The Way We See It: What Makes a School Worth Going To

After providing teenagers with video cameras, the youth video network Listen Up! asked them to create documentaries addressing the question “what makes a school worth going to?” The results, shown here, profile four students at four different schools. Thomas, in New Mexico, probably has ADD and struggles in his traditional academic classes; what keeps school interesting for him is his fine arts and media classes, in which he's allowed the opportunity to express himself. Nicole, who lives in Texas (where the average size of a public high school is 3,000-4,000 students), goes to a magnet school that focuses on communication arts, and boasts strong student-teacher relations, as well as a high level of parental involvement. After being beaten by a gang of boys at his public high school's homecoming game, Ron--who is gay--moved to another part of Minnesota to attend a school for the arts that provides a more tolerant learning environment. After his brother was killed, Jamaal became homeless, but was later able to excel thanks to the incredibly caring teachers at his Chicago suburb school. On the plus side, the stories are encouraging, but they don't really “depict a road map of hope and success for public school systems” as the press material claims; if anything, they provide anecdotal case studies promoting small, specialized schools and/or more funding for the arts. A companion volume, The Way We See It: What Makes a Teacher Worth Listening To is also available. Optional. Aud: J, H. (E. Gieschen)