By Tolu Salako
Staff Writer
The majority of conversations in the classroom between students tend to regard one’s boyfriend or how they cannot believe that their best friend stabbed them in the back.
No matter how many times teachers try to make students to stay on task, it is obvious that student priorities have been misplaced.
School is no longer regarded as a place for learning, only as the center of social issues. School is where rumors spread and verbal gossip begins; where clothing styles are copied and friend issues fester. Students, girls especially, no longer regard CHS as preparation for the future but instead worry more about their physical appearance.
Unfortunately, I was one of those girls; worrying about how I dressed, always caring about what people thought about me. I was always the girl with numerous friend issues and the drama initiator. It was not until the beginning of freshmen year that I decided change my way of thinking. I started worrying about things that actually mattered rather than the newest makeup and clothing trends.
What amuses me the most is how students claim that teachers are giving out too much homework; however during an important lecture, these same students will be on Facebook or passing irrelevant notes in class about how their ex-boyfriend is dating their enemy. Are these issues so important that they have to be shared in the classroom?
The rate at which gossip is spread at CHS is ridiculous thanks to the excessive use of technology. It is sad how students are so concerned about their social life that they will never jeopardize it for school. All students have taken part in gossip, and it is hard to avoid. Gossip can lead to rumors and then to full out backstabbing, which ends up interfering with schoolwork.
Sometimes rumors can get out of hand that students would rather not show up to school in order to avoid a particular person or group of students, causing them to miss crucial information being taught in their classes.
If students could use less time worrying about social issues and listen to the lecture, actually do their work in class and participate in the lesson, maybe their grades would stop slipping. Keeping social things outside of class would do everyone a world of good. Teachers will not be distracted and students can be more focused. I understand that it is hard to avoid some social issues, but it is definitely not necessary to bring your problems into a place where we are supposed to learn.
High school has definitely changed over the years, but issues have remained constant. If students could keep their social problems out of the classroom, there would definitely be an increase in grades and learning.
