MONDAY MAY 19th-

Today was a pretty productive day, when I woke up this morning I worked on my paper for a nice long time, and now it is basically done, the only thing I need to do is the conclusion. Sometime this week I will probably go into school and bring my paper to my mentor, Phil so he can look over my paper with me, and see what changes need to be made

I also got a talk to talk via email with a student from Field, and here is the interview-

1)   Do you think there is a drug problem at your school?

No.  Sure I bet that some people do them at times, but I don’t think that it’s a serious issue or a “problem.” 

 

2)   How do you think people perceive your school-image wise?

I think that it really depends on who you’re talking to.  I think the stereotype is that Field is an artsy school with lots of students with ADD, ADHD, and “different” learning styles.  While there are students who could fit into these categories, Field is also perceived as a liberal-minded school that provides lots of opportunities for its students and has really unique programs – such as the Winter Internship Program – that you don’t find in most other secondary schools.  Overall, though, I think that Field is seen in a very favorable light.

 

3)   And what is the biggest stereotype about your school?

See answer to above question: students are artsy, etc.

 

4)   What is your school’s “big thing- why should people come to your school over the others?

The student-teacher relationship/dynamic at Field is truly awesome.  Most Field teachers are recent college graduates.  They are really fresh with the material they teach and are very approachable both in and out of class.  Furthermore, Field teachers are incredibly supportive and have the capacity to become your friend in addition to your teacher (I do not mean this in a weird, sketchy way – it’s merely that they are truly friendly and really want to help you).

I also think that Field’s Internship Program is pretty “big.”  I had many valuable internship experiences which not only were fun and great learning experiences but also gave me a leg up when searching for summer jobs and internships and when applying to college.

 

5)   Do you have cliques at your school/bullying, if so how do you deal with them?

I would say that Field does not have any cliques or bullying.  People definitely have their own groups of friends that they hang out with, but overall, these groups are not exclusive and most everyone is open to accepting others.

After being at Field for 6 years, I have never been a victim of nor witnessed any bullying.

 

6)   What is the experience of most of the teachers, do you like them?

The vast majority of Field teachers really want to be there and students consequently feel more inclined to like them.  I have liked and had great relationships with nearly all my teachers.

 

7)   Do you have a lot of disciplinary problems, how are disciplinary issues handled?

I don’t think Field has too many major disciplinary problems.  People are very seldom expelled or suspended from school for bad conduct.  Field approaches handling disciplinary problems on a very individual and personal basis/level involving regular conversations between the students and teachers, grade heads, and parents.  But really, I think the biggest disciplinary problem at Field is getting some students to do their homework on time.  This is mainly addressed by sending students to Lunch Study Hall – a study hall that begins part-way through lunch and continues into the post-lunch study hall period where students work to complete outstanding work.  If a student still doesn’t finish his/her work there, then the conversation method is applied and things go from there.

 

8)   In two or three words describe your school’s culture

Relaxed, non-traditional, individualized.

 

9)   Who is “popular” at your school, who fits in the best?

It’s hard to judge popularity at Field.  It depends more on who’s the most sociable rather than on factors like personal style, background, etc.  The school’s so small anyway that everyone knows practially everyone else so it’s not like there’s a select group of “popular” kids known above everyone else.

I think that the people who fit in the best at Field are people who are extremely open to and willing to accept everyone else, people who have a high respect for the individual.

 

10)                 On that note, what type of kid does your school tend to attract?

Field tends to attract students that either don’t like or don’t learn well from more traditional teaching styles.  Field also tends to attract students with strong senses of self and lots of creativity.

 

11)  Why do choose not to have a uniform? Do think the freedom of what to wear leads to unfair competition?

Field has a huge focus on the individual and being one’s own self.  This philosophy, I think, directly relates to Field’s not having a uniform.  People at Field wear what they like because they want to, because it’s part of what makes them, not to compete with others; so I don’t think the lack of uniforms leads to unfair competition.

until next time...

PEACE + LOVE

ABBIE