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The Next Generation, Our Kids, Our Community
Community Forums
Filipino Hall
February 9, 2007
Question # 1:
Describe the learning environment that you don’t want in the high schools:
I don’t want 1) racial discrimination, 2) bullying, 3) religious intolerance, 4) teaching evolution only, 5) crowdedness- lack of classes, 6) unqualified teachers, 7) lack of instructional facilities and technology
Students saying “Happy Holidays” during Christmas time. I know of free speech—my kids reluctant to say “Merry Christmas” because some students might be offended.
Too many disruptive kids. Poor teaching equipment.
Don’t want students who are not engaged—this school is boring. Don’t want students who don’t feel connected and think that schools isn’t relevant. Don’t want a place for students dropping out before graduate.
Don’t want students disengaged. Don’t want students to be invisible—no one knowing them personally. Don’t want learning out of context and not meaningful for a student’s life and future. Don’t want a system that doesn’t acknowledge the unique cultures of the students. Don’t want a system based on class or socio-economic status.
Overcrowding. I don’t want to abolish faith in school.
Teacher is not strict with their students. No respect to each other about race. Kids do not have dress codes.
If they’re on advanced subjects, they feel helpless at times, who will they go to for assistance for their work. They’re not heard when they approach teacher) Atmosphere is who’s popular in looks instead of academic focus.
I don’t want a divided student body, one that contains strong tension between classes and cliques. I don’t want the relationship between the faculty and students to go one way. I don’t want an administration that doesn’t value the students’ voice and input about the school or activities. I don’t want the school to be unbalanced, not too many academics or too many activities. Relating to the focus on homework or the value of activities. No profanity!
Homework more than two hours per night. Not given credit for trying or learning,
Overcrowding. Big number of students in class. Racial/cultural discrimination.
Learning environment that breeds and supports exclusion, unresponsive to the cultural needs of its staff and students, promotes mediocre performance standards, uses outdated resources, and run by untrained staff.
Sorry, but no idea. Have not been to high school in the U.S. More focus on academics and less on sports and outside of classroom activities.
Focused only on acquisition of knowledge and skills. One that is fragmentalized/irrelevant. Highly competitive set-up.
Students feeling school is not their place. Students divided and separated. Students thinking that sports, music, arts are not for them.
Options or alternatives to attend basic/core studies. Too much freedom/choices to leave campus (lunch time). Basic family responsibilities/values places on teachers and school.
I don’t like that most students involve in drugs and smoking of prohibited cigarettes and drinking liquor.
Question #2:
Describe the learning environment you’d like to see in the high schools:
I’d like to see small class size, rigorous academic curriculum, qualified teachers, students motivated and engaged in school work, open communication within the school and between school and community, adequate electives, vocational ed choices for non-college bound students, a student center to provide assistance to students when needed to be staffed by community volunteers.
Students, teachers show sincere respect and to appreciate each other as persons and not being judged by their color, way they speak or dress up, or the kind of food they eat. Teachers and students are encouraged to hear the cultures of those belonging to the minority groups → learn our language so there’s more acceptance. Teachers to be able to teach using our language.
Open teacher/student communication. Understanding the subject. Trust each other. Form teams to help one another within a class. No reprimand for students blowing the whistle. Student groups to do community service.
More space area in the classrooms. Teachers that are approachable. Accessible materials. More tutors/ one on one help. Less students in one class. Student can get help. Good morals.
An environment where the level of teaching is absorbed by every student. Enough academic challenge that it necessitates them to give their best so they will be better citizens in the workforce. Good values to academic.
I’d like to see new curriculum that will cater to present environment where values, truth, cultural are given good share with the usual subjects.
I would love to see an encouraging and motivating faculty that desires their students to learn. Goal based/focus—prepares you for higher education or other options. Involvement with community on learning. Tailored to the student’s needs not counselors. Unified towards common goal of learning/graduating.
I’d like to see in learning environment that all students in a class should express their own answer of a question or topic for the day. Should have a respectful environment not to focus on one students who is not interested in the lesson. I want an environment that has a good teacher/student relationship. Teachers are approachable. Teachers implement school rules. More homework papers.
Raise the grade bar for sports. Ex: from C to B. Students playing school sponsored sports must meet B or higher.
More hands on and experiential teaching. Getting everyone involved in an activity. Challenging tests that really test what you learned. Having a high attendance expectation. High homework expectation. Fun but educational experiences and labs. Up to date materials. Interactive teaching.
I like to see a beautiful high school with teaching facilities conducive to learning. I like teachers who teach students and not only their specialized subjects. I like schools with “academic freedom.” I like high schools with scholarship programs for poor and deserving students. Schools with less rules and regulations.
Environment= respectful, helpful, community oriented→segregation, culture.
Like to see engaged students. Like to see teachers teaching for their passion and interest. Like to see students excited about learning. Like to see students producing high quality work. Like to see student work that shows problem solving and analyzing.
All school members treating each other with respect. Rigorous integrated units of study with students actively engaged in real world applications. Teams of teachers, aware of individual student needs and challenging each student. Opportunities for students to set goals and make choices.
I would like to see students engaged as learners and participants/contributors in learning. Students connecting being in school to their future. Students being challenged in their learning. The expertise of counselors and advisory services equitably provided to all students.
Spirit of cooperation; harmonious relationship existing. Students/teachers possess the 5 Cs: committed individuals, concerned citizens (environment), confident learners, competent, culturally enriched members. Recognizes importance and giftedness of each student.
