Each fall Pilgrim High School participates in "spirit week" in order to create a positive environment in which students and teachers can display their pride in the school.
However each year, I hear grumbling from faculty members about how this week is nothing but a distraction which creates an environment in which teaching and learning is impossible. Their argument is that "spirit week" has no educational value and thus should be discontinued. The counter-argument: In a 2004 book entitled Creating a Positive School Culture, Marie-Nathalie Baudoin argues that a positive school culture, including events like spirit week, can actually lead to a better learning environment, help to eliminate cliques and bullying, and actually forge stronger relationships between teachers and students. In another book released earlier this year entitled, The Muses go to School, editor Kerbert Kohl presents a series of essays which argue (among other things) that strong arts programs including music, visual arts, and drama all help to foster an overall positive school culture... thus, according to Kohl, when people complain about the murals around the building, or paint over art work for new white walls, they are actually being counter-educational... What do you think? Do these things matter, or are they just distractions from what school is supposed to be?
Ethan Miller Period 6
10/25/2012 08:55:34 pm
I think whoever grumbles and complains needs to get a HUGE dose of reality. We are not in the times where most kids loved and enjoyed going to school because, yes, there was a time. We are now in a time where the majority of the school gets up in the morning and doesn't want to go. If we're going to live in these times, we need to have a week of fun. Believe me, Mr. X, I know exactly who you're talking about when you mention grumpily teachers. Also, activities like the arts and spirit week give kids the chance to express themselves, which is what we have been taught to do since where little. If these teachers want to have spirit week canceled, by all means, it's your decision, but you will just keep to your hypocritical ways.
Wenli Period 3
10/25/2012 10:13:20 pm
Spirit week is awesome! I personally learn better when im in a happy mood and this week went by super quick. I didn't learn any different because i was wearing a certain outfit.. i know my opinion is a student perspective but i think a lot of people would agree that just because it has no educational value it still shows school pride which is also important. 10/26/2012 06:27:52 am
Things like spirit week do create a more positive mood around the school and gives it a little fun to some kids. For some this probably makes learning more exciting because they get to dress up in different ways and look forward to going to school. Also, spirit week can create a stronger bond throughout the school. It brings everyone together to participate in something that everyone can do. Spirit week gives the school a sense of pride and it unifies the school. Throughout this week I saw almost everyone dressed up on everyday, and it helps to bring everyone together. Anyone is welcome to participate and it spirit weeks allows all different groups to join in. Spirit week creates a positive school environment and is more helpful than hurtful.
Lisa Kelly period 1
10/27/2012 02:44:06 am
This is ridiculous. Spirit week isn't a distraction at all. It gives the students a chance to show school spirit and have some fun. There is absolutely nothing wrong with spirit week and should not be taken away.
Arden period 6
10/28/2012 01:54:33 am
I think that spirit week does make school better. Events like spirit week do make the school environment a better place to be in...plus, it's fun to see how everyone dresses up/shows their spirit. School would be kind of boring without fun events like these.
Jacob McNamara P.1
10/28/2012 06:59:52 am
spirit week makes me feel more loveing of school and seems to keep me focused more. i love spirit week.(even though ther is no use for haveing a better relationship with u mr. x :)
Sam Malm Period 1
10/28/2012 08:30:11 am
Spirit week is not a distraction at all. If any, it allows the students to open up bettter within the school enviroment
Julia Fuller period 6
10/28/2012 11:58:17 am
I don't think that spirit week would be a distraction. I feel that it could help improve learning and can create a more positive feel towards our school
Molly period 1
10/28/2012 01:39:42 pm
This utterly and completely rediculess. It's funny how people are now a days taking away the little fun we have. Spirit week is fun and people go All out for it and enjoy it. We don't get that many privileges. To me, if we worked all day everyday at school and had no fun, we would not be getting good grades. This adds Dina dn excitement and kids enjoy it. Not a good idea taking away a privilege? Haha
Alexia M period 6
10/28/2012 11:29:27 pm
I don't think that spirit week is a distraction. It makes going to school more fun becaue we can dress crazy. The teachers who complain about this need to understand that some students don't come to school because they feel it is boring. Spirit week makes school fun. Also, the teachers who complain must have a boring teaching style. Spirit week might be a distraction to some people because they are laughing about their outfits but its only a week. Plus, it creates a happy environment that makes students and teachers laugh and have a good time.
Brendan R
10/29/2012 12:32:46 am
I think spirit week is an important time of the year for both students and teachers. I feel there are many more teachers in favor of it than those against it. Spirit week is a time for kids to enjoy themselves in the long school year and without it it will drag on for even longer. I feel like the school needs to have more time in the year devoted in having fun which may produce a better learning environment,
Matt Carney Per.4
10/29/2012 03:55:28 am
I think spirit week is really fun. It gives the students to show their school spirit.I thinks spirit week shouldnt be taken away
Claudia Period 6
10/29/2012 08:36:38 am
I don't see anything wrong with Spirit Week. I think it's really fun and it's great when the teachers get involved too. Seriously, I don't see how it 'takes away from the education' or anything. It definitely makes school more interesting for a week. Whoever complains about Spirit Week needs to lighten up and open their eyes.
