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 "Everyone take out their agendas. Tonight's homework assignment is page 53, numbers 16-41."
As the new school year rushes in, so do the new ideas. One of the most talked-about ideas is the addition of the agendas. These agendas contain the revised Student Handbook, a career awareness section, and a daily planner.
"I am pretty excited about them," said Tim Touhey, W.F. West business teacher and chairman of the comittee responsible for the agendas. Carol Ogden, an English teacher, agrees. "I think it helps students be organized, especially ones that normally aren't.
"Agendas provide us with essential planning skills that will help us become organized," said junior Laura Keen. "They prepare us for college and life." Touhey agreed. "All teachers and most adults use planners every day. They are important," he said.
One of the biggest controversies is the requirement that they have to be used. "Agendas are not a bad idea, but forcing us to bring them to class is," said Eisa Al-Eisa, a junior. Many students feel that the agendas should be optional, but Ogden disagrees. "If everyone is taking time to use them, it helps some students become more involved in the class."
The funding for the agendas came from the "School to Work Grant." A requirement for the grant is that a career path model must be developed. "Businesses want students to be more organized, so they don't mind paying for them," said Ogden.
Senior Nikole Putman feels that the agendas are a waste of money. Eden Emerson disagrees, "I don't think it is a waste because a lot of people use them."
Another aspect of the agendas that people don't like is their getting graded on them. Freshman Brady Williams doesn't like the agendas, but feels that this year's policies are better than those at the middle school. "The high school isn't as strict as the middle school, and we don't have to have our parents sign them each week," she said. "I thought juniors and seniors would complain but they haven't," said Ogden. "I haven't had any other students yet though, so next semester might be different."
The emphasis of the program is to help unorganized students to become more organized. "It is too soon to tell if it helps those who aren't organized," said Ogden. "The program is geared toward unorganized students, those who are already organized for the most part have their own system."
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