Chapter 9

I think it is very interesting to see how the high schools were modeled after the coporate world. At this point in history there were many people who just finished high school and were able to find a job. The idea that high school should prepare the students to come in to the working world is a very good one for that point in history but as for the present it takes a lot more than high school to be ready for work. I am a fan of the high schools that geared towards certain careers as they add an appeal to school for the students. Looking at the website for the Department of Education they describe the different types of High Schools that can be found in New York City. The schools which lead to specific pathways are referred to as Career and Technical Education Schools which can be found in many high schools throughout the city. I think giving students the opportunity to go to a school like this would motivate them to work harder in school but it also works as an easy way out. High school has really developed along side the age grade which makes people feel that they should be done by a certain age, this puts a lot of pressure on the students. In my high school we were relatively new so there were very few opportunities for extra curricular activites. There were some clubs and very few sports teams but it did allow us to have a little bit of fun. The extra curricular activities gave us students responsbilities that were not just educational which relates to the workplace. Of course students had to maintain good grades to be a part of these activites. I agree with Anna’s post in saying that I do not understand how something so important like extra curricular activities is usually the first thing to be cut at school. When the studetns cannot participate in these activities they tend to lose interest and focus in school. Public schools need a reform, I can’t really say what it is that they need but the times are changing and schools need to change as well.