“Positive Psychology” at Gunn High School and the “Literature of Comedy” at Palo Alto High School are among new course offerings proposed for Palo Alto students in 2013-14.
A parade of teachers presented their ideas for classes before an enthusiastic Board of Education Tuesday night, Jan. 29.
“The rationale for this Literature of Comedy class comes straight from the mouths of teens,” said Paly English teacher Lucy Filppu, recounting the questions she gets from students — “‘Is this another tragedy? Who dies in the end?’ — as we embark on another downer text.”
Proposing a course in which students will read Greeks, Shakespeare, Wilde and Twain, Filppu said, “These authors demand an understanding of taste, nuance, inference, absurdity, subtext — the very high levels of appraisal that we want to bring out in our students.
“I suggest that students can laugh and learn simultaneously,” she said.
Gunn teacher Ronen Habib said he already has been sneaking bits of positive psychology into his teaching of economics and other subjects.
“For many of those students it’s really been an incredible transformation — I’ve seen the power of it,” Habib told the board. “I had one student tell me some lessons she learned actually saved her life. As a teacher there’s no better compensation.”
The positive psych course will focus on research, as well as “practical tools people can use to lead happier lives,” such as remembering daily what you are grateful for; meditation; acts of kindness toward others and retaining a “growth mindset,” Habib said.
Students will be required to keep journals on a daily basis, write papers analyzing different points of view and take assessments to make sure they understand the theory.
“I don’t want students to grow just academically — I want them to grow as people,” he said, noting that a college course on positive psychology had been transformative for him personally.
Other proposed new classes are a short course in communications for sixth graders at Jordan Middle School developed by Sue Morosoli; ceramics and sculpture created by Jordan art teachers Leslie Goldman and Paul Gralen; programming for mobile devices, developed by Gunn math and computer science teacher Chris Bell and “Senior Projects,” a research methods class proposed by Gunn librarian Meg Omainsky.
Ideas for new classes “originate from different places,” Director of Secondary Education Michael Milliken said, including from teachers, a recognition of student interest in a subject or a desire to provide a fuller sequence of programming.
“I don’t think most students, or certainly parents, have any idea of the passion that goes into the creation of these classes,” board member Melissa Baten Caswell said following the teacher presentations.
In other business Tuesday, board members indicated that at their next meeting they will vote to authorize issuance and sale of $70 million in bonds under the $378 million “Strong Schools” bond measure approved by voters in 2008.
It will be the third in a projected series of six “Strong Schools” issuances that is funding new building and expansion to accommodate enrollment growth on all 17 Palo Alto campuses.
The board also voted unanimously to redraw the boundary between the Addison and Walter Hays elementary school attendance areas, moving about 20 blocks from Addison to Walter Hays. Over time the new boundary will ease persistent “overflow” problems for Addison families in recent years, officials said.
By Chris Kenrick
By Chris Kenrick
By Chris Kenrick
I would like to express my gratitude to teachers who have passionately worked on these new courses, and will be introducing these to our students. In my opinion, motivated students + motivated teachers + dynamic, relevant content, make the best formula for education. Thank you!
To “member of Gunn High School community”:
Well said.
Looks like Gunn beats Paly once again. The staff at Paly needs to get a clue.
Short of moving, I do not know what to do.
@Paly member: Seriously?! Paly is superior to Gunn in all ways, even down to their football teams where Paly historically beats Gunn. They are even taking a two-year break from playing each other because it’s no contest each year. I have never heard of anyone who lives in the Paly area transfering to Gunn. It’s usually an issue of Gunn students wanting to attend Paly. Should be easy if you want to change to Gunn. But I suppose complaining is easier.
“Paly is superior to Gunn in all ways”.
Now, THAT is pretty funny.
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/california/districts/palo-alto-unified-school-district
It certainly appears that Paly is superior to Gunn in the quality of dope that some parents are smoking.
@Former Gunn Parent: If you are looking at solely academic testing, yes, Gunn is ranked higher. And per your link, Gunn’s #17 California ranking vs. Paly’s #29 ranking is hardly a lead. But I’ll allow you to think you’ve got it better.
