational foundation. It seems from my point of view, that the school district itself doesn't want to do anything to change that perspective either. Mr Sexton was tough and changing the environment at the high school. Some of the teachers with connections didn't want discipline and focus. They succeeded in maintaining the status quo.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, that's what I'd say is greater clarks biggest problem. They are happy with the status quo. Change the buildings, but inside, they believe they are doing just fine.
I agree with both Anon. 1 & 2 my children were probably sheltered in their elementary education and not prepared for the diverse environment of the local Jr.& sr. high schools. As well they were both shocked at the lack of discipline and the behavior that some of the students got away with....
ReplyDelete"disruptive atmosphere not conducive to learning" sums it up correctly.
ReplyDeleteAbove anonymous says he/she is an educator ?? and then wants to blame "affluent area kids" for not understanding ? How stupid can you be. These kids are exposed via all the social media today across all backgrounds from day 1 - good, bad or indifferent. Affluent areas in Jeff ? Again you are just stupid. I know of only 1 area - Claysburg - that may be "inner city". And the number of children from there are no where near being a majority.
Two problems - total political correctness used allowing disruptive students (and their parents) to guide the learning process. Kick their ass out.
A teacher and she was a good one told me when there is no discipline at home it is nearly impossible to teach discipline. The teacher is then perceived as the bad guy and it is a lose,lose situation when discipline is attempted in a school situation. That is why many teachers just throw up their hands and go with the flow.
ReplyDeleteA teacher and she was a good one told me when there is no discipline at home it is nearly impossible to teach discipline. The teacher is then perceived as the bad guy and it is a lose,lose situation when discipline is attempted in a school situation. That is why many teachers just throw up their hands and go with the flow.
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ReplyDeleteOne problem is the arrogance of some of the the teachers & educators. I once told a GCCS who thinks it's the best that a friend of mine was also a GCCS teacher and said they would never send her kids to GCCS.
ReplyDeleteYou think this person's response would be to ask "why", but was instead to say "that is the kind of people we need to get rid of."
The second thing will never happen. Jeff High is too big and needs to be split. But residence won't allow it because of their obsession with sports.
It was my experience Jeff High was a bureaucratic institution with little to no concern for academics or what is best for kids. Adult egos and strong numbers, no matter their accuracy and what it took to get them, were the priorities. The diversity wasn't the problem. Students weren't the problem. The adults were huge problems.
ReplyDeleteI have a somewhat different take on this. My children attended Catholic elementary and junior high and then went to Jeff. There was some amount of culture shock at first, but the diversity and the experience was good for both of them and they actually enjoyed JHS much more than their Catholic school experience. Generally, kids who are doing well and following the Honors/AP route are going to do fine at Jeff. Playing sports and being involved in other activities certainly helps. The more general classes are more of a challenge because of the disruptions and discipline problems in some of those classes. There is no question that the lack of discipline at home correlates to the difficulty teachers have in keeping kids under control and make the class room productive. I would agree, however, that the are some teachers who are not very good and don't seem to care. My kids had some excellent teachers and a few bad ones at JHS. I think this is common for a lot of schools and not unique to JHS and its staff. Like most things, there is no easy answer as to what the cause of problems are at JHS or how to fix the problems. It is not just one thing. I would not, however, agree with a general statement that JHS is a bad school which should be avoided. I think the school gets a bad rap a lot of the time that isn't necessarily deserved.
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