The Security Office was implemented at the start of the year. it is one of many new security features at PHS. Photo by: Cam Mullins
By: Cam Mullins
High school is a reverent time period for graduates of the past four or five decades. It is regarded as one of the most rewarding, enjoyable times in life. Today’s high school students have some reservations about school and the way they’re taught.
There have been legions of reform in education and disciplinary policies. Education in the past consisted of more basic, practical lessons. The graduates of the “golden days” of the 20th century fared as well after high school as graduates of the last 10 years, despite a less advanced understanding of math and the sciences. The human hunger for knowledge just keeps going. Middle schoolers are being taught the same concepts as the high schoolers of 20 years ago. Consequently, the former are learning college concepts in high school. Latter day preschoolers are being taught addition, subtraction and other types of simple math. A decade ago, preschoolers were just learning the alphabet and how to spell their name. That is a very rudimentary example, but the rabbit hole goes much deeper than that. Often times high schoolers can not ask their parents for help because their parents have sometimes never even heard of, or have a limited understanding of, the lessons students are taught now.
Furthermore, parents are telling their kids about their high school exploits and how much fun they had, and the kids are in awe because those kinds of acts suffer terrible consequences in modern schools. A rebellious student’s misadventure that would have previously warranted a simple detention or Saturday school now results in expulsion or a report to the police. Local law enforcement is now introduced directly into schools. Freshman Sydney Morris said, “I think it [police officers and added security] might be necessary at some schools, but not really at our school.”
Three security cameras in about 30 feet of hallway. Photo by: Cam Mullins
Jennifer Padilla said, “I once got in trouble for reading a book after I was finished with my test.” Leonardo Baca got in trouble for “Going to the library without a pass during lunchtime.” Students assume they have these liberties, and they are surprised to find that they are somehow outside the rules. Leonardo goes on “[I wish we could] hang outside during lunchtime, eat our food outside during lunchtime, and so much more.”
Students are expected to act within the rules and guidelines set forth by the school. For years, high school has provided youth with not just the means to achieve academic excellence, but a due-north moral compass and the skills to succeed in life on their own after school. High school is moving away from being a final destination in education and becoming more of a stepping stone to college.
High school students are always pushed to apply to colleges. The number of open admission colleges is growing, which means a high school senior with below average grades can try to pursue a higher education. There exists a concept called “supply and demand,” and it is the most fundamental concept of economics. The supply refers to how much is available, and the demand refers to how much is needed. Currently, there are not enough college graduates to fill all the jobs that exist for them, but everyday more students set their sights on college.
Senior Nadia Baca said, “I think that education is actually better now because of all of the technology that we have. We have projectors and large screens in each room, computers for each student, etc. This really helps people who are visual learners and students who need more help in a subject than others. In the past, students would sit at a desk with their textbook in front of them, listening to a teacher lecture about a subject. Now we can have Powerpoints, interactive videos, etc.” Nadia does have reservations about the way school is today, though. She goes on, “My grandma told me that one time she got mad [at] one of her teachers, so after that class, she just left the school and went back home. Also, they could skip school and not have to make up any of the work that they missed.” She wishes the punishments weren’t so severe.
Mrs. Gidley, who has been teaching for decades, says, “Life has not gotten more simple. We have gotten more gadgets and things like that, but it has not gotten more simple. Sometimes it’s even gotten harder.” Sydney Morris said, “I feel like I would have liked it more back then because there was less technology and stuff was just easier.”
The students interviewed, as well as Mrs. Gidley, share a general feeling of nostalgia. They are discontent with a number of changes that they see, but they understand there are some things one just can’t change. In the end, all they can do is their best.