High School Experiences
Your Voice: Perspectives: High School ExperiencesApril, 2007
Recently, both Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty asserted that today's high schools are obsolete. Are high schools a necessary right of passage that provide individuals with social skills and knowledge? How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
Minnesota Public Radio's Public Insight Journalism team turned to the network to gain first person perspectives on high school. Some respondees gave us permission to share their experiences and observations, and we've compiled them here.
Help us cover this topic. Read and reflect on their viewpoints here and join our Public Insight Journalism network to share your own perspective.
In what year did you graduate high school? 2005
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
I think that Avalon both helped and hurt me in terms of the future. It hurt because it was a chosen atmosphere that was wonderful and perfect for the type of person I am; it allowed me to be independent and think for myself. Sadly, the real world doesn't contain so many idyllic situations. This makes adapting to some members of the general populous a struggle.
However, what Avalon may have slighted me in terms of people skills, it gave me a great advantage of allowing to know myself a lot closer sooner in life. I, at a fairly young age, understand the necessity of close relationships with others, and I have a great idea of what my limitations are and when I can push them. Avalon was a place where I never felt like I had to be something specific; if I brought everything I was together, I would be fine.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
Before I transferred to Avalon, I spent a year at Harding High School in Saint Paul. Unlike Avalon, everything was terribly rigid and connected in puzzle-like order. You knew exactly where you were going to be at every moment of the day. You knew exactly who you would talk to and where you would sit. If one of those things didn't work together, you'd lose your cool for a few moments. Sitting down at lunch when your friends weren't able to save a spot for you was like sticking a cucumber through a keyhole. I never really felt like I was doing anything or working towards anything of importance; I felt like I was autopilot.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
I remember how everyone knew each other. At a school in the Midway of Saint Paul with 150 people, everyone knows each other. I could basically talk to whoever and not worry about myself.
I remember how close I felt to our faculty. Certain teachers at Avalon, especially Kevin Ward, inspired me and set me up for what I will accomplish in my years to come. It was really a privilege to work with those people so closely.
I remember taking the city bus to school, because there was no way we could afford school buses. At first it made me feel grown up, and after the novelty wore away it made me feel connected to the city on a deeper level than others. When you're in a car, you control what comes to you. When you're on a bus, no matter how loud your headphones are, chances are there will be someone who talks louder or a baby who screams more boisterously. As a teenager, having that understanding of what some people had to do to live was really enlightening.
Alexander Wanna
Morris, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 2006
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
I think because of the high school I went to, it prepared me greatly for the rest of my life. I taught me how to manage my time and to be independent. Because it was project based, and I got to choose what I learned, I was more aware of what my passions and strengths were. It not only taught me academically about myself, but taught me about myself as a whole, my beliefs and who I want to become in the future.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
I have only heard by word of mouth, but it seems like high schools seem to be more interested on making sure everyone passes, weather they understand or remember anything. I think that the high school experience depends on what school you go to. Some are a better fit than others. But I can say that for myself and many of my classmates, a smaller, more self motivated school was a much better fit. We all would have been lost in the regular school system.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
I have so many memories. I have to say that for me high school had many more highs than lows. I know that I will forever remember the things that I learned, the friends that I made, and more especially the teachers who helped me along the way.
Antara Busse-Rein
Minneapolis, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1994
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
My high school did a fine job of preparing me for the rest of my life. The courses I took were rigorous and left me well prepared for high school. Knowing that I wanted to become a music teacher, my orchestra teacher did a great job of supporting that and allowing me to explore other instruments as I would have to learn them in college. Through Advanced Placement and College in the Schools courses, I was able to earn 18 credits before even beginning college. I also made friends that I remain in contact with today. It's not as though it was all fun, I had a lot of problems with being teased in school. However, that also helped prepare me for the struggles that are a part of the real world.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
In many ways I am envious of todays high school students. There are many more options of schools to attend as well as advanced courses. I also think teachers today have a much better understanding of students' learning styles and brain funciton which improves education. However, there is much more high stakes testing that occurs now (which does NOTHING to prepare students for life). I think that is unfortunate.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
My favorite memories come from my participation in things like orchestra and theater. It is through the arts that I had my best times and made many friends. It is in the non-academic areas that I was able to build last connections.
