Do you remember your high school years? Points for you if you do! Do you look back and wonder how you ever survived … the boredom? Oh yeah, most high school classes were boring. Math, history, language arts – I have a keen appreciation for them now. It took a while, but I have finally come to understand the value of a deep and wide education … that includes math. (Except for geometric proofs. What in the name of all that’s good does anyone in normal, everyday life use geometric proofs for?)
Don’t you think that perhaps teaching those subjects a little differently might have raised the interest quotient a bit? Wouldn’t it have been cool if you could’ve remixed the multiplication tables or … the dictionary? Ok, maybe that wouldn’t have been such a stellar idea.
So, here’s another one. How about making school a place where students can explore and integrate as many of their interests as possible?
In schools all over North America, hip teachers are starting DJ clubs. Students join these recess or after-school clubs and learn how to express themselves in a modern and fun way. Supporters argue that they provide a safe space for kids to explore their creativity, become more confident individuals and generally stay out of trouble. That’s probably all true. But, I think they might even pick up some math or history on the way, too.
Read about a girls’ DJ camp in New York here.
