An American Senior High School

Quincy, Illinois, is a typical Midwestern town of about 50,000 inhabitants. It is situated 120 miles north of St. Louis, the nearest big city. Quincy Senior High with a student population of 1,900 is the only public senior high school in the town and it also draws students from the surrounding region.

Q: Alan, which high school do you attend?

A: I attend Quincy Senior High School in Quincy, Illinois. I've been there for four years, and I'm in the twelfth grade.

Q: What are the subjects required in your four years of high school?

A: Well, in my four years of high school I have to complete twenty credits, one in math, three in history. three in English, three and a half in P.E., a half in health and one year of science. And that adds up to twelve credits. The other eight were optional and I could take more of any one subject such as math, history or 1 could take other subjects such as psy­chology or computers or so on

Q: And what are your subjects now?

A: My present subjects now are math, English, Gerrnan computers, business law and one study hour which normally would be P E. But I run track alter school and so therefore I take a study hall instead of P.E.

Besides sports there are also several other activities after school such as hand drama club, theater, chess club, many other clubs such as German club and Spanish club and so forth. 0: What does your schedule look like? A: Well, I attend school between 7.30 and 2.20 every day and in that time period 1 have six hour-classes and a thirty-minute break for lunch. And between each class I've five-minute breaks.

Q: Can you tell me anything about the tests and examin­ations at your school?

A: Well, we have many different kinds of tests. Usually we have essay tests, multiple choice tests. Then there are other tests such as quizzes and oral examinations such as book reports and speeches and such. 0: What about homework?

A: It's different with every teacher. Some teachers like to give lots of homework and others don't give that much. It just depends upon their teaching style.

Q: How do teachers evaluate the performance of students?

A: Well, usually a teacher evaluates the performance by written tests equalling fifty per cent of the grade oral tests and quizzes as forty per cent and homework as ten per cent. And then usually we write a large paper twice a year called the term paper and that also adds" into the grade.

Q: Is there a strict code of conduct at your school?

A:Each student receives a detailed student hand- book which therein has the rights and responsibilities governing smoking, lavatory use, language obscene or vulgar - what may and may not be brought to school, such as radios or weapons or drugs. There are also rules concerning absenteeism and tardiness to class and the penalties such as detention, in-school suspension, out-of-school sus pension and 1 know these rules sound really strict, and they are a expulsion bit, but for the most part they're common sense. And the atmosphere isn't as bad as it sounds It is not a prison. It's actually quite relaxed and quite friendly.

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 841