Bethany Brunsell
Crystal, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1997
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
I loved art classes in high school and I had the opportunity to take several of them, ranging from painting and pottery to writing and illustrating a childrens book. Along with these classes I also had the opportunity for ones like "Intro to College Writing." Without that class I would have been lost in my first college comp. class. As well, I took had challenging classes like chemistry and physics which gave me an idea of what higher level science classes entailed. Sadly I did not take advantage of all the opportunities that were offered to me, such as, Advanced Placement English and math classes. I did however feel that I was well prepared to succeed when I entered college.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
About 5 years after I graduated from high school my home town went through some serious budget issues. I remeber reading in the local paper that they were eliminating or decreasing many of the art programs that I had enjoyed so much, as well as cutting out agriculture and shop classes. Did I mention that I learned the valuable skills of changing my own oil, and changing a tire in high school also. These skills have saved me hundreds over the years, and I remember thinking that it was ahame that students would miss out on these valuable life skills, as well as the enjoyment of many art programs due to massive budget cuts.
Currently I am a substitute teacher in a district not far from my home town. Over the past 3 years of living in this community every year the school has asked for a levy or referendum. Every year a list of programs that are being cut or fees that are being raised is printed in the local paper. Teachers and students complain about the large class sizes of 35 to 40 students (in secondary school, and 25-30 in elementary). As a substitute I can attest to these large class sizes and how they affect the school environment. While subbing in an eighth grade science classroom there was not an open chair or table in the room, or any space to put one. I had a couple of unruly students in the room, and I always like to give students a new place to sit before dismissing them from missing any information being presented, due to their behavior. THis was not even possible in this room. THere was nowhere to go. I know this is only one minor example, but there are many minor examples of how these budget crunches are affecting our childrens education and all of these minor issues are adding up to major problems.
Alina Robinson
Staples, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1966
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
At Golden Valley High School we learned social as well as academic skills, and we learned about the arts as well as athletics. Even though it was over 40 years ago, our math teacher told us each of us would probably be working with a computer in our lives. In social studies we were told the worst kind of warfare was the suicidal enemy. Discussions of politics and ethics permeated our classes. We learned to listen, to read, to think, and to debate. We couldn't have been better prepared for what we would face.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
High schools today can be too large, too efficient, and too competitive to teach students about the social aspects of living. Students are stuck taking mandated tests to graduate, so that becomes the focus. Academics are challenging, but there isn't time for contemplation and higher level discussion. Thank goodness there is a commitment to the arts, but some students are unaware of the cultural centers available to them in Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Political discussions are tempered with caution so as not to offend, and students' attention spans can get in the way of listening intently. They thrive on the internet and text messaging, but only the finest teachers make the point that the information is only as strong as the source - something even modern journalists seem to overlook. The next generation is ready to face the world they are about to create.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
Friday and Saturday nights we had "boy/girl" parties where we went tobbagoning, skating, dancing to records, and/or pulling taffy. There were no drugs or drinking. All parties were supervized by parents, and we had FUN! Our music teacher used to let us play the piano and sing during study hall. The women in our class still get together on a regular basis; we are lifelong friends.
Helen Etnier
Wayzata, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1979
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
Well, since it was in rural IA, the education was good but the amenmities were missing. I did, however, learn the difference between "effect" and "affect" and the correct usage - "...politics of school funding effects the perception of high school performance"... I learned to work hard and that grading "on the curve" is not necessarily a good thing in the students' futures, because bosses don't do that....
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
It does not. There are incredible opportunitues open to HS students now, but along with that they have school violence and less freedom to be kids than we ever had. Less bullying but mjore fear of school shootings...
What memories do you have of your high school years?
Mixed - in my small town, bullying took many forms, one of which was verbal abuse. There was no realy effort to stop it; we were told that "words don't hurt", "ignore it" and "get used to it, there will always be people like that". Sounds heartless, but is that the reason we didn't have school shootings then? Because we did come to see that we were able to take unpleasantness and rise above it rather than getting a gun and killing people? Just a thought...nobody ever said life was fair.
