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CARBONDALE, Colorado — High schools generally do a good job of preparing students for continuing their education into college, but may be falling short of prepping teenagers for the world of work.
That was one perspective offered by representatives from area high schools in a youth radio panel discussion Wednesday night at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School Barn, sponsored by KDNK and the Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program.
“Classes could be more useful to prepare us for the future,” Basalt High School sophomore Roger Reyes said. “I think we need more business classes, so we can go out in the real world and not be lost.”
Life preparation is as important as college preparation, agreed fellow BHS student Jace Cheatham.
“I think an ethic of hard work should be promoted more in high school,” he said. “Also, just things like balancing your checkbook and culinary skills, preparing kids to be independent.”
Panelists were asked to discuss issues such as the effectiveness of high school in preparing them for a challenging future, how youth can make a difference in the world, and which social issues pose the greatest obstacles in the lives of high school students.
The panel discussion was broadcast live on public radio station KDNK as part of its spring membership drive, which continues through March 5.
“I think, both morally and personally, the four years of high school are when you have the most growth of any of the years in your life,” said Callie Maron, a senior at Colorado Rocky Mountain School, an independent college prep school in Carbondale. “I think I'm more prepared socially now to go into college now than I was as a freshman.”
Paul Struempler, a junior at CRMS, said high school “forces you to balance your social and academic life.”
Academic rigor in high school is important, he added.
“A lot of us are inclined to want to take the path of least resistance,” he said, adding students don't learn as much by taking the easy road.
The students also talked about the social criticism and peer pressures that are a part of the high school years. While some of the students said they didn't see that being a big problem in their school, others disagreed.
“I've been in both public and private schools, and I can say it's hard to avoid judgment in any case,” said Taylor Gilman, a junior at CRMS. “Teenagers are mean.”
They also talked about who their most influential teachers are.
Aspen High School sophomore Sergio Gonzalez said the best teachers are the ones who push you to work hard and who introduce unique and interesting approaches to teaching.
The teachers “who talk with you, and not at you,” have the most positive impact, he said.
Social networking through new modes of media such as Facebook and MySpace are a big part of teenagers' lives today. But, while that's a good way to stay in touch with people you don't see in person very often, face-to-face socializing is still the best way to keep up with friends in your school or hometown, some said.
“It's important to meet with people, and to write letters,” Reyes said. “I worry we're losing that as part of our history.”'
The Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program's mission is “to develop leadership, multiculturalism and identity by providing training and opportunity to youth in community broadcasting.”
The program partners with KDNK and with local school districts to offer a radio broadcasting class to high school students. Students also broadcast live youth radio programs on the air each week in both English and Spanish.
jstroud@postindependent.com
That was one perspective offered by representatives from area high schools in a youth radio panel discussion Wednesday night at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School Barn, sponsored by KDNK and the Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program.
“Classes could be more useful to prepare us for the future,” Basalt High School sophomore Roger Reyes said. “I think we need more business classes, so we can go out in the real world and not be lost.”
Life preparation is as important as college preparation, agreed fellow BHS student Jace Cheatham.
“I think an ethic of hard work should be promoted more in high school,” he said. “Also, just things like balancing your checkbook and culinary skills, preparing kids to be independent.”
Panelists were asked to discuss issues such as the effectiveness of high school in preparing them for a challenging future, how youth can make a difference in the world, and which social issues pose the greatest obstacles in the lives of high school students.
The panel discussion was broadcast live on public radio station KDNK as part of its spring membership drive, which continues through March 5.
“I think, both morally and personally, the four years of high school are when you have the most growth of any of the years in your life,” said Callie Maron, a senior at Colorado Rocky Mountain School, an independent college prep school in Carbondale. “I think I'm more prepared socially now to go into college now than I was as a freshman.”
Paul Struempler, a junior at CRMS, said high school “forces you to balance your social and academic life.”
Academic rigor in high school is important, he added.
“A lot of us are inclined to want to take the path of least resistance,” he said, adding students don't learn as much by taking the easy road.
The students also talked about the social criticism and peer pressures that are a part of the high school years. While some of the students said they didn't see that being a big problem in their school, others disagreed.
“I've been in both public and private schools, and I can say it's hard to avoid judgment in any case,” said Taylor Gilman, a junior at CRMS. “Teenagers are mean.”
They also talked about who their most influential teachers are.
Aspen High School sophomore Sergio Gonzalez said the best teachers are the ones who push you to work hard and who introduce unique and interesting approaches to teaching.
The teachers “who talk with you, and not at you,” have the most positive impact, he said.
Social networking through new modes of media such as Facebook and MySpace are a big part of teenagers' lives today. But, while that's a good way to stay in touch with people you don't see in person very often, face-to-face socializing is still the best way to keep up with friends in your school or hometown, some said.
“It's important to meet with people, and to write letters,” Reyes said. “I worry we're losing that as part of our history.”'
The Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program's mission is “to develop leadership, multiculturalism and identity by providing training and opportunity to youth in community broadcasting.”
The program partners with KDNK and with local school districts to offer a radio broadcasting class to high school students. Students also broadcast live youth radio programs on the air each week in both English and Spanish.
jstroud@postindependent.com
