Sol Conference / Lives on!

Folks:

A little something that evolved from the Sol Conference 2004 and the message the students and teachers who partcipated deliverd and continue to aspire to.

Best,

Jim

Students offer ideas on education

"One student says teachers need to interact more, rather than just talk"
Of The Daily Oakland Press

About 50 Pontiac high school students demonstrated Wednesday that, like politicians, school administrators, teachers and parents, they too have a few ideas about education reform.

"We don't want the teacher to just stand in front of us and talk our heads off," said Pontiac Central junior Jessica Griggs. "We want to interact."

Griggs and other students shared ideas about helping students achieve as part of a day-long event sponsored by the Pontiac-based National Civility Center.

Established in 2000, the nonprofit organization works to help individuals and institutions advocate for a broad array of improvements in their communities.

Executive Director Kent Roberts said he organized Wednesday's event, as well as three others statewide, to prepare for a series of education reform conferences being organized by Michigan State University, the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals and the Michigan Department of Education.

"I told them that I'd be happy to take part in that, but on one condition - that I go to the experts first," Roberts said.

The former teacher noted that high school students can offer insightful and even profound ideas about improving student achievement - some that mirror suggestions being made by politicians and education experts.

"You've got to have faith that they will come up with the same recommendations, but they'll frame it in a better context," Roberts said. "It will be depoliticized."

Pontiac Central High School senior Kayla Henke said schools need to ensure a supportive and inclusive learning environment for all students.

"If you feel accepted or if you feel like you're going to be laughed at if you get something wrong, that affects how much you're going to participate," she explained.

Students also suggested: Educators and politicians need to place less emphasis on standardized test outcomes; all teachers should demonstrate a passion for their work; and society, in general, should appreciate that different students learn in different ways.

A number of students said the responsibility of making academic achievement gains also lies in the hands of students themselves.

"I feel if more students were involved in school ... more teachers would want to put more into their work," said Meosha Lewis, a Bethune Alternative High School junior.

Roberts said a number of students who offered their thoughts on Wednesday will be invited to make presentations at coming education reform conferences. Those events are scheduled later this month and in April.

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