Student wish lists promote a 21st century school

December is the time of year in which people have the tendency to wish for things to happen. While many common wish lists feature gifts, toys, or simply good fortune, Lind-Ritzville High School students have unique lists of their own.

In a brainstorming session, LRHS students were asked to compile a list of things, either material or intangible, that would make their school better.

Each student brought forth different ideas, all of which supported the transition of LRHS into more of a 21st century school.

To outline the concept of twenty-first century learning, Elizabeth Rich, a commentary editor for Education Week explains, “The term ‘21st-century skills’ is generally used to refer to certain core competencies such as collaboration, digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving that advocates believe schools need to teach to help students thrive in today’s world.”

Cameron Weber’s wish list to improve LRHS into a 21st century school begins with “heaters in all the classrooms.”

“Better computers in the labs would be cool too,” Weber continued. “A lot of the computers malfunction and it just takes time trying to fix them. We do have chrome books and those are nice, but they don’t print.”

She added, “Sometimes, there are actually no computers left…”

Megan Buriak agreed that reducing limitations on technology would be a step in improving LRHS. Part of her list includes stronger wireless Internet connections and updated computers.

Buriak explained, “It infuriating that I can’t open Google because it’s blocked… or be able to do anything because the internet connections are too slow.”

More intangible things are on Kelcee Carlson’s wish list: along with renovated carpets, she would like to see “more people involved. It would be so nice if all the students and community members showed up to spring sport games or school plays like they do to fall and winter games!”

Carlson continued, “I would also like to have more opportunities for different groups of kids, I guess you could say this goes back to everyone being more involved.”

Emily Rosen’s list includes “Heat, windows, paint, floors, technology updates, and better student hang out spaces.”

“Students would enjoy going to school if they are comfortable in their environment and can focus more on learning than being cold and uncomfortable,” Rosen explained.

It may seem as though the students’ wish lists are asking for a lot, but Lacey Miller sees many of the wants of the students to be considered necessities.

When imagining a 21st century school, Miller explained, “What comes to mind is an up-kept, modern technology school. Also, a big school… which is a reason why we need to update our school. We aren’t big, so we end up falling behind.”

Regarding the consequences of falling behind, Miller continues, “If our school itself falls behind then our amazing teachers aren’t able to do their jobs to the best of their ability, which then causes our students to fall behind <academically from> bigger schools.”

The phenomena Miller describes is recognized by Zander Sherman, author of The Curiosity of School. Sherman explained, “Consider, for a moment, how profound is an education: every human-made object in the world is the result of one.”

“Change education, and you change the world,” he added.

Later in his book, Sherman explains the effects of some schools advancing while many others hesitate to move forward: “In the twenty-first century, we use a nineteenth-century school model with twentieth-century values. There’s clearly something wrong with this picture.”

Students’ wishes provide a design of how LRHS should change to perpetuate the 21st century school movement. However, unlike many miracles of the holiday season, their wishes will not spontaneously come true.

Rather, author Richard Bach explained, “You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it, however.”