During my four years at EMHS, I have heard many things about Advocacy. Many students believe it to be a waste of time, while others use it to do homework. There are still other groups of students, and teachers, that use Advocacy in different ways, such as games, or school projects. The first EMHS blood drive was done through an Advocacy class, and Student Government uses this time. I know Advocacies that have used this time to work on other community service projects, or even help tutor or be tutored.
There are apparently many different views about this part of our school. I listened to one of the people who helped write the original charter talk about the Vision of Advocacy. I won't elaborate on it, for fear of misrepresenting the ideas, but I wonder if our Advocacy time is truly accomplishing this vision.
There are numerous questions to be addressed about this time period-What is truly the best method for informing students and staff of important announcements? What is the real purpose of Advocacy, and are students/teachers aware of this? Finally, what do you believe Advocacy ought to be, and whose responsibility is this?
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As a student, I only use Advocacy when I need to, such as the day before a Speech and Debate tournament, or to brush up for a third- or fourth-period quiz.
As for the announcements, I (as I've said before) would greatly prefer a teacher- or student-read mode of information than the over-the-PA system we currently have in use. Very few students--as it is--care to listen to these announcements--important though they may be--just because there's something more pressing going on in their Advocacy.
In response to the final question, I think that Advocacy should be a time where students are able to double-check their grades, finish up their homework, catch up on important announcements and developments, or just have fun. Yes, I said it. The misuse of pre-ordained "academic time" is an inevitability at this school: these kids are filled up with food and probably with energy as well. However, the scholarly and academic us of Advocacy time should take priority over its recreational use, and that's what I don't see happening at EMHS right now.
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