Back To Article | Student Essays on School Improvement |
Many people think that school sports provide enough after school activities. A lot of kids aren't very athletic and don't have anything to do after school. With an activities program running between 3 and 6 PM, kids not in sports could have three hours of fun and still be able to make it home in time for dinner and homework. The activities could include kickball, darts, relay races, drama, science club, and debates.
Some people might think that it would cost the school and parents too much money to provide these activities, but a fee of fifty cents to a dollar could raise most of the money for the equipment. After all, kickball and relay races don't cost much- just time. Many items and equipment already exist at the school.
Some parents might worry about the gas money and time running their kids around. If the program ended at 5:00, they could ride the late bus home with the sports teams. Some kids could car pool with their friends, too. After school activities are a fun way to spend free time and learn new things. It allows kids to explore their minds without costing them, their parents, or the school a lot of money. There should be an after school activities program.
Lisa B.
Teens are one of the most misunderstood groups in the United States. Providing teens with a safe environment in which they could meet would encourage good behavior. A teen center would be an area to meet one's friends and expand on the day's thoughts and feelings, and turn to each other for counsel and support.
Some people believe teenagers do not try hard enough for good grades. This is not true. Teens need help, not criticism. The center could open after school and close at night, giving teens a chance to do homework and receive help from fellow teens.
After a long day, the thing teens need the most is fun. We need to feel good about ourselves. At a community teen center, we could listen to music, play games, and just enjoy each other's company. That is what being a teenager is all about, but we need help to gain happiness.
Williams Junior High School, Grade __
Oakland, Maine
Teacher: Linda Haskell
Amanda's Essay
Many students come home from school to an empty household, with no one to share their thoughts of the day. Others come home to busy parents who take no interest in them. Still others wander the streets until dinnertime. Why should this be? An ideal solution to these problems would be a teen community center, a place where teenagers could find a sage haven among peers, finish homework, provide company, and generally have fun.