Lori Hubin
Crystal, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1969
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
I had a grueling, battle ax of an English teacher in 9th grade who forced us to learn proper grammar. It's made writing fairly easy ever since. We were also required to do thoughtful research, which developed critical thinking skills.
Finally, we had phys. ed., to my recollection, every day. I think this particularly benefited late bloomers, like myself, who probably wouldn't have made the football team. At 56, I have maintained an exercise program continuously ever since I was compelled to do push ups in 9th grade.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
There seems to be little effort to develop self discipline. There is a lazy, self-indulgent attitude: "everyone's ideas have merit", "you're all special", etc. Nonsense. Good ideas are developed with intellectual work, improved by critical review.
Phys ed. has also nearly disappeared in high schools. This has been a disaster, compounded by the conservative idea that the "private sector can do it better", which led to junk food in high schools. Kids should eat broccoli, do push ups, and work hard to develop self discipline.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
Mostly good. I rose to the challenge of my battle ax English teacher, became a research scientist as the result of those tedious research papers and remain in very good physical health from learning physical conditioning in high school. And I still eat broccoli.
Larry Baker
Mounds View, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1984
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
I went to high school in Salt Lake City, Utah, where I grew up. I was Catholic, a punk rocker and in a Mormon-dominated society. To say the least, it was an interesting experience. I played sports, took AP classes and was overall, able to have a fairly good high school experience. Yes, there were some fairly significant troubles due to my religion and my choice of lifestyle. However, what all that diversity of opinion did for me was to allow me to meet and interact with a wide range of people who had different interests. As well, my status as an "outsider" pushed me into a clique with other "minority" students and truly gave me an invaluable perspective on how to get along with just about everyone.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
I don't know that high school is ever truly that different from one generation to the next. We are all prisoners of our hormones and the desire to grow up as fast as possible. I guess that there potentially is more influence from the media and other sources to grow up faster, but I am not sure that maturity levels allow it to happen any more quickly than in the past. I do think that parents are taking a lot of joy out of the high school experience in their never-ending quest to one-up the neighbors. They seem to coddle kids more and at times, do the work for them. Kids need to be able to fail once in a while. It hurts at the time, but the lesson learned is invaluable for how one deals with the true rigors of the future. These parents need to realize that they can't hover over their kids forever and if they try, they will be living in their basement for the rest of their lives.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
Playing in punk rock bands, dying my hair and being considered a little strange. My BMW 2002, Echo and the Bunnymen, Squeeze, Dead Kennedys, Minor Threat, Black Flag, sleeping in Germany class on "culture day", skipping school to go skiing on amazing powder days in the Wasatch mountains at Alta and Brighton ski resorts, pimping Coors beer (still delicious) at the Piccadilly Fish and Chips shop on Highland Drive, getting beat up at the bus stop for wearing a Circle Jerks t-shirt, making out with Kim Taft.. there are so many more good memories. Indeed, I don't think there is a bad memory in the bunch. Yes, we did things that were in hindsight kind of stupid or reckless, but I am proud to say that deep down we were all pretty good kids and with rare exception, we never had fun at anyone else's expense.
Steven Brophy
Saint Paul, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1994
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
It did not. My own building of relationships was the best preparation. I refined some of my writing skills, but otherwise was smart enough to barely read any of the appropriate materials and gather enough through in-class notes to do little homework, and retain no usable information.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
As a high school teacher at a charter school, I see the possibilities open for more authentic education. I also see the traditional schools (which I taught in as well) continue down the memorization/note-taking track. And yet, even considering authentic learning as a tool for teaching skills rather than knowledge, real life experience versus a classroom, much of the learning still feels extremely removed from life and unapplicable to the future. Before being able to adequately tackle these questions, this program should seriously consider the question, "What SHOULD high school prepare us for?"
What memories do you have of your high school years?
Friends, friends, embarrasing experiences with "popular" kids, school dances, working at the in-school childcare, ditching Physics class and still passing, passing notes, and one teacher that really cared.
