LHS, why can't we be like others?

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

The changes at school aren't that teachers are nicer or meaner. I failed to communicate that. It's the amount of pressure that is put on the kids to perform that has changed.

That's a whole new issue.

And likewise, there's more pressure on teachers as well.

The teachers don't concern me as much as the principals.

I remember when I wanted to take my AP German test last year. I asked for it, they wouldn't give it to me. They said "Maybe Shaker HS or another HS in the area is offering it, but we don't." even though the time and availability was written on the schedule.

the AP testing isn't run by LHS. it's run by a third-party group that oversees testing in the whole US. Every school starts testing at the exact same minute on the exact same day. They have guidelines and restrictions, sure, and every school has to follow them.

For example. A student wants to take a German AP test and he's the only one in the school taking it. The AP rule book states that the school has to provide a proctor for the test regardless of if it's a single student or 200 students taking the test.

So after being told that the school won't give me a proctor I went to Dr.Wagner. He's the principal, he knows me quite well, and we're on good terms. I throw a fit, walk out of the office, and it works. Next class period I walk to my class and the AP testing teacher is standing there waiting for me to tell me the news.

"you must have friends in high places" she tells me. "we'll get you a proctor. Dr.Wagner said 'oh you didn't tell me IVOR wanted to take the test, I'd do anything for that kid."

Now, how fair is that to the student that wants to take a test, is the only one taking it, and is not as lucky as I am.

I'm certainly thankful that it worked out in my favor. But if I didn't have a camera around my neck I would've been swept under the rug like the rest of the students.

Everyone deserves the same education and chance, right?

Apparently not.

I can go on with stories but I'm too under the weather to type any more. This damn cold needs to go away!

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

Oh and Lynn, Mr.Fassett was my basketball coach for 8th grade basketball. I remember when I had my first series of tests done on my leg/knee he called me at home to find out how it went.

I've run into him a few times around town. I gotta head down to Garfield and snap a few photos of his basketball team this winter.

[Mark Crnolatas]

Ahhh 3.2 beer. Most everyone I knew at LHS liked it better with a shot of whiskey.


Mark Allan Crnolatas

[Jeff Endress]

But, of course, we STILL have 3.2 beer (sans red ring on the top).....only now its been relabeled as LITE....and you have to wait until 21 to buy it.

Jeff

[Bret Callentine]

It's the amount of pressure that is put on the kids to perform that has changed.

exactly what criteria are you using to measure this change?

Sorry, but I think not much has changed, including the fact that every generation of high school student thinks that they have it a little harder than those before them.

Methods have changed, motives have changed and teachers have constantly had to deal with changes in standards and practices, however I wouldn't say things are any better or worse for the individual student.

[Lynn Farris]

I think there is quite a bit of pressure on kids today.

It is harder to get into good colleges and price of colleges is sky rocketing. Financial Aid isn't what it was when I went to college and kids are coming out with huge loans. But it is still better than what they can do without a college degree.

If they aren't worried about getting into the best college - maybe they are worried about getting a scholarship.

There is pressure to take more and more honors classes - to take more AP classes - to do well on the AP tests. To have enough extra curricular activities to look good for colleges - and the right kind of extra curriculars.

There is also the No Child left behind program and kids are worried about tests - Teachers are worried about tests. Lots of pressure from every side to do well on all of these tests. Tests aren't a learning tool anymore -They are a way of punishing schools whose students aren't performing well enough on these tests.

And not to sound ultra conservative - ala Alan Keys - I do think the breakdown of the family puts more pressure on children. Plus the economy is bad. In many cases dad isn't around - Mom is working one or two jobs trying to make ends meet. (Maybe she has been downsized). Maybe the child also has to help with siblings, do more work around the house or get a job outside the home.

Sure, maybe they don't need every thing they buy, maybe they could get by on less. But the social pressure is big in H.S. which is why many HS do go to a uniform. Our government tells us it is patriotic to consume. In fact after 9/11 President Bush told us to shop.

Plus the kids are worried about violence - I mean delaying the school start the other week because of potential violence is scary. Maybe scarier in most people's lives than terrorism - but we have had orange alerts so much that we are getting numb.

We had the Vietnam war and the draft - They have Iraq.

We had pressure for sex and drugs and alcohol - so do they, but we didn't have AIDS.

We had Silent Spring - they have Global Warming.

We had a lot of pressure on us - but I do think they have more. All I know is I wouldn't want to be a teenager again.

[Stephen Eisel]

We also had better Saturday cartoons.

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

I can guarantee you that 9 out of 10 people on this deck would not pass the "ESL" (english as a second language) test that I had to take.

It took me four years to pass it.

And I just scored one of the highest scores ever seen at LCCC's english placement tests.

The OGT's were a piece of cake. I slept through most of them because I finished so early. But I had so much pressure sophomore year in High School that I ended up at a shrink's office every week and on medication. I'm not the only one.

Like Lynn pointed out, most teens balance jobs, schoolwork and other responsibilities at home to help their parents out. With the economy being the way it is, both of my parents working two jobs (my mom works three) isn't enough. Between getting into college and working 35 hours a week, a lot of kids break down.

[Stephen Eisel]

Like Lynn pointed out, most teens balance jobs, schoolwork and other responsibilities at home to help their parents out. With the economy being the way it is, both of my parents working two jobs (my mom works three) isn't enough. Between getting into college and working 35 hours a week, a lot of kids break down.

Most of my friends in high-school worked a 35 hour work week. Most of my friends in high-school lived with one parent. The big scare of our time was the threat of nuclear war with Russia.

[Bret Callentine]

My school day usually started at 3:00am with several paper routes. And yes, I was a latch key kid. But the only pressure I felt was to quit making excuses and get busy making what I wanted of my life.

Pressure is only as powerful as you allow it to be.

Are there challenges in life? YES. Are there hardships? YES. But pressure only comes when you spend more time focusing on the expectations of others rather than the responsibilities you've set for yourself.

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

Hey Bret, great post.

Finally, someone impresses me on this thing.

[Paul Schrimpf]

Well said, Bret. It seems to be that the student experience is what the student sets out to make it, no matter what era you went to school. I worked 30 hours a week in high school so I could pay my own way through CSU, and that was in 1982, when even McDonald's wasn't hiring (except overnight shift on weekends). But I owned the goal, so it didn't seem like a drag.

Ivor, your command of English is spectacular. Perhaps you could share some of your wisdom with JOB -- his typed posts often resemble something other than English ..

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

Paul,

you can never share wisdom with JOB because he'd rather give than receive.

As hard as you might try to get him to think outside of his box, you'll still get an ear full.

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

With all respect to Jim, I take my comment back. What is a joke might not be taken so by others that read the post.

Jim has taught me many valuable things and has always gone out of his way to help me in ANY situation.

Like I said, it was not a personal attack, it was a joke.

I apologize

[Mark Crnolatas]

I had the greatest times while going to LHS. Some in the school, but after school and weekends, no one would believe.

Mark Allan Crnolatas