Mackenzie Egan period 6
10/29/2012 09:53:23 am
I don't think it is a distraction at all. I think it actually makes school fun, and it doesn't take away from our education. Teachers shouldn't complain about spirit week because it brings pride to the school. They also need to understand multitasking. We do it a lot in school, and in this case, it's learning and having some fun.
Nicolle P.3
10/30/2012 03:31:03 am
I think things like spirit week do create a better learning environment. Yeah, spirit week itself is distracting for learning, but the bonds built and the fun that students have during spirit week, will carry into the following weeks and that will make school a more fun place for students to be.
Oanh Nguyen Period 5
10/30/2012 07:09:29 am
Spirit week is definitely is not a distraction since it makes kids want to go to school even more. Teachers shouldn't take it out on spirit week just because students doesn't doesn't listen to them in class, maybe it's their teaching style that is the problem.
Danika Wayss Period 6
10/31/2012 01:45:06 am
There is nothing wrong with trying to make school a fun, positive, and spirited environment. Spirit week is not overly often and any teacher can handle something, no matter how much it annoys them, for one week. Spirit week gets the students excited and encourages them to have pride in their school. It think things like Spirit Week and art programs give students something to be excited about and encourages them to get involved in the school.
Makenzie Driscoll Period 4
10/31/2012 05:21:57 am
i think that spirit week is a good idea. It gives some kids a reason to go to school. It also gives some students the opportunity to show how much they love there school and how much it means to them to be a part of the pilgrim high school family. me personaly, I love dressing up for spirit week some teachers need to lighten up a little bit, and have some fun!
Nathan Morton Per.4
10/31/2012 10:52:26 am
I think that spirit week is a good thing. It shows school pride and spirit. They should never take it away. Its really fun!
Gabriel Diplan Period 4
10/31/2012 12:11:18 pm
I think spirit week is a good thing for school. I don't see the distractions because are my classes are as normal as they would be any other week. Spirit week just shows the pride of students in there schools and its a good way for students to enjoy school.
Tora DeLiello period 1
11/1/2012 09:18:48 am
Spirit week is far from a distraction. It creates a more positive environment in school. It makes school so much less of a pain. Everyone has their own opinion but really that's just ridiculous.
Victoria Curley p:5
11/1/2012 10:33:22 am
This almost seems like a joke! Spirit week is one week that students can express themselves freely in a judge free zone. It is a place of happiness for those 5 days. Students actually want to go to school and participate in something. By getting involved in something such a spirit week beings many different people together. I don't think it at all causes a distraction in the class room. Yes the hallways may be a little more rowdy, but if a teacher handles the situations in a calm manner most students just go to class and continue learning as normal, a little face paint or funky costumes doesn't affect that at all! I don't see why spirit week is such a problem with some people, it is a time where some students finally feel like they can be apart of something. In general it is a time where students seem more connected as a student body!
Anthony period 4
11/1/2012 01:28:47 pm
I dont think spirit week is a distraction to your education. Without spirit week the school year would be boring. Sure some costumes that kids wear to class could be a distraction but it isn't that big of a deal.
Brian per 4
11/3/2012 08:17:29 pm
I really dont think spirt week matters all that much its just a way for poeple to have fun and all my classes ran the same all week with no real distractions
Jessica Pope
11/7/2012 07:45:08 am
Spirit Week is AMAZING! It is the one week out of the year when everyone is friendly to everyone and it is just a bunch of fun. It helps bring both students and teacher together. I love to participate in Spirit Week, however I do understand how it could present to be a distraction, but who cares! After all it is only for one week, it is one week out of the year where everyone gets to just have fun and show our Pilgrim Patriot Pride!!!
Chelsea P3
11/7/2012 09:15:08 am
I don't think teachers should complain about spirit week at all. Spirit week is one of the only weeks that many students, including myself, look forward to during the school year. It allows students freedom of expression. There aren't many distractions, it's just people being more outgoing in their outfits. Spirit week also brings students and teachers together.
Steven Johnson period 6
11/7/2012 09:16:13 am
i think that Spirit Week is important to all schools. School can be boring enough as is, everyone needs something once in a while to spice things up. The students can enjoy their selves. By Spirit Week students form stronger bonds with each other and the school faculty.
