As most students know, we are at that important moment in the school year where we decide our courses for next year. This is a very vital and stressful moment, since the classes you take junior year is what will be seen most by colleges, and is vital for your future (choices/career). The system and process of choosing such important classes, although organized well, has many flaws.
For a first, students are expected to know what classes they should take early February. Students are barely in the second semester, and have not experienced enough to be able to wisely make such decisions. After all, second semester is when a student is expected to improve and prosper, and therefore reach a better understanding of where they stand in their education rather than in the beginning of second semester. I for one, need more time to determine where I stand in certain subjects, so I can wisely choose these critical courses.
Expecting students to know what classes they should take early would not be a problem, however, if students were allowed to easily switch classes. Although students have the opportunity to switch classes before summer, no reminders are emphasized to the students, and even so, students tend to be naturally lazy and ignorant, and so they will not tend to switch classes, which should be expected. If students were proposed class options later, not only would fewer errors in class decision would be made, but more more time for the students to discover what they truly want would be given.
Another flaw present with the switching system is how students cannot switch classes once the school year begins. Most students have no clue what the class features, who their teacher is going to be, how will the class work, what is expected from them, etc. By allowing students to experience the class, students now know what the class is like, and can wisely decide whether stay with the class or switch out. I personally know students who had experienced revelations over summer, deciding what they want from their future, but it was too late to switch their classes. Officials expect students to choose classes with no idea what the class is like, but then after experiencing the class, and therefore being able to make a logical decision, students are no longer allowed to switch. If a student feels as though they have been misplaced, or feels like the courses they are taking will not help them reach certain goals, they should be allowed to switch.
Although today's system reveals many benefits, such as the early articulation allowing students (and staff) time to prepare for the courses, and making sure students aren't making naive decisions, I believe in this case vice outweighs virtue. Even though the school system today has been working efficiently thus far, with a few simple changes or tweaks of today's decent system, both the students' presents, and futures, would benefit.
*NOTE: This is not directed to criticize, discredit, or disapprove the successful campus known as Mira Mesa High School. This blog is simply to display and discuss my opinion on a debatable topic of controversy among students. Thank You.
Monday, February 16, 2015
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Why I Don't Have a Facebook
The world's largest social network today, with over one billion users, is Facebook. In fact, Matt Petronzio claims in his article that if "Facebook's user
base continues to grow at its current rate, it could surpass the number
of people living in China — the world's most populous country" in 2015.
And yet, I am still not a part of this massive online community. When I tell people this it usually leaves a baffled look on their face, but it is true. However, I do have my reasons of how Facebook can be more detrimental than beneficial.
The most important reason I don't have a Facebook today is because it is a distraction. High school is a time where you need to be focused, to learn and earn good grades for a successful future. However, the last thing one needs is a distraction to harm their academic success. Many people "stalk" their crushes and enemies, and this leads to massive time consumption and energy waste. I for one already have enough distractions as it is, and can't afford to add another.
Another reason I don't have a Facebook is because of privacy and security hazard. Facebook allows strangers to see private information, such as favorite movies, actors, your locations (Facebook Places), etc. Although one can enable privacy settings, a good portion of personal information about them would be revealed to the public because to be honest, everyone has some strangers of their friends list. This kind of information can hurt one's chances of having a successful career, since almost all companies check one's Facebook before hiring. Facebook is also known for scam (such as fake accounts) and viruses, which can be acquired with a click of a button.
Facebook's impact on one's emotional state is a major factor in my reluctance to make a Facebook. I personally prefer to learn about someone in person, with genuine human connection, not by reading their profile and statuses. That can lead to one being anti-social, or socially-awkward. Facebook can also lead to states of sorrow or depression. For example, if one goes on Facebook and sees a picture of their crush with another guy/girl, they would be saddened, and would have been happier if they didn't check at all. Or if someone sees their friends going hiking and getting exercise it might make one feel worse about themselves. The possibilities are endless.
Although Facebook has some benefits, such as for educational or business purposes, the negatives easily out weigh the positives. However, the severity of the harms depend on the user as a whole. If one realizes the vices of Facebook, and properly adjust themselves and their uses of the social network, Facebook will not be as much of a threat than it is to most people today.
And yet, I am still not a part of this massive online community. When I tell people this it usually leaves a baffled look on their face, but it is true. However, I do have my reasons of how Facebook can be more detrimental than beneficial.
The most important reason I don't have a Facebook today is because it is a distraction. High school is a time where you need to be focused, to learn and earn good grades for a successful future. However, the last thing one needs is a distraction to harm their academic success. Many people "stalk" their crushes and enemies, and this leads to massive time consumption and energy waste. I for one already have enough distractions as it is, and can't afford to add another.
Another reason I don't have a Facebook is because of privacy and security hazard. Facebook allows strangers to see private information, such as favorite movies, actors, your locations (Facebook Places), etc. Although one can enable privacy settings, a good portion of personal information about them would be revealed to the public because to be honest, everyone has some strangers of their friends list. This kind of information can hurt one's chances of having a successful career, since almost all companies check one's Facebook before hiring. Facebook is also known for scam (such as fake accounts) and viruses, which can be acquired with a click of a button.
Facebook's impact on one's emotional state is a major factor in my reluctance to make a Facebook. I personally prefer to learn about someone in person, with genuine human connection, not by reading their profile and statuses. That can lead to one being anti-social, or socially-awkward. Facebook can also lead to states of sorrow or depression. For example, if one goes on Facebook and sees a picture of their crush with another guy/girl, they would be saddened, and would have been happier if they didn't check at all. Or if someone sees their friends going hiking and getting exercise it might make one feel worse about themselves. The possibilities are endless.
Although Facebook has some benefits, such as for educational or business purposes, the negatives easily out weigh the positives. However, the severity of the harms depend on the user as a whole. If one realizes the vices of Facebook, and properly adjust themselves and their uses of the social network, Facebook will not be as much of a threat than it is to most people today.
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