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ENN Survey: Students Talk about School

by Hortencia Navarrete GRADE 10, ROCKVILLE HS

Srey Sok GRADE 10, WHEATON HS

ENN surveyed nearly 100 Rockville and Wheaton high school students about what they thought of school.

Students reported that the most interesting classes were English (77%) and social studies (58%). Fifty-five percent of the students thought that their classes were easy, while 48% thought that their classes were not easy. The easiest classes mentioned were math and physical education.

Thirty-seven percent of the students said that they studied one to two hours each day, and another 37% studied less than one hour a day. The percentage of students who spent three or more hours on homework every day was only 6%.

Students were asked which two classes were important to their future. Sixty-six percent of the students identified math, and 45% mentioned English.

Another question asked students was whether or not they spent more time studying for classes that they liked or for classes that they did not like. The students were divided almost equally in their answers.

When asked about the attitudes of other strudents, 85% of them said that there were students who did not take their classes seriously. The most common reason given was that they did not care.

Fifty-six percent of the students said that the most common reasons for skipping classes were that they were bored or that they did not like the class.

The main reason why some students were not serious about education was because they did not care about school. There were many responses. A sophomore from Rockville said, "They know that they can't go to college or don't want to. So, why bother with work now?" Another Rockville senior said, "Their parents don't take an interest in them and their lives. They're not motiviated." A junior from Wheaton said, "Because they have no future ambitions. They come to school for fun." A Wheaton sophomore added, "They think they can get a job without spending time for education." A Wheaton freshman said, "They think they have no future and give up." A sophomore for Rockville said, "Because they think that in the future they won't be needing any of the clases that they're taking."

When asked why some students thought school was important, a Wheaton freshman said, "Because they want to get away from their home, siblings and parents or want to succeed and make parents proud of them." Another freshman from Wheaton said, "So they are not out on the street doing the wrong things." A Rockville senior said, "Because they have seen people who haven't gone far because of lack of education. They are taught the importance of education." Finally, a Wheaton freshman said, "Knowledge is one of the things that can't be bought by money. It can't be stolen by anoyone, and people like you when you know a lot of stuff."

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