Interview with John Doe (San Mateo High School)

- the interviewer -

1) Describe an average day at your school (give us a feel of a walk through the halls)

2) How much of a resource is your school in your life’s development? Do you think it actively contributes to your greater learning in life? Do you feel that your classes cater to your immediate and future needs?

3) How do you think your curriculum could be better formatted to teach you life skills?

4) Is there respect at your school between students? Students and teachers? Teachers and parents? Parents and students? How does this affect your learning environment?

5) If you could change one thing about you school, what would it be?


- the interviewee -

1) An average day walking around mateo would be walking through the halls with my friends, seeing a bunch of people that I barely know, that i'm friendly with, or some people that i've never seen in my life. But at mateo, there is such a positive energy with all of the colorful posters on the walls and smiles on people's faces. I just feel really comfortable and safe when i walk through my school.

2) I think that through my school experiences and through the people i've met, I think that San mateo has been a huge resource in the development of my life, and I think it does contribute to greater learning in life; San mateo has a great foundation. I think that my classes don't cater to my future needs however because there is too structured of a curriculum.

3) I think that our curriculum could be better formatted with classes that really emphasize the importance of vocational skills for some students, or classes that really enhance future professions. like intro to business or engineering.

4) Yes, I think there is a respect at our school between students, because all of us acknowledge the incredible amounts of diversity that we have, respecting each culture, however, there will always be some conflict. I think that with students who are in advanced placement classes, we have a relationship with our teacher that becomes more of a mentor, which leads to a better respect, but with regular classes, there is a mediocre amount of respect. I think there is respect between teachers and parents, and I think that relationship between parents and students depends on the family. I think having a really comfortable relationship with the teacher makes it easier to learn.

5) If I could change one thing about my school, it would be the enthusiasm of the entire school, because i think everyone should be happy and excited to be at SM, but some people just go to school because they have to, and don't enjoy it.