Friday, Dec. 30, 2016 | 2 a.m.
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Zach Longman of Basic Academy for International Studies of High School during the 60th annual Las Vegas Sun Youth Forum at the Las Vegas Convention Center Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016.
View more of the Sun's opinion section
About 1,000 students from high schools throughout Southern Nevada participated in the 60th annual Sun Youth Forum on Nov. 29. The students were divided into groups to discuss a variety of topics. A representative was chosen from each group to write a column about the students’ findings. This essay addresses the issues covered by the group Teen Topics.
The students in my room were passionate about every subject, but especially on the Clark County School District’s grading policy and whether day cares should be allowed in high school.
The latter was definitely our most controversial topic, with the group divided almost equally. We tackled the subject by selecting two representatives to persuade the other group to switch sides.
I was the only person who switched, and let me explain why.
At the beginning, I was on the side that said day cares shouldn’t be allowed. My reasoning had a lot to do with money. But then the student representing the other side said she knew a girl who got pregnant in high school who dropped out, but because the girl’s school offered a day care she was able to go back to school and earn her diploma. Once you have a baby, selfishness must go out the window. Your sole purpose in life must be to do whatever is necessary to raise the child in the best condition available. I believe that no child should be left behind, and if a day care saves that one child from growing up in poverty because her mother was able to graduate, then I’m definitely for it.
On the grading policy, our group was unanimously opposed to it, believing that we have become a nation and a state where education seemingly revolves around standardized testing.
When you are being taught material just so you can pass a multiple-choice test, you are not learning the material. You are learning how to pass a test. I believe we should be graded based on mastery rather than on proficiency. Not all people can express their knowledge through a test, and that needs to be noticed.
Another key point on this topic, which I brought up and which we all agreed on, is that you will excel if you’re in a class that you are passionate about. If you like history and government, you will pass the class and enjoy it regardless of whether there is testing. I was in a personal finance class my junior year, which was not a required course, but it taught me a great deal about how to pay taxes, how to buy stocks and a lot of other important lessons. And 80 percent of my school will miss out on that.
Meanwhile, we have required classes such as biology and chemistry, which are great, but if someone’s goal is to be a lawyer, what are those classes doing for that student other than showing they know how to learn something they may not be particularly interested in?
Although we had our disagreements, it was clear that many people came away deeply touched by our amazing, spirited discussions.
Zach Longman is a senior at Basic Academy of International Studies.
