Day 2

Today, I was placed in Mr. Maudsley's science classroom and wasn't paired up with a specific student. His classroom is a little more lecture based than I had hoped but it gave me a chance to observe multiple students rather than just one. I sat at a table with the only two white girls in the classroom and could begin to tell that they were both very bright young ladies. I originally thought that Classic City was strictly for those students who got pregnant and/or kicked out of the regular public schools, but after talking to these two girls I realized students could voluntarily attend the PLC as well. They both stressed their hatred for the traditional school and how much they just wanted to graduate high school, get a job, and move on with their lives. This surprised me, but in a good way. I just would never have guessed that from a first glance because they were both extremely edgy-looking girls with their haircuts, piercings and ripped jeans.

After everybody completed the warm up activity, Mr. Maudsley began asking for volunteers to share their answers. When realizing nobody wanted to share, he immediately called on Emma, one of the two girls at my table, to answer the question. She answered it correctly and he went on to the next question. Again, nobody raised their hand to share their answer so Mr. Maudsley asked the other girl at my table and she answered it correctly as well. I could begin to tell that this was a habit for Mr. Maudsley. I think he tries to give students a fair chance to answer and learn but when nobody puts in the effort, he asks the students who he knows have the correct answers and then moves on. Initially I thought he was simply taking the easy way out, but I then thought that I would probably do the same exact thing if I were him. Being in a classroom for an extended period of time with very few students who show interest in learning can be draining.

For the rest of the class, Mr. Maudsley lectured and students were given the choice to take notes if they chose to or just listen. I looked around the classroom and noticed that the only two students taking notes were Emma and the other girl at my table. The class was small enough as it is (about 14 students) and I could literally count on one hand how many were actually paying attention. Two students were on the computers listening to music videos and chatting while other students continuously got up and left the classroom to go to the bathroom, or so they said. I'm not sure if Mr. Maudsley is just very oblivious and doesn't notice these distractions going on in class or what, but I think after a few more observations, I'll be able to tell.