As skeptical students, it is in our nature to always question the value of learning, especially when placed out of our element in terms of subject material. Future poets toil over physics problems, while future engineers ponder the value of reading Shakespeare.
Many of Stuyvesant’s required classes seem pointless. They aren’t geared towards preparing us for our chosen career, but rather to make us better-rounded human beings with a more comprehensive understanding of the world. Most people don’t need to be able to tell the difference between a Monet and a Michelangelo. However, an understanding of art and music is good for the soul.
But the administration requires a host of classes that teach things that most of us will never use. And yet there is no class devoted to current events—something that is useful for everyone.
A current events class would be discussion-based and use newspapers and other periodicals as texts. It would promote political awareness as many of us prepare to vote for the first time and help students interpret and understand the news—weeding out bias and slant. In this sense, the class wouldn’t just teach us who the President of France is, but how the person was elected and how the election affects us as Americans.
Such an education is essential to becoming a responsible citizen. In an age when teenage apathy is almost as high as voter turnout is low, schools are obligated to step in and curb this trend.
Stuyvesant does more than enough to prepare its students for college. However it doesn’t necessarily prepare us enough to make a contribution to the world around us. We are not required to volunteer in order to graduate—unlike many high schools—and a current events class would be a step in the right direction. In order to maintain its status as an elite institution, Stuyvesant needs to produce students who are responsible voters, passionate volunteers, and engaged with the outside world—not just insular scholars with high SAT scores.
Such a class would be a vital part of the curriculum. Just as artists often have difficulty finding time to paint without the encouragement of a teacher, politically concerned students sometimes have difficulty finding time to do the research necessary to back their assertions up. While the school does provide a myriad of political discussion clubs, such clubs do not reach everyone, and discussion occurs without mediation. The presence of a teacher to serve as a catalyst for thoughtful debate and thorough research is what is really needed in order for real learning to take place.
With the upcoming budget cuts, finding funding for additional classes will be difficult. While a course solely dedicated to current events would be ideal, incorporating current events into the history curricula is the next best solution. Each history class would devote a certain number of periods per month to discuss modern political development. Even though teachers may be hesitant to use valuable class time to discuss information that will not appear on Regents or Advanced Placement exams, knowledge of current events is essential.
The school already provides us with free copies of the New York Times. However this service, though admirable, is underused and underappreciated. In order for students to take advantage of the newspapers, the school needs to stop treating it as a free handout and start using it as a textbook.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Lawrence // Jun 3, 2008 at 8:10 am
Great idea! I have been getting into current events later because we as Americans are just so mis-informed. I read Current Events, Conservative Outcomes by Freiman last week to get a new perspective on current events. We need to be more informed. Freiman breaks down 75 current events and predicts the outcome of all based on current trends and his uncanny ability to look ahead into the future.
2 A.W. // Jun 4, 2008 at 11:23 pm
“A current events class would be discussion-based and use newspapers and other periodicals as texts.”
You obviously have not taken a senior government class yet, junior. Even further, a lot of non-government teachers regularly use texts based on current events. This is especially true since we’re nearing an election.
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“Such an education is essential to becoming a responsible citizen. In an age when teenage apathy is almost as high as voter turnout is low, schools are obligated to step in and curb this trend.”
Obligated? A bit extreme… A firm knowledge in history (which is arguably provided by our school) is somewhat necessary before you step into full blown political debate (what occurs in senior government classes, in forums on the internet, and even in places that are not school). I think our school is doing just fine in this aspect.
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“Just as artists often have difficulty finding time to paint without the encouragement of a teacher, politically concerned students sometimes have difficulty finding time to do the research necessary to back their assertions up.”
I suggest these tortured souls go strike up a conversation with any of our teachers when both parties are free. I’ve spoken to the bulk of the history department (even teachers i’ve never had!) Oh there’s also that great new resource that everyone seems to be talking about - the internet.
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“The school already provides us with free copies of the New York Times. However this service, though admirable, is underused and underappreciated. In order for students to take advantage of the newspapers, the school needs to stop treating it as a free handout and start using it as a textbook.”"
Boo hoo!
Have you no faith in your peers?
Conclusion:
You’ve a good mission but please bear in mind the subjective nature of politics. First and foremost history should be taught comprehensively. Yes, our textbooks have bias in them, but so does any newspaper. A separate current events class would be good, so long it was not a required class. Basically, I agree with many of your points but I personally feel that this article does nothing to highlight the pros in what we already have.
3 A.W. // Jun 4, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Oh, furthermore read this article I found on this site: http://stuyspectator.com/2008/06/02/teacher-don%e2%80%99t-preach/#more-814
4 Maan Tinna` // Jun 7, 2008 at 4:05 pm
I agree that it is necessary to learn about current events. I’m so lost with whats going on around me. It seems more useful than drafting. I doubt that a government class can provide as much as a class not geared toward any specific issue, and it is possible for teachers not to preach, but moderate discussion in such a class.
5 Maan Tinna // Jun 7, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I really agree, James. I think that a current events class would be really useful, especially to me, someone who has no idea what is going on around him. I think that it would prove a lot more useful than drafting.
I dont think that it is necessary for a teacher to be a preacher in this kind of class. Great job writing this article.
6 A.W. // Jun 15, 2008 at 6:42 pm
“I agree that it is necessary to learn about current events. I’m so lost with whats going on around me. It seems more useful than drafting. I doubt that a government class can provide as much as a class not geared toward any specific issue, and it is possible for teachers not to preach, but moderate discussion in such a class.”
Again, you speak from inexperience…
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