SOTA's on a mission.

My school's mission statement is as follows: OUR MISSION IS STUDENT SUCCESS... ACADEMIC, ARTISTIC, AND HUMANISTIC.

So the question is, has our school actually took any steps to fulfill its mission? Well first, as we analyze how much my school does or does not suck, we have to define what it is that its trying to accomplish.

STUDENT SUCCES - Easy enough. All the school has to do is teach kids stuff and give them books. Right? Eh. SOTA does a good job of affording students who want to succeed with the means to do so, but when it comes to extending a hand to the less motivated students (which make up %300000 percent of probably ever high school's student body ever), it's a little less generous with its means-giving. Sure, there are guidance counselors etc., but SOTA's amount of "I don't giveaf****" student support isn't that great. It's more like, if they fail, it's on them. Their work ethic is their work ethic. Although, if you have good, concerned teachers, they'll call home and encourage you to stay after school etc.

ACADEMIC SUCCESS - Yeah, we're pretty good academically. Not much to complain about, save for the fact that teaching for understanding isn't too popular in the math and science courses here.

ARTISTIC SUCCESS - This is most certainly achieved, at least in the departments that I've observed. The art programs here are wonderful, giving students real, in-depth study of their art and its forms. The only thing I'd like to see changed is more flexibility between the majors; people in college change majors all the time. Teens in high school change interests all the time. So how about a little leeway?

HUMANISTIC SUCCESS - Ha. I don't even know what this means in context of our school. We don't do any community service, unless you're in National Honors Society, and fund raising is limited to the student government.  

Now if I could change anything about this school, I'd change the way that teachers teach math. I'd base it more around exploration, and help students understand concepts first and foremost. I'd also increase the amount of student cooperation in our community, and help students intergrate the arts into things like school festivals or walks or exhibitions or whatever else it might be. Basically, I'd try to develop more excitement in the school environment and make it easier for students to grasp and cherish the idea of education.