Graduation Project to be scrapped because of $$$?

[chathambred]

Do you know who provided the money for these projects??....the parents and students did.  I think the graduation project has been a success for some seniors.  I know that the leadership from mentors has been very much appreciated.  However, it is a heavy burden on some.  I know of one parent that spent well over 300.00 on her child's project.  I understand that the student has the right to choose what topic with the approval of their adviser.  What about the child that has no guidance and support from home? Some of these projects cost a lot of money and time and a lot of parents just don't have the funds to do so.  Especially during these times we are going through.  Not only is the project hanging over their heads...they are completing college applications, financial aid forms, exams, sports, jobs ...and more than anything keeping up the grades to be able to further their education.  It may seem like a great idea and a very successful one but also a heavy burden on a child and a parent who has so much more to worry about. 

[Snowball]

No one had to spend $300 on a project. That was the parent's perogative. I've been involved in dozens of these projects and saw none costing more than the price of a display board and a borrowed camera. Further, the project should not be "hanging over heads" in the final semester of the senior year. Preparation began in the junior year.

[munn5]

The parents also have to sign off on the project topic. So they have veto power over something that will be too expensive.  The student I worked with put together a tornado preparedness kit. He printed some things on my computer (checklist, emergency numbers, warning signs) and had them laminated at the school library, but other than that, it was stuff he had at home (including recycling the display board from a sibling's school project). Each student did have to have photos of them working on the project - I printed them on my computer, but that would be only a few dollars if he'd had to go print them at a store.

[chathambred]

Snowball... I am very well  aware of how the project works.  I have a rising senior who has gone through the steps to get ready.  Although they do write their letter of intent and are assigned an adviser, the real work does not begin until all that is cleared which may take more than one try.  I understand that the project cost can be minimal...however, it really depends on the project choice and how well you want to do it.  No..the parent did not have to spend that kind of money, however in order to make the project a success which included more than 25 people...yes...it did cost that amount.  Was it the choice of the parent....Yes...it was...and I may add that it was a very successful project.  I am saying that a lot of kids do not have the support that they may need.  I'm not trying to pick a fight...I just think its really easy for someone who does not have a dog in this fight to sit back and say it is not a lot of trouble and shouldn't cost anything to do it...it takes time...a lot of hard work and comes at a very stressful time in a child's life when major lifechanging decisions are being made...They are being told that they will not graduate without this project...am I right?  This project that Chatham County is making mandatory will not get them into college....it will be the grades...lets just add one more thing that they will stress about before graduating....

[cccoach]

Chathambred, I have to respectfully disagree with most of your concerns. As a high school teacher and senior adviser I have to admit that I had concerns going into the project. Now I sincerely believe that it is one of the most valuable things kids in high school are doing. I will try and hit point by point some of your concerns.

Although they do write their letter of intent and are assigned an adviser, the real work does not begin until all that is cleared which may take more than one try.

We are clearing intent letters well over a year in advance of project final due date. This includes the resubmissions, we do sometimes reject initial submissions for a multitude of reasons but once again we approve all submissions well in advance.

I understand that the project cost can be minimal...however, it really depends on the project choice and how well you want to do it.

A few of our highest graded projects actually made a substantial profit - my favorite was a photography exhibit (in Siler City) that cleared over $400. This project led the young lady to reevaluate her college path. I'm sorry,  but cost can be a non-issue in graduation project, that is the parent's choice.

I am saying that a lot of kids do not have the support that they may need. 

Which is why we have English teacher advisement, faculty advisers, mentors and hopefully parental involvement.

I just think its really easy for someone who does not have a dog in this fight to sit back and say it is not a lot of trouble and shouldn't cost anything to do it...it takes time...a lot of hard work and comes at a very stressful time in a child's life when major lifechanging decisions are being made..

Welcome to life, I think that is the most valuable aspect of this project, kids learn that real world is not sitting at a desk, learning facts and then regurgitating them on a standardized test. The real world involves planning, product and presentation. I would gladly get rid of the testing to retain the senior project. Kids actually seem to be learning from the projects, the standardized tests? ..... not so much.

They are being told that they will not graduate without this project...am I right?

yep, haven't seen it happen yet though..

his project that Chatham County is making mandatory will not get them into college....it will be the grades...lets just add one more thing that they will stress about before graduating....

partially but we've seen several kids use their projects as levers to get into programs that they otherwise would not have been qualified for. Grades are important but I'll tell you, universities and are becoming more and more interested in a broad range of experiences. In my opinion graduation projects teach kids that education involves product and real learning, not just regurgitation of facts and A's on report cards.

[cccoach]

Most kids have very full lives. It's the nature of being a kid. It's interesting that a full year into the project we've had 100% completion indicating that it is not outside the realm of ability for our students. Many of our students use volunteer opportunities to complete GP requirements, I hope that the experiences they've learned in volunteering as part of the GP will continue but in many case I'm certain that would have never happened without the GP.

ith GP you have adults volunteering to do all this work and most of the end products end up in the trash or the attic. 

Not sure where your child attends High School but this absolutely is not the case at Jordan-Matthews.

CCS has kids watching movies in AP classes for weeks at a time after testing.  Too bad that down time can't be used for some constructive volunteering.

Once again, this hasn't been the case at Jordan-Matthews, my students are complaining more about their AP work after the exams than they did before the exams.

In fairness I agree with the volunteer idea but would emphasize that we have approve many projects that involved volunteer hours in the immediate community.

[Snowball]

"Organize that group to go clean up a stretch of the Haw or visit a senior center or tutoring in the lower
grades ..."

These are all great graduation projects. I've seen two of the three used as such at JM. Talk about giving back to the county!

[chathambred]

When I went to the GP meeting I saw a young man sitting with his mentor and waiting to show what progress he had made on his project.  When his time came for his presentation, he did an outstanding job.  I walked away not thinking about how this child learned something that he never knew about...I walked away with the idea that this child was touched by an older gentleman in more ways that we could ever imagine.  The time and experience that this teen shared will be forever remembered by him.  That is what I walked away with.  I agree that these kids can learn something from these projects.  I wish it was something that could give back to people that would make a difference in a child's life or a needy person who really needed a helping hand.   I'm not trying to bash the GP.  My child is already working on the project and is looking forward to it.  Is it going to take a lot of time?  Possibly...is it going to cost a bit more that I would like?...possibly....will she learn something that she didn't know before?...Yes... It just comes at a very stressful time in their life.  I know that my child has chosen photography...sounds like a good choice....Will she use this in her future..possibly...right now we are focusing on her grades which are very good...GPA at roughly 4.0, SAT scores out the roof....AP classes enrolled for next year....no shes not going to be a photographer....she wants to be a teacher....imagine that? 

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