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Building the Perfect High School
This is a sponsored post with XQ: The Super School Project through MODE Media. #RethinkHighSchool
From the moment I found out I was pregnant I immediately became concerned about schooling and the educational system. I wanted to raise kids who loved learning and who would excel in school. For this to happen we had to move from the home we loved and into a better school district.
Within three months of our first child being born, we moved into a different school district. My husband and I felt that this was important enough to relocate our little family at the time. We moved again three years later but again we made certain that we were moving into a better school district. At that point, we had two children and we felt that this was important enough to take matters into our own hands.
We are happy about the school district we live in now, although there are a few things that I would change. I would have smaller classes and give the kids more access to teachers. I would provide more for the teachers so that they are not spending their own money every year. We are just two years away from having our first child in high school and if I could, I would absolutely design the perfect high school for my kids.
ABOUT XQ: THE SUPER SCHOOL PROJECT
XQ: The Super School Project (from the XQ Institute) is a national movement and an open call to reimagine and design the next high school. In towns and cities far and wide, teams will unite and take on this important work of our time: Rethinking and building schools that deeply prepare our students for the rigorous challenges of college, jobs, and life. American ingenuity can and must move education forward. This is a challenge, open to all, to build the Super Schools that will lead the way.
The most forward-thinking schools, districts and communities will be rewarded and supported with with resources, expertise and support from some of the most brilliant thinkers in America today.
ABOUT THE XQ INSTITUTE
The XQ Institute is in service of parents and pioneers, entrepreneurs and teachers, business leaders and administrators, youth and education experts–who are joining a movement to rethink America's schools. Together, we can use our knowledge, rigor, and creativity to create a new model for school itself.
SUBMIT YOUR XQ: THE SUPER SCHOOL PROJECT PROPOSAL TODAY
Over the next few months, the XQ Institute is accepting your proposals. Then they will partner with the winning teams and provide them expert support and a fund of $50 million to support at least five schools over the next five years to turn their ideas into real Super Schools. The competition will be fierce and designed to spark the most innovative ideas that spur excellence in education — this is a rare chance for some of the most creative thinkers to work with school leaders and community members to imagine new possibilities across every facet of a high school.
MY PERFECT HIGH SCHOOL
My perfect high school would absolutely harness the creativity, courage and love of learning of my children and indeed those children in our community. I would design a globally connected, technologically enhanced school that allows students a glimpse into their future and insight into education around the world. Here are a few things that I would love to see:
- iPads for every student given to them for the entire four years and updated/replaced as needed.
- Online class options offered for all students.
- Three meal options for all students. Breakfast and lunch would be provided plus the option for a boxed dinner to take home for students.
- Targeted learning tracks if the student chooses. Drama, Arts, Foreign Languages, etc.
- Global classrooms with classes held concurrently with schools in other countries.
- Small classrooms with a 1 to 10 teacher-student Each homeroom teacher would mentor and teach their kids for all four years of high school. The teacher would stay with their class.
- Solid college and career planning would also be done with their teacher. Teachers would help each student plan their path after graduation.
This high school would build confidence, foster creative ideas and help our children feel safe while meeting the challenges of this generation. Simply put, we will help shape the next generation of global citizens.
WHAT DOES YOUR PERFECT HIGH SCHOOL LOOK LIKE?
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XQ: The Super School Project is an open call to reimagine and design the next American high school. In towns and cities far and wide, teams will unite and take on this important work of our time: Rethinking and building schools that deeply prepare our students for the rigorous challenges of college, jobs, and life.
I would love to see classes where they offered REAL life skills instead of things they will never use in real life. IE Algebra.
I am with Robin, I hated algebra lol. I think real life skills is far important than things that doesn’t really matter.
I think this is a great concept. I think that flexibility would help kids learn better. I am not sure what I would pick for a perfect high school, but I think that it would be more flexible schedule.
That sounds like a great project, I agree with you online classes will be great 😀
I love your ideas of a super school! We live in a small town our teacher student ratio isn’t 1 to 10, but more like 1 to 20. Not to bad and I always feel like my little guy gets the support he needs.
I do wish we had more after school electives though!
I would like to think I have a lot of great ideas for a perfect high school. We have great high schools in our area, they are just so expensive (they are private schools).
Stacie,
Your list of what you would like to see is great. The one I like the most, but never would have thought of is
“Global classrooms with classes held concurrently with schools in other countries.”
What a cool idea.
I really agree with your college career planning idea. I know my school could have used something like that.
WOW- sooo much to think about!! I love the idea of all the kids having ipads!
I went to a really small high school and I loved it. I got to be involved in more stuff, had a very small student to teacher ratio, and knew everyone there. I would love for my hypothetical children to go to a similar school one day.
I agree with you. Finding the perfect school for our kids is very important. I want my kids to learn tech
Oh I love this idea. Schools should teach more real life skills. I’m always shocked by what kids arent learning.
I’ve heard that so many public schools are going to no textbooks which is hard to believe. I am a textbook gal! If that is the case, your #1 suggestion should be available for these schools for sure!
I love these ideas for the perfect school. One thing I wish I could choose is my daughter’s classmates, I would love to select other kids who are like minded to go to school to learn like my daughter does.
The Super School Project sounds like a great project. We all want a school that will maximize the learning capabilities of each student.
Great teachers, great learning experience for the students, great meal options and super safe – that is perfect high school for me. Two more years and my son will be in high school. 🙂
I think online class options would be awesome for high school kids! I finished my bachelors degree online and think for some people online just works better sometimes!
Perhaps classes on cooking, sewing and cleaning! OOOoo and one on common sense and work ethic 🙂
I love your idea for the 3 meals a day for students. So many kids only get meals at or from school.
This is a great idea. I would like to have cirriculum set up on computers so kids can learn at their own pace.
My perfect high school would take away standardized testing because not all children think the same. The idea that one test would be right for every child is crazy to me!
We have decided to put our daughter in private school because I feel like no public school is up to where they should be. There are many great ones, yes, but its the class sizes, the lack of arts, the college prep… I want my kid to love school too. I hated school, even like 1st grade. I love this program. Thank you for sharing it.
Wow… quite the decision… a perfect school. Not sure where I would begin. First would be organic and long lunch. Then more art and hands on learning classes. No standardized testing.
I agree that smaller class sizes would be wonderful. Homework clubs and more one on one support available from teachers would be idea.
There are so many aspects that I feel are needed to make the perfect high school. I like the idea of focusing on important issues adults face like selecting the right insurance plans and making a household budget.
I honestly couldn’t envision what a perfect high school would look like, considering I went to Christian school during those years. However, I love your ideas!
They had iPads in my son’s kindergarten class. I laughed, but it was cool.
TBH I’ve never really thought of what the perfect high school would or should look like but if there were no bullies I think it’d be close to perfect.
Thanks for your article about how to design a high school, Stacie. I like your idea about how a student would meet with a teacher to plan their college preparations and applications. One thing I would like to see more of is the opportunity for religious clubs and organizations for students. I felt a lot of anti-religious sentiment from many of my peers in high school. It’d be nice if there was the opportunity for Christians and other religions to come together in school and have opportunities for club leadership and such.