Olivia period 5
11/7/2012 09:31:26 am
I think that Spirit Week is only a distraction if the teacher sees it as one. If the teacher makes their students take notes or follow the lesson plan they way they would any other day, there would be no problems. The problem with homework, however, I feel comes from other extracurricular activities that are going on during that week. Playoffs for sports are very close to that week for some sports, so many student athletes have games or practices. The homecoming planners are also busy with preparations for the upcoming weekend, which takes a lot of time. I feel like the week would be hectic with or without Spirit Week, but it provides a reason to want to go to school and creates an atmosphere that is more enjoyable to be in.
Daniel Peladeau Period 6
11/8/2012 06:59:40 am
I believe that Spirit Week is not a distraction, people can make it a distraction by getting too into the day, but most people just stay simple and wear a few things that go with the day. Our school needs this week so that we can create a more positive environment while showing pride for our school. This is a great week to lead up to Homecoming and in general it isn't a distraction to the students. Some teachers think that wearing hats or a crazy t-shirt will distract the students, but we are already used to that out of school. Students always wear hats, and it is not like we are going to be staring at someones hat for no reason during class. So why tell them to take it off because it is distracting. It is mostly distracting to the teachers while all of the students are not being distracted by spirit week. I think Spirit Week should always be a part of Pilgrim, it is a sense of pride to the students and this year we supported breast cancer by all wearing pink on that Thursday. It does more good in the school than the harm that the teachers believe is happening.
Emily pd. 3
11/8/2012 07:41:17 am
Spirit is one of the weeks that students don't want to miss. It's a way of expressing who they are without judgements. It makes students feel like they're apart of something and that they belong to their school. So what if people are feeling energetic and having fun during spirit week, isn't that what we're supposed to do? We're supposed to be getting excited for homecoming and going to sports games to give the teams confidence in how they play. I would also like to know if those teachers that are complaining about spirit week enjoyed and participated in theirs when they were in high school.
Darren Grant Period 6
11/8/2012 09:12:09 am
Spirit week offers nothing but positive attitude towards school. People are attending school and honestly, this should not have an effect on kids learning because they are still showing up to school to do the work. Kids also like spirit work to show their pride and partisipation in school. this includes nothing but positive energy for the school and teachers should realize that.
tyler per 4
11/8/2012 11:04:59 am
I don't think spirit week is a disraction. I personally like spirit week . Not one of my teachers slowed down class or didn't teach because of spirit week. All it does is represent our school and show spirit to our school . Its not there to have a week of no work nothing. Hanged just because we are wearing colors and makeup
Katie Lundin period 6
11/8/2012 11:20:45 am
I'm really mad right now because my computer just froze and i lost everything i typed. not fair. but anyway, spirit week is a fun change to the usual boring weeks of school. it has no educational purpose but it's a fun and exciting time in school that most people take part of.
jahshaun jenkins period 3
11/8/2012 01:22:50 pm
In my opinion, spirit week should not nor never be taken away. Even though you do not learn anything from this experience, it shows hw much students take pride in their school but dressing up for events such as these. Spirit week makes people feel like they are an important figure to their school, and it is something that kids actually look up to.
Leah Fitz-Simon Period 6
11/8/2012 09:32:02 pm
I think that spirit week is a great thing to participate in. It can connect students with other students that they may not be 'friends' with. I also think that it gives everyone something to participate in. If students don't patricipate in clubs or after-school activities, spirit week may help them to feel apart of something. Some teachers may not like the idea of spirit week, but I do not think that it should be taken away.
Nicole Morales Period 6
11/8/2012 09:51:13 pm
I think that these things are so important and that Khol was absolutely right! I can't believe that teachers out of all of the people in the school would actually say that spirit week should be discontinued. Spirit week is a time when bullying is eliminated. People that I don't even know commented about my outfits or something like that and it was like there was nothing that could be made fun of because everyone was doing it. I think that spirit week should be every month. It really brings a school together and so many people have fun participating. The arts allow people to express themselves and without them, creativity and uniqueness would be lost. Spirit week is not a distraction, it is just the same as someone dressing the way they want to in order to express themselves. Spirit week not only allows students to express themselves, but it is also a time when everyone is accepted for it. It is actually pretty insulting that teachers would want to take that away. Not insulting to just me, but the whole school.
Madeline Choquette period 1
11/9/2012 07:30:27 am
Spirit week is supposed to be fun and its not distracting ! Its a week thats exciting and most people actually have the school sprirt to do it. This probably isnt educational but its fun and has to do with your school! So they should not cancel it.
Talia D'Ambruoso P.3
11/9/2012 10:52:59 am
Educationally speaking, I think that spirit week holds no merit, and while it is fun, from this point of view it is frivolous.
Yannick Period 3
11/13/2012 08:56:03 am
Of course is teh spirit week a crazy week. In my oppinion is it for every studentdifferent. If you want to dress up, you can but if you don't want you don't have to. Comments are closed.
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