Commentary; Posted: 1/7/04

Great teaching leads to great learning

Steve Massey
Guest Columnist

There is no doubt that Forest Lake Senior High Schoolís greatest resource is a phenomenal teaching staff who continually refines the art of teaching. Teaching is so much more than disseminating information.

Teaching far exceeds the parting of facts. Teaching goes way beyond having students return memorized information to a teacher in the form of an exam. Teaching is the art of engaging students in learning that produces knowledge and understanding. Teaching is challenging students to think for themselves and to make connections between information and experience.

Countless teachers roll into work at 6:15 a.m. and stay until after 5 p.m., often working well into the evening correcting papers and tests and preparing for tomorrowís lesson.

Teachers do not remember the grades students earned. Rather, teachers remember the excitement in the classroom when a student

ïsolves a scientific problem;

ïplays a complex musical note;

ïperfectly joins two boards that make the table top for a grandmotherís present,

ïsolves a complicated trigonometry problem;

ïcreates beautiful artwork, cares for a child in a child development class;

ïunderstands the human spirit that liberated slaves; created civil rights and brought down the iron curtain;

ïand writes eloquent poetry.

Teaching is animation, passion and determination. Great teachers never quit until the last student ìgets itî and can recite, explain, perform or create what is being taught.

Great teachers instill a sense of confidence and pride in their students. They challenge their students to perform at their absolute best and to reach for their ultimate dreams.

The Forest Lake Senior High School, and the school district as a whole, is committed to the learning and to the future of each student. Between the 15th academic departments at the high school, we offer over 1200 different courses throughout the school year.

Students take core requirements in mathematics, language arts, science, social studies and physical education.

Beyond these requirements, students create an academic experience that meets their needs and interests. Some students take an emphasis in music, some in the arts and world languages, others take an elective course load in the industrial and vocational arts (woodworking, carpentry, drafting, metal working, auto mechanics, small engine repair, foods, and/or childcare).

Some students create an elective experience in family and science or job training.

Many of our departments offer Advance Placement and College in the Schools courses. These courses are designed to prepare students for advanced academic studies following high school. Both programs offer students college credit and an excellent opportunity to prepare for higher education.

Each school year, students take a number of exams as a means of demonstrating what they have learned, and, in some cases, as part of college entrance requirements.

The Minnesota Comprehensive exams are taken in both 10th grade (reading) and 11th grade (math). On both of these exams, Forest Lake students have, on average, exceeded the cut score established by the state to determine if schools are making adequate yearly progress according to the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Each 10th grade student will also take the Basic Skills writing exam. Over half of the senior class takes the national ACT exam.

For each of the past five years, Forest Lake seniors have exceeded the national average on the ACT exams and score at par with other seniors across the state.

The achievement success of students at the Forest Lake Senior High School is attributable to a number of factors: parents and a community who value a strong education, students who are committed to learning, and a talented teaching staff throughout the Forest Lake School District.

The writer is principal at Forest lake High School.

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