Ever since I came to Northview in eighth grade, I’ve heard the phrase “Preparing students for life’s next step.”
On the first day of my junior year, I took my seat like all of the rest of the students. Glancing around the room, I noticed that there were a few of my friends in the class with me.
The teacher began the lesson by going through the rules and expectations.
I quickly realized that this regular class was going to be more stressful than any advanced class that I’d ever been in.
Once we started doing our work, a few of my classmates began asking questions. The teacher grew frustrated and said, “Pay attention! This is very simple.”
This isn’t the first time I’ve been in a class where I didn’t understand the material, but it was the first time where I felt like the teacher was talking down to us. Like we weren’t smart enough, simply because we didn’t understand.
I felt like less of an individual for doing what I’ve been told my whole life: to ask questions when I’m confused.
When I made the choice to take a break from advanced classes, I thought it would be a less stressful year. It turned out that stress didn’t come from the work, it came from the teacher.
I got the feeling that the regular class teachers don’t think the regular class students can grasp their concepts fast enough. The teachers talked down to the regular class students like we are less than because we didn’t have “AP” or “advanced” all over our schedules.
I walked out of the class feeling inadequate that day. As I have processed this experience with other people, I have come to realize that I’m not alone.
We all take different steps to prepare for our future. We should not be judged on the paths we take.
This experience left me with one thought in particular: all courses are not created equal, but all students are.
Students aren’t “created equal,” I’d have to strongly disagree with you on that one.