Cultural programs- language/dances (like the Tlingit Immersion Program). Interaction with government or community work/study programs or early college courses. TAI Day- Talk All About It- where people from various jobs meet with students to discuss possible career paths and spark interest in professions.
I would like to see more improvements in academics and I’d like to see students learning.
Question #3:
Describe your student when he/she graduates from high school:
Have confidence. Be able to decide what to do, for example: college.
I’d like graduates who are computer literate. 2. I’d like him/her to speak good English, Chinese, Japanese, etc., of choice. 3. I’d like him/her to be an “educated person” who can get along well with his/her fellow human beings. 4. A well rounded personal physically, mentally, and spiritually. 5. I’d like my graduate to find a job.
Go to college with a major in mind or some idea of what they want to accomplish in life. I would preferably like them to go to college and increase their understanding of the world, through math, science. Usually good grades get you higher in life.
I want my student after she has graduated to go to college and fulfill her dream, finish the course/nurse or be a doctor. She should be excellent in all she does/grades to have a good paying/high salary. Be successful in life as what the world can offer. Finish the course that she started. Have a bachelor’s degree and even have a doctorate degree. A good person, citizen in society, to contribute her skills.
I like to see my children fully prepared in going to college. More knowledge in science, mathematics, and English.
When I graduate… I will be satisfied with the courses and quality of teaching; time well spent; be adequately prepared for college; feel encouraged and motivated about decisions by my family/community to succeed; reflect/use my experience (positive) to influence my future → help choose better decisions; feel confident about myself, study skills, self-discipline, independent.
Productive member of society. Person-oriented/value-oriented. Enriches/enlivens lives of others. Good decision makers. Adapt to a technologically changing world.
I like to see my student to be independent, confident, which I’d like her to be on her own but keeping trust of her heritage and values. I’d like her to be someone parents could be very proud of.
I’d like a student who is ready to enter the world of work at a level commensurate with his/her skills.
Successful, capable, competent, skilled academically → writer, reader, thinker, able to apply skills, confident, ability to make decisions, college bound (right track to be) student goals.
A graduate who can confidently be ready to should to the world, “I am ready and going to finish college on time according to the course he/she prefers. A graduate who is very proud of the support her parents have awarded him through the years and which could sincerely say, “Mom/Dad, it’s my turn to support and take care of you.”
Get a fulfilling, exciting, and fun job so that their life will be worth living and independent. But whether she/he does continuing education should be first and foremost.
Able to read and write and count without a calculator. 2) Have self confidence and respect. 3) Recognize and be respectful of others. 4) Have common sense to know right from wrong. 5) Have self motivation and courage to try. 6) To recognize, value, and appreciate what they have and what they can strive for and obtain.
This is a competent person who believes to have power and influence. Who has competencies to participate and contribute as community member and world citizen to the socio-political structures that shape our and their future.
Self-directed, lifelong learner, confident that they are skilled to go in any direction as the make choices about their future. Feel a part of their community and world and are motivated to contribute to better themselves but they are compassionate. Happy and have a sense of humor.
I would like my child graduate with a degree or a highest grade that most parents to have from their children.
Questions #4:
What advice do you have for making the best learning environment happen?
Be fair to all. Be open minded. Be sensitive to cultural and other differences. Be practical and budget conscious. Think outside the box—not afraid to try something new.
Keep politics out of the way after funding is secured. Keep the vision alive both in times of abundance and scarcity.
Give the students opportunity to speak. Listen attentively to them. Observe their progress. Respond to their needs.
I would like to say that students and teachers will be helpful with each other—good relationship and have a ice environment, peaceful and loving.
Competent minority teachers/staff/counselors to create a warm, rich learning environment. Staff that have worked within the community and are excited with teaching. Strong, innovative principal.
Hire only qualified teachers; no politics. Provide excellent instructional facilities. Provide professional student counselors. Recruit quality students but have special person back if he’s qualified. Mix them (these ideas) thoroughly and serve the community.
Utilizing small groups within class, forming a smaller teacher: student ratio. Smaller counselor to student ratio allowing best advice/help to happen. Included learning via hands on work/ student exploration. Raising the safety level @ high school. Meeting the students’ needs personally. Making options clear for future. Helping stress levels—homework/activities balance.
Making the best learning environment: 1) Have a best qualified teacher academically and good morals and ethics. 2) Good learning tools, like updated computers, etc. 3) School rules and regulations are always implemented. 4) Teachers should teach about the love of God; a curriculum maybe.
For the science fields, use more hands on experience while teaching, don’t just get it all about the textbooks. Teaching styles are different, but it is better if the student is actively learning so if they aren’t mentally ready, there are always ready for an activity. Have the state fund for school supplies. Let teachers teach in their own field. Let one class teach like Henry David Thoreau→ out in environment
Modernize and improve physical classroom settings. Student motivations—rewards. Petition legislature to make school funding to include sports. Periodic review of curriculum.
Offer culture-enriching subjects like Filipo (as electives). Incorporate value formation in the curriculum. Do something about pressing problems existing in the high school like racism, high dropout rate.
Provide adequate reading material for seniors for their specific field of studies. There should be a specific one subject for students in the field of their choice. Like engineering—more reading materials for that field or medicine.
Suggest the same level grade, i.e.: 10th graders- split classes by IQ levels so the slow ones won’t be intimidated by the smart ones. This would eliminate dropouts. Provide vocational classes to make it interesting for non-academic students.
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