Essay Submission

Prompt: Educators debate whether high school students should have an active role in classroom instruction, such as selecting some course materials and leading some class discussions. Some educators support giving students an active role in classroom instruction because they think doing so would increase students’ interest in their classes. Other educators do not support giving students an active role in classroom instruction because they think students would not learn as much from their peers as they would from a teacher. In your opinion, should high school students have an active role in classroom instruction?
In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about either one of the two points of view given, or you may present a different point of view on this question. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

Professional educators have traditionally taught curriculum to high school students. The idea of having students teach their classmates is currently a debated topic. Some educators support having student teachers because they believe that active participation would stimulate interest. Other educators disagree with this course of action, arguing that students would not learn as efficiently from their peers as they would from their teachers. I strongly believe, though, that this type of active participation would ultimately enhance the quality of education. The educational enhancements that active participation provides are illustrated throughout history and personal experience.
As a senior in high school, I tutored other high school students in algebra and geometry primarily, if not exclusively, for monetary gain. In retrospect, though, I gained leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, as well as strengthened my math skills.
The United Stated Armed Forces appreciates the value of having soldiers assume leadership roles. In 1987, I enlisted in the Army Military Police Corp the same month I graduated high school. I was stationed in Fort McClellan, Alabama for eight weeks of basic training followed by seven weeks of military police school. Marching and running to cadence is one of the first things taught to new enlistees. “Eight more weeks and you’ll be through. