L&T Week

     Wow, what an incredible roller coaster week! In case you don't know, PBA really focuses on helping students learn the writing and critical thinking skills they will need in their careers. Most every student dreams of going to university, and when you get there you can't just tell your professor what you think, you have to write it. And you have to write it well. So the first week is the Language and Thinking (L&T) Workshop, where we practice techniques to help these skills in our advisory class. They are long days, and the students get pretty drained by the end, but they work hard. Don't forget, it's just the first week of August and they have to come back to school already, in 100 degree heat!
     My class is awesome, they have so much energy that the roof almost popped off a few times. When they have an opinion, you know about it (a good thing, in the right manners).There is a lot of art talent in the class too, they were proud of the illustrated Symbol Dictionary they made together: a book defining the symbolic meaning of over 50 animals! Here's the picture of them from the first day:

Quite the little angels, right? Here's the real them:

Much more fun looking, aren't they? They are so outgoing and assertive of their opinion that it made me think about my school days and how we are very similar in some ways, but very different also. I grew up in rural Rockford, Illinois, a town about the size of Bakersfield, surrounded by corn and about 2 hours from Chicago. It's not as hot as here, but kids had the same complaints: it's so quiet and there's nothing to do. However, I went to catholic school from first grade all the way through high school. I always wondered how different public school would be. It's really different. When I was in primary school the principal had a paddle in his office for trouble students (that's right, a spanking!) and some of the nuns in high school really knew how to use a ruler (ouch). We learned at a very young age that the rules would be followed, period. They knew what was best for us, and we accepted it. We even wore a uniform with a sports coat and tie in high school. 

     At PBA they want students to explore their own opinions and decide what they think. Of course, this can make more friction at times, but I think it's great. In the end they will be strong, independent people who know why they believe what they believe, and have the skills to do anything they choose. Tomorrow our regular schedule, and my English classes, start. Peace.