Week One Reading Reflection Rethinking HIgh School

The main concepts that resonated with me from this chapter are the student centered curriculum, focus on community learning, and the choices that are given to students. In a high school world wherein scores are what usually resonates in the halls, it is very refreshing to see that students are given the choice in their education. In this situation, school becomes a way to better oneself instead of a maximum security prison that they end up trying to get out of.

The space wherein reform is happening is questionable because although the reform is good for most students there are a number of students that are still left behind. Although they mention that they cannot reach all students, they so not provide any specifics as to the reason why the reform did not work or what can be done to reach the other students.

In the chapter, some of the big “Second to None” components of reform are the encouragement of choice and separate schools within the school that personally reaches the students. Most students in high school are limited by the curriculum made by teachers and administrators. They are all expected to fit the same mold, meaning, get the right scores for funding. The choice and separate schools provides the students the direction and guidance that they need earlier in their academic career.

I would like to investigate the parts and concepts of the reform that are not effective for students. Although reform seems to reach a majority of the student population. There are still numerous students who need special attention and if we can come up with the reasons and the solutions for the students with special needs, it will effectively reach the general population of students as well. I think it is important to keep finding ways to reach every single student. We can never be perfect, but as I would tell students, striving for perfection is what keeps us going and making us better.