Alex Liuzzi
Little Canada, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1965
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
My high school in Orlando, Florida prepared me very well. Many of my fellow classmates' families were working at the Cape or at Martin Marietta, where my father worked. Since I had already chosen music as my intended field, my high school courses gave the bare minimum of the sciences and math requirements, but promoted languages and the arts.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
Schools within schools were non-existent; therefore there is more of an effort today to help a student graduate. There are so many more academic demands on both the teacher as well as the student.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
I enjoyed my high school years, not necessarily the social aspects of them, but being given opportunities to grow in my chosen field and being respected for it.
Kathleen Hollar
Arden Hills, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1960
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
I learned the basics of math and English to get me into college. But I did not learn how to study. The high school courses were too easy. Yet, at the time, they seemed more--rigorous, in depth, than they actually were.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
The amount of information that is considered the "basics" has increased. And if a student does not have the basic skills and knowledge, he or she will end up in non-credit (expensive) classes which will force the student to five or more years to earn a BA or BS.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
Junior year, I went to three Proms. A chemistry experiment that went really bad with Phosphorus. Some of my friends, which I left behind completely.
Jan David Fisher
Pine Island, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1967
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
By attending a small high school (graduating class of 50) in rural Minnesota, I had the opportunity to be in everything -- band, choir, madrigal group, girls' sextet and triple trio, pep band, band ensembles, editor of HS newspaper, drama, FHA, GAA. Only things I didn't do much with were speech and declam. Also, this was before Title X so there were no athletics for girls, except for GAA (Girls Athletic Assoc.) every Thurs. night.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
It may still be the same in small towns, but in the big high schools I now see (western suburbs), it's much harder to have lots of extracurriculars. It's often a choice between band and choir, etc. Plus, with extra curriculars now costing more than $200 per sport, it's more difficult for kids to participate. It's shameful that schools don't provide the opportunities now that they did in the 1960s and 70s.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
Great! We had a real "can do" class. We decided as about 9th graders to take our senior class trip to Washington, DC, and we did it; we decided to do a musical for senior class play and we did it, etc.
Janet Keysser
Golden Valley, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1976
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
It's really where I started reading/loving interesting books, classic literature.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
Incomparable. Every year I had a summer reading list to complete and we read voraciously throughout the school year. My kids' lit classes seem cursory - lots of contemporary literature - which isn't necessarily bad - but there are so many classics they missed reading. My daughter is a freshman in college and is just now reading Anna Karenina. Aside from reading classics, our local public high school seems to spend an inordinate amount of time watching Hollywood movies/television as a part of their classes. My son's freshman American history class watched Mel Gibson's "The Patriot" - and JFK - pure fiction. My daughter's AP English class had to watch "West Wing" and they were actually tested on it! In freshman science they watch "Bill Nye the Science Guy"! I am stunned that this passes for education. In my opinion - these kids are drowning in mass media - no HS student should be watching movies/television in class unless it is a film/media production class.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
Great memories - went to an all girls/very small school. You didn't have to worry about how you looked everyday - didn't have to compete with boys for attention. I also think single sex schools are empowering - for women anyway.
Laura Badaracco Amend
Burnsville, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1961
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
High school course work was actually quite easy for me - perhaps too easy. The only classes I had to work hard in was English and Math. Also, most of the course content was not relevant to real life. The experiences that prepared me most for "the rest of my life" were the extra curricular - Sports, plays, debate, and so on. One of the reasons I became a teacher was that I thought I could help change how school was done.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
The high school experience has changed to some degree in some schools. Schools where students are expected to do project work in small groups are learning skills that can be useful in "the rest of their lives." Learning needs to be more "real life" based - interdisciplinary and based on real-life issues.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
Most of my memories center on extra curricular activities with a few exceptions. The one acidemic memory was when we had a practice teacher in English, who actually asked us to be creative. Under her direction I wrote my first poem and really felt good about that. I was able to actually express myself. This was a life altering experience. Other acidemic memories were not especially positive. For example, having to write out the US Constitution 10 times because I failed a test - that was really helpful. Non-acidemic memories include being in plays where I learned to recover from forgeting lines, or in football where I learned "moves" and was able to demonstrate them on the field. These experiences centered on being confronted with challanges and overcoming them.
