Chenango Forks High School 1971 Yearbook (Chenango Bridge, NY) - Full Access

Education has changed over the past few years, not far behind a rapidly changing society. It used to be that a high school education meant knowing the Preamble, the order of the Presidents, and a countless number of other precious little gems, all by heart. Today this has changed towards an education which is more appli– cable to the society the student eventually encounters. A certain amount of memorization is still present, but no more do students graduate as walking information centers, ready to regurgitate upon command. Being able to grasp concepts rather than facts and being able to think for oneself might be called the primary concerns of edu– cation today. The basic tool of education, the teacher, has been altered from his traditional role. A shifting has occurred in this area away from the rather strict "here it is, now take it" type of teacher involvement. Not long ago, if the teacher said it was true, it was true, or complications developed. On the contrary, today's teacher is more of a guidance mechanism, trying to direct the student rather than force him in any one path. Having opinion other than the teacher's is regarded as a good feature, as long as the student can substantiate it. At C. F. I find the education standard in on intermediate phase. Some courses follow this more ~pen characteristic of the newer edu- cation, but many adhere to the traditional form. And teachers find it extremely difficult to keep up their traditional ways with students who hove teachers who believe in the opposite methods of learning. Of all the classes I have had, few have taught me to think for my– self. The majority have simply been fact-finding missions. Students do not enjoy this type of class. They find them extremely boring. And consequently few will wholeheartedly attempt to suc– ceed in them. If the instructor were to spruce it up a little, I think he or she would be amazed at the results. Teochers will hove to realize that they oren 't dealing with another form of bedrock when they confront a student. Believe it or not, most students are willing to learn, and even help the teacher in the class, if he is given the chance. There is on exceptionally large amount of capability passing through o high school amassed in its students. This mass can either be ruined by the teachers, or turned into a set of intelligence-seeking beings, eager to face further educqtion, or society, after completing high school with o positive attitude towards the whole. Fred Champion ,, '· ~ ' ~ - ' . •. ,r" ~• ~ • ,· . - ' '''