Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” To successfully accomplish a group goal, you must work together.
When talking about working together at Glendale, Falcon Focus is the last thing that comes to my mind. In the midst of this first year, I am doubtful that all of its goals have been accomplished.
I have yet to see the time made for Falcon Focus be used productively. Teachers who don’t know how to make Falcon Focus a productive time, have given up.
Falcon Focus was created for students to catch up on content that they need extra assistance with. Teachers, however, give students time to review missing assignments and ask questions during regular class time, which defeats the purpose of Falcon Focus.
As I talked to teachers, I felt as if nobody would give me their true opinion of Falcon Focus. As I wrapped up my interviews, there were side comments under their breath, saying that they either disliked it or didn’t see the purpose.
The teachers need to have a voice and express what is not being accomplished. Someone needs to stand up and explain what the main problems are instead of trying to work around it. Administration needs to stop ignoring the fact that more time is being wasted than saved.
When you have students who aren’t participating, and leave the classroom for free time, someone needs to question the intentions. I am tired of teachers saying, “It’s Falcon Focus, just don’t get too loud.” What is the purpose of it? I’m shocked by how dysfunctional Falcon Focus has become in its first year.
Chris Hunsaker, coordinator of site intervention, said one challenge of Falcon Focus this year is that students haven’t been taking part in the rewards it offers.
“We are finding that some students just don’t want to travel,” Hunsaker said.
Apparently, the only group to benefit from Falcon Focus are failing students. What I noticed is that some teachers aren’t seeing how this is an effective way to help their students.
I wonder how upcoming years are going to be with a majority of the students not even caring if they are allowed to travel or not.
Courtney Wampler, senior, agrees that being able to travel or not isn’t having an effect on her to strive to do better.
“I think that some students care if they’re failing, but I don’t think the fact that they can’t travel really affects them or pushes them to work harder,” Wampler said.
A group effort needs to come into play and figure out the best way to help the overall student body, not just the failing students. The purpose of Falcon Focus hasn’t been seen. How are we going to change this Glendale?