Asher Lehrer-Small: What Are Houston Students Saying
In the midst of many radical changes in the Houston School district under the takeover by Mike Miles, Houston Landing has reporter Asher Lehrer-Small talk to some actual students. Here are just some of the responses:
Alexa Ramos, senior, High School for Law and Justice: Most of the things that (teachers) do in their classrooms, it very much seems like it’s not something that they want to do. They’re like, ‘Oh, the administrators told us to do this.’ It’s not like, ‘Oh, I’ve been wanting to do this.’
Tegann Franco, senior, Challenge Early College High School: Everything has to be timed and (lessons) all have to have a certain structure to them. That structure is incredibly draining for teachers and you can see that on them. At this point in the school year, typically they aren’t so tired, they aren’t so run down. A lot of teachers are starting to get frustrated easier with students and lose their patience easier with students.
Khalil Daniels, junior, Sharpstown High School: It feels like every single class period is the same because they all follow the exact same structure, like with the timers and with the learning objectives on the board and the things you have to do. It’s all the same structure, which is OK for some students, but not everyone learns like that. For me, I have ADHD, so doing the same thing every single class period, it just starts to drive me crazy and there’s a point where I can’t focus anymore.
Comfort Azagidi, senior, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts: It just feels kind of ‘factory’ almost, that’s the only way I can explain it. My theater classes went from being like, ‘Oh, I’m in my theater classes. I’m gonna go work on my art,’ to more like, ‘Oh, I have a theater assignment. I need to get this theater assignment in.’ It feels very robotic and mechanical.
Anh Ton, senior, Chavez High School: A lot of kids feel like, ‘Yeah, maybe I should transfer. Maybe I should do this.’ It’s just sad to hear because I really liked going to school before (the changes this year).
Read the full article for more student comments and other background from this school year.