Opinion: Changes I wish to see happen in the 2022 school year

Whether in-person or online, there are a few changes that I, a graduating senior, would appreciate seeing in the 2022 school year.

1. Keep the same bell schedule as the 2021 school year

The new bell schedule has created a balance of work, breaks, focus, and recharge. The teachers seem comfortable with the amount of participation and specifically the conversations the students bring in due to being relaxed and stimulated at the same time from work while taking time for themselves individually while still in groups. 

One student shared that butterflies landed on them when sitting outside in the fresh air on a break from class. The teacher explained the importance of respecting the environment, realizing the abundance of beauty in Mother Nature.  The student had the presence of mind to shoot a video and take some pictures with their phone.  This turned fun into completing a class project that they were righting with the addition of an extraordinary video and photos.  The teacher and the other students were delighted with how this homework got completed,  and class discussions expanded with absolute joy. 

This is an example of the consistent progression of new learning and further reinforcement of the curriculum. Giving every student more of a sense of control over their time to do their work, discover new ways of integrating life experiences into the curriculum can bring real meaning to learning by the action of experience. 

Didactic learning and memorizing facts can be good in some subjects like chemistry and math. Still, the more real-life experience that can be integrated into daily learning gives every student more motivation for discovering new ideas without the pressure of just finishing assignments to get them done.

2. No homework over weekends or breaks

Students need opportunities to have fun together and create bonds with one another. When the work needs to be completed as a team, it’s a continuation of the fun. Enjoying new learning is a great way to make topics easier to remember and want to learn more, share more, and contribute to everyone learning more altogether.

Learning is positively enhanced when there is a spirit of cooperation and a collective spirit that allows each student to apply their new knowledge to lessons relevant in everyday situations. The goal of the wellness days would be to encourage everyone to integrate the positive lessons from schoolwork into their daily lives. An example of this could be as simple as having every student and the teacher share one lesson from the wellness day with anyone of their choice.  Then write about the interaction outside of school inspired in school or share it in class as a discussion topic. 

The point here is that when we teach what we need to learn, we learn things at a deeper level of intellectual understanding that may inspire people in and out of class.  Some educators and students may think that wellness days only happen in school or when they’re not in school.  The answer is both because wellness is a state of mind that can be brought into school, enjoyed during sports, music, theater, conversations, school work, and simply sitting around by oneself and with others.

Wellness days are intended to create a wellness mindset.  No matter what, people can ask themselves, “Would I love to do that?”  Or “Would I be comfortable doing that?”  Feeling well or happy and healthy takes actions that make one feel well, and just being aware that one wants to be well when alone or with others is not enough.  Wellness can be reinstated with a few deep, satisfying breaths and paying attention to one’s senses anywhere and any place. 

Wellness can also be experienced when listening closely to other people, music, birds, and even quiet.  Wellness days are a bridge for people to learn how to feel well when needed, when desired and when one would love to experience wellness inside and out.

3. Implement daily check-ins with students

Begin doing daily check-ins with students that encourage interactions between teachers and students and potentially deepen class discussions.

One example could be giving each teacher time to ask each student a personalized question each day, such as, “Is there anything I can do to help you with the current topics or assignment?” Part of the integration of education includes knowing your teachers and students on a personal level and having the opportunity for them to get to know you. Simple things like, “How are you ______?” and listening is caring, compassionate, and friendly.

This opens student’s minds and hearts for potential new connections. This is also important for teachers. Otherwise, the school environment can become robotic and impersonal.

4. Having scheduled wellness days. 

Students need opportunities to have fun together and create bonds with one another. When the work needs to be completed as a team, it’s a continuation of the fun. Enjoying new learning is a great way to make topics easier to remember and want to learn more, share more, and contribute to everyone learning more altogether.

Learning is positively enhanced when there is a spirit of cooperation and a collective spirit that allows each student to apply their new learning to lessons relevant in everyday situations. The goal of the wellness days would be to encourage everyone to integrate the positive lessons from schoolwork into their daily lives. An example of this could be as simple as having every student and the teacher share one lesson from the wellness day with anyone of their choice.  

The point here is that when we teach what we need to learn, we learn things at a deeper level of intellectual understanding that may inspire people in and out of class. We learn things at a deeper level of intellectual insight that may inspire people in and out of class.

5. Letting students and staff have technology breaks 

Have conversations about topics relevant to the classroom and events outside of school that may range from pets to jobs to local, national, or world news. It’s essential to “unplug” to get a breath, introduce new topics, have discussions, and relax about what it all means, as well as get the energy for more new learning. Constantly working on a computer, phone or tablet can be good for everyone because online resources are like having a library at your fingertips. This can be like a rabbit hole because the amount of information available is extraordinary.

Technology can be a bridge to interesting discussions. The next step after searching and finding new information is discussing the importance and relevance that can be more relaxing and inspiring. I’m not saying “either-or” but both!  Some people love technology, while some other people prefer to be unplugged from technology. Almost everyone agrees that there are advantages to both learnings with and without technology. 

Relationships are the most important things, and this means that the majority of the new learning will come from sharing ideas, collaborating on potential solutions, and participating in creative processes.  This will hold whether people are engaged with or without technologies. 

Other people avoid technologies because they are afraid they’ll become addicted or like robots and miss the great outdoors and authentic human interactions. This is why it is always important to be open-minded to being a life-long learner no matter how much you think you already know.  Nobody has ever used all of their mind or their biocomputer.  You might have read that the average person uses 12% of their brain, but we know many people use much less.