Gary Engstrom
Cannon Falls, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1952
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
I attended West High School in Minneapolis. World War II had taken its toll on the supply of new teachers and thus ours were mostly old and not highly motivated. No special courses were offered for highly motivated students. Most of what I learned to prepare me for "the rest of my life" was learned in public and parochial schools grades k-9, and in the many years I spent in higher education, including an Ivy League undergraduate school and three public university graduate schools. The poor high school education I received did motivate me to become an educator and to provide an outstanding public high school education for those students I later taught and who attended the schools for which I was a principal and director of curriculum.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
In contrast to the high schools of the 1950's, public high schools today offer wonderful oportunities for highly motivated students. Most public high schools offer advanced placement courses and other great programs for college preparation. College prep courses today begin in grades 7 or 8,and calculus and four to five years of foreign language are standard offerings. Today the public understands the importance of education. That was not the case in the 1950's.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
I made many wonderful friends in high school, many of whom are still friends today. However, I have few positive memories of the academic side of high school.
Gretchen Wheelwright
Minneapolis, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1981
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
I am a teacher and musician, so obviously being involved in many music activities is probably the thing that most directly prepared me. Although other extracurricular activities such as Speech and Model UN - ones where you were intellectually engaged - and needed good speaking skills prepared me to be a teacher and musician as well. My classes were not always as stimulating- I preferred to follow my interests with more focus rather than surveys of all the stuff we were supposed to know. For example I always enjoyed advanced chemistry and physics courses over math courses- it was often the same math, but it was more stimulating to do it when there were real applications - it was more enjoyable than drill and the busy work of everyday mathematics. I enjoyed a fairly liberal arts high school experience. It prepared me to be a life-long learner and to do things I never imagined doing.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
I am so glad I went to school when I did- today there is way too much focus on testing and drilling academic skills. It is making our schools boring for all students. We are so concerned about our 'report card' that we are losing touch with what our students will need in the future. We are preparing them for the industrial age- not the 21st Century. Too many offerings are being gutted. For example, we used to have a variety of English offerings in our school from Mythology to Shakespeare to Humanities, etc. Now we offer 9, 10, 11 and 12th grade English. If you want to take a college English course students need to still take 12th grade English. Also there seems to be too much emphasis on getting a jump start on college. Probably driven by the cost to students. I can relate, I will have a high school student of my own next year, but in high school it should not be just about what you learn, it should also be about what you have to offer- academic skill, leadership, artistic skill, athletic skill, musicial skill- and so on. Beingb a student should mean being a contributor, not just a reciepient- too many students (parents) seem to feel entitled to things today.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
Teachers, trips, competitions, friends, the other stuff, not so much the day to day classroom grind. I remember those exceptional moments. Those times when something made your spine tingle- being a lead in the musical, capturing second place in New York, breaking a string at contest and I still kept playing, that last basketball game, marching 8 steps to 5 yards on the football field, reading the first poem I ever wrote in Junior English, because we all worshipped Mr. Forbes, all-conference band, I could go on forever, so many great memories. Students still make those memories today- they will remember theirs too.
Joseph Mish
Pine Island, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1961
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
There were 59 in my graduating class. My school was too small to offer challenging mathematics courses or advanced English courses. My parents sent me to music camp and private lessons to enrich my musical education. I do not recall that any art classes were available. Juniors and seniors put on a class play each year. The only girls sports were intermural or offered through Girls Athletic Association. I do not recall any "special ed" students.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
Even the most remote schools can offer: academically gifted students advanced classes (e.g., fthrough fiber optics), girls competitive sports, art classes.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
My pleasant memories include: Pep band, forensics competitions, conference GAA game weekends, class plays, singing German songs in German class, detailed/labeled drawings for science classes, taking standardized tests, speed tests in typing class, all-night activites at school related to prom, working on the yearbook.
Elizabeth Olson
Farmington, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1974
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
Once I took charge of where the process was going to take place, it helped me find a place to stand. I learned that I could affect events in my own life, and to be an agent for positive change. That knowledge has consistently led me to challenge accepted wisdom and the status quo.
As far as academic work is concerned, which I suspect may be the focus of your question, I admit to being lazy. I coasted, got by, and put my energy into people and subjects that interested me.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
I was lucky. I went through high school at a time when society was not yet so obsessive about testing and test scores.
