Denise Fawcett Facey

Are you as tired as I am of the bullying, cyber-bullying and other mean-spirited behaviors we so often hear about among teens in the news? If so, a recent news story about Washington Township High School, in New Jersey, is a refreshing change. For the past nine years, guidance counselors there have quietly maintained a freshmen orientation program in which 25 upperclassmen assist the staff in preparing incoming freshmen to make the transition from middle school to high school. Convening for a four-day camp about a month before school begins, freshman learn the layout of the school building as they follow their new class schedules, moving from class to class. Then, in addition to (more…)

As virtually everyone knows, the ubiquitous website, Facebook, dominates the social networking world, with millions of people logging in throughout the day to keep abreast of their friends’ (and strangers’) lives. Now a group of faculty from the University of Arizona has devised a project incorporating Facebook into a self-teaching program for grades 6-12.

Called “Teach Ourselves,” this program is designed to (more…)

What was once the purview of only the wealthy is now gaining popularity with middle-class students: the gap year. A period of exploration, self-discovery and just a respite from the daily grind of books, lectures and studying, the gap year occurs right after high school graduation, affording students a break before beginning college. In fact, many colleges, including those in the Ivy League, now encourage students to indulge in this time (more…)

Remember when poetry meant memorizing lines by Emily Dickinson or Robert Frost, and then reciting or writing them for an exam? Well, times have changed. Chicago high school teacher Peter Kahn—who teaches not English but Spoken Word—has developed a Spoken Word Club whose impact is such that graduates return, to extend a helping hand to others, as members of his Motivational Mentorship panel. (more…)

Here’s a problem that no one anticipated: increasing numbers of homeless teens attending high schools. Counselors are discovering more and more 18-year-olds in their schools with nowhere to go, while advocates for the homeless report that the number of homeless teens in this age range far exceeds the services available to assist them. And while the persistently down economy doesn’t help, it’s not the only reason for this dilemma. (more…)

In keeping with last week’s blog on the need to incorporate African Americans into the curriculum, I’m impressed by a new course that will be offered this fall to all high school seniors in Pittsburgh Public Schools. Developed by a team of educators, the course will introduce students to books by and about African Americans. Encompassing the familiar (i.e. slavery) in innovative ways, this literature course also reveals diverse aspects of the African American experience not commonly presented to students. (more…)

Everything old really is new again. In this case, the old and new topic is the Chinese language. Although Spanish remains the dominant language taught in U.S. foreign language classes, Chinese is rapidly growing in popularity. And, like the propensity toward taking Japanese language classes in the 1980’s, a major impetus for the Chinese classes today is China’s emergence as a key player in the international business world. (more…)

High school students have some compelling academic choices nowadays. For example, which should they take: Advanced Placement courses that require rigorous work to achieve college credit or less arduous college courses offered at the high school for credit at both high school and college (i.e. dual-enrollment)? Yet, as the pendulum swings toward dual-enrollment replacing Advanced Placement courses, it’s a dilemma that increasing numbers of students won’t even have to solve. And this is where the battle is joined. (more…)

When it comes to broadening students' perspectives, deepening their understanding of divergent concepts and providing opportunities to meet and know people of diverse backgrounds, college offers wonderful opportunities. Yet, that being said, college is not for everyone. And therein lies the problem; many high schools don’t prepare students for anything else. (more…)

Think back to your high school graduation. Of all the good memories associated with that special occasion, do you include the students who were your class valedictorian and salutatorian? What were their names? You may not be able to remember their names, but some future graduates won’t have valedictorians or salutatorians to remember. (more…)

Once upon a time SAT scores and grade point averages were the sole determinants of college admission. That notion may become as antiquated as a fairytale now that some colleges have added students’ personalities as an additional determining factor for admission. (more…)

A marvelous program that I’d like to see replicated across the country impresses me. Rainier Scholars was founded seven years ago in Seattle’s Rainier Valley by Bob Hurlbut—a man who simply wanted to make a difference in the world. (more…)

Finally—educational changes that will work! The Obama administration’s effort to improve U.S. education includes a goal of restoring the United States to its former position as the nation with the highest proportion of college graduates. Toward that end, Education Secretary Arne Duncan proposes that high schools and colleges align their definitions of college-readiness, (more…)