I can’t believe these comments are from adults! Let’s not bicker, guys. Let’s be proud of both of our excellent high schools in Palo Alto. I applaud both schools for instituting the new courses and giving our students more relevant choices.
As a Paly parent I am happy to hear about the new comedy course, which my son is interested in taking. Thank you Ms. Fillpu for suggesting it!
Come on, play fair! Gunn and Paly communities. Let’s set the standard here for some awesome behavior and role modeling. Let’s look for ways to bridge the “perception” gap here. Cognitive dissonance at play. Both schools are amazing and have their individual charm. But they are stronger united. When Paly and Gunn students partner in city wide projects, transformation happens. Let’s work for and toward a Palo Alto centric culture, not so much Gunn v Paly and Paly v Gunn. Once a Titan always a Titan… once a Viking always a Viking – that’s a given… but seriously the hero is the one that brings people together to serve a common, larger cause.
I hope that the quote from Melissa Baten Caswell was taken out of context but if not, I do not appreciate the underlying tone of disdain for parents. Many of us do recognize the enormous efforts and great passion of the fine teachers in this community and are grateful for them. Please let’s stop bashing parents, especially school board members!
“I don’t think most students, or certainly parents, have any idea of the passion that goes into the creation of these classes,” board member Melissa Baten Caswell said following the teacher presentations.
I LOATH (many) Palo Alto parents…OMG you people. Have fun with each other.
@Misha are you only now becoming aware of how condescending Caswell is? Where have you been my dear?
I actually find Melissa Caswell to be thoughtful and not condescending at all. Is it wrong for a school board member to express her appreciation for the hard work of the Palo Alto teachers?
What is of a bigger concern to me is that our middle and high school (particularly the high schools) are allowed to have such a big difference in the courses they offer.
Gunn Electives:
Advanced Journalism African-American History Astronomy
Cold War
Digital Electronics (PLTW) Programming Concepts (Comp Sci 1) AP Computer Science
AP Economics Micro
AP Economics Macro
Economics
Engineering Technology Environmental Science
Ethnic Studies
Far East History II
Holocaust
Intro to Engineering Design (PLTW) Law 1
Principles of Engineering (PLTW) Programming Using JAVA (Comp Sci 2) Journalism
AP Psychology
Psychology II
US Foreign Policy H
Paly’s Electives:
Advanced Journalism
(including Magazine Journalism)
Astronomy
AVID Senior Seminar
Beginning Journalism
Broadcast Journalism
AP Computer Science A
Creative Writing
Economics ll
AP Macroeconomics
Engineering Technology Environmental Science
Ethnic Studies ll
Foundations of Science
Integrated Science
Introduction to Gender Studies Introduction to Kinesiology & Reh Java
AP Psychology
Psychology II
Science Research Project (H) Sociology II
US Foreign Policy Honors
Web Journalism
No wonder there is so much stress in PA schools. Parents….back off, stop bickering, support your schools efforts to help the kids. They are under SO much pressure.
I think it is great Paly added an additional English class but did it have to come at the expense of one of the few honors English classes? Paly seniors have a choice of the low lane of English or AP English – no more Honors English for seniors! This is very disappointing for all those seniors who were looking forward to a more accelerated class for their senior year.
Its not the schools fault.
There is just a lot of mental illness in this community. The parents tend to be clever and driven and crazy. Goes together. So are the kids, clever, drive (by the parents) and crazy. And its the lack of internal drive and external parental pressure that does it.
> “I don’t think most students, or certainly parents, have any idea
> of the passion that goes into the creation of these classes,”
> board member Melissa Baten Caswell said following the teacher
> presentations.
This seems like a pretty condescending comment, from Melissa Baten Caswell. What evidence does she have to back up her statement? Was she actually with each of the teachers who conceived, and cobbled together, the concept plans?
If not–maybe Ms. Batten-Caswell is being just a little too hyperbolic for our common good. It’s unlikely that any of these teachers did not use materials from outside the school system’s resources to come up with the course ware. And further more–sitting down and designing a course is far more work, than it is “passion”.
Did the District post the course proposals on-line, so that the public can get a look at the teachers’ suggestions? If not, maybe Ms. Batten -Casswell could be a little more of an advocate for the public than a cheer leader for the teachers.