Please don't misunderstand -- I believe that assessment is necessary and good. I do not believe, however, that test scores necessarily give any useful information about the amount and quality of learning. I believe very strongly that there is little or no correlation between test scores and success in life or later educational activities.
As long as the questions and focus are all about improving a bunch of SEEMINGLY objective criteria, we're missing the point.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
The relationships with people, students and teachers alike, were what kept me on track. Having success with extracurricular activities kept me willing to put up with the rest of the daily life in high school.
Stephen Rosenmeier
Afton, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1997
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
Because of excellent academics and teachers that supported my curiosity, I was able to get a lot of academic support, which helped me gain an appreciation and an inkling of how much there was to discover in the world and that I would probably/definitely only scratch the surface. But I think what really made my high school experience so helpful for the rest of my life were the interactions with people different from my own. Because so many different people with different experiences and cultures and languages were in such an intimate space for over 2,000 students, I experienced how people could be from the good to the bad. Also, having had gone to a school that was viewed as a "rough" school, and to see how just that interpretation affected how the community and the media viewed the students, no matter who we really were as people and a student body, was very eye opening. I think these experiences made me very aware of such prejudices and I hope these have helped me be more aware and critical of the world and what is presented to me since high school.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
I don't think the issues have changed to much today. In certain ways I think students today are better off, because they grew up with diverse appearances, cultures, and languages more as a norm. However, mostly because it is more difficult to change whole institutions and to change older generations, I think that the schools are having a greater challenge embracing some of this diversity, especially as it moves out to areas where very striking differences have been easy to hide or avoid in the past.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
I remember how creative and interesting the people in my class were. People were always breaking a stereotype. I remember being able to finally find a group of people that I felt I belonged to, who were dorky and used big words and who loved to explore life and challenge what people thought. I also remember the teachers who were able to challenge my thinking, and who were able to show me how what I had learned connected to other aspects of my life. What I loved about my physics class, was that I not only learned the math and how that connected to phenomena in the physical world, but then also how this then connected to history and the history of thought and how I could even connect it to people thinking about their place in the universe. High school was where I learned that you can't think about a problem in just one way, life isn't black and white, there is a lot of gray. I think this really helped push me to explore. Still, despite the intellectual aspects, I think I remember my friends the most. One great memory I have is of the time some of my friends did an interpretive dance for their creative project for Jane Eyre. We made an elaborate production of it with music, lighting and even fog. I manned the wok with dry ice. The depiction of Jane's youth through dance and music was going well, when suddenly I thought, "dry ice really smells a lot like smoke." The next moment I look down and I notice that the cord of the wok is actually on fire. I calmly stand up and say, "Um, fire. Excuse me, there's a fire." I am trying to stamp it out, but my Docs have to many deep grooves for it to really work. Then one of the socked dancers comes over and without thinking stamps out the electrical fire... Then the scene finishes. I was told my by younger brother that by the time his class came around (three years later) interpretive dance was mentioned as not being allowed. Although saddened, my friends and I are proud to be part of the legend.
Kristina Kvarnlov-Leverty
Saint Paul, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1947
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
Since it was always my intention to go on to college, Washburn High School, which was probably still based on the British system, had me well prepared for college. Someone I knew well, took a heavy load of business school and college prep courses, but she was told privately that she was kept off the National Honor Society by our counselor, because of her business school background. I found this very wrong..Business classes did not get the recognition they should have had... job preparation should be very well done, with excellent teachers, giving it a good reputation. With our computer knowledge and needs in the workplace changing all the time, keeping up on this should be some administrative job to help students be able go out to work without having to spend lots of money on computer skills. This could cut Technical college costs. Computer courses in high school should be recommended by businesses' needs in the community and state. We need to pay much more attention to what in high school goes in the long term memory. Because we take so many courses and have so little review through the years, much that is learned is forgotten. "If you don't use it you lose it, is true for most people" This is true of computer courses as well.. and too much learning without lots of practice can mean time wasted. We do not pay enough attention to the best way to get retention of knowledge.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
I think there are probably many similarities with many of today's high schools. We need to much better prepare kids for the world of work.A large share of our students are not going on to college.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
Fine teachers, great fun... The music and drama classes were the ones I remember most fondly. I used the skills from these classes in later life as a kindergarten teacher. We had many after school activities, which I remember more than the classes..such as Latin club, French Club and GAA(Girl's Athletic Association.)
Muriel Henderson
Red Wing, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1968
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
We had to learn or you did not advance. We had competition so would learn in the real world it is not always fair or level. When we left school we had a working knowlage of math, english, reading, hisory, how our goverment works and how to go find the information we needed to do most anything else.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
Just about the complete opposite. Politicly correct history, almost no goverment,without a calculator and a word proccesser they can not do math or constuct a sentance. There are exceptions of course of most of the time they did it on their own as the classes are tuned to the lowest level student not the top. That competition pushed the lesser students to achive. Now it just pushes everyone down.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
I look back at the times we had and the thing we did. By todays PC everyone is a victom nobody is responsible for themselfs it is a wonder any of us are alive today. We played with mercury, road bicycles without body armor and helmets, would hunt on the way to shcool put our guns in our lockers and hunt on the way home. We did not worry about ethnics or culture because we were brought up to believe it did not matter. We all spoke english(some better than others)but we were all Americans first and this was the great country.
Sean Parent
Foley, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1981
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
If all you were going to do was party, there wasn't much more to look forward towards. If you chose to do more than party, there was something out there, but what it is and how do you get there is obscure.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
I believe students are coming out ready to spend someone else's money for four (or more) years finding themselves. Little responsibility is expected, and if there is a problem, it's someone or something at fault--not me, man. I also think the students graduating today believe they are entitled to a better life without giving much effort. "The dough will start rolling in now."
What memories do you have of your high school years?
Kids doing drugs to escape the monotony of a broken system. When I did reach out to the better academic teachers, I was dismissed as a corrupt burnout which didn't really deserve their time. I never did like much of public high school.
Thomas Walt
Bloomington, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1990s or later
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
My high school experiences gave me an invaluable foundation in writing, literature and communication. My freshman year high school English teacher, Mr. Stelk, set the tone for the remaining 4 years and really whipped us all into shape! I took advantage of a number of related extracurricular activities: a writer and editor for the school newspaper, member of the speech team and a tutor in our writer's workshop. I owe most of my skills in writing, editing, interviewing, presenting and desktop publishing to the skills I first learned in high school.
I also benefited from some excellent science and math teachers. The instruction I received spurred an interest in biology, chemistry and the health sciences. I don't think it's a coicidence that my eventual career path integrated the health and life sciences with writing, education and communication - a culmination of my best high school experiences.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
I think today's high school students are much more aware of the world around them and more tolerant of people from other cultures. There is a greater emphasis on learning foreign languages and traveling to other countries. In addition, the interdisciplinary environments in college and graduate school seem to be tricking down more and more to the high school levels.
What memories do you have of your high school years?
Busy, busy, busy! Tons of homework and time spent involved in extra-curriculars. As for the overall atmosphere: lots of clicks, very diverse student population but limited socialization between people of different racial, ethnic, religious and economic backgrounds.
Rachana Sikka
Minneapolis, MN
In what year did you graduate high school? 1990s or later
How did your high school experience prepare you for the rest of your life?
I luckily went to one of the better public high schools in Minneapolis, and found myself well prepared for the rest of my life. Of course, getting a good education took a lot of work on my part. I had to constantly involve myself in activities and take extra time to meet with teachers. I know that people who didn't do that had a much harder time with school.
In your observation, how does that experience compare with today's high school experience?
I graduated recently so I don't think much has changed in terms of public high school in Minneapolis. I just know that rising class sizes, lack of funds for activities, the racial segregation within schools (as in how many people of a certain race go to certain schools-why did Southwest send so many hispanic students to other mpls public schools?), and the emphasis on achieving the government standards certainly isn't helping the situation. Oh yes, and the fact that no one seems to want to listen to students on issues that affect them directly (such as lengthening the school year).
What memories do you have of your high school years?
It wasn't all bad....for the most part I had great teachers and wonderful friends.
Andra Skaalrud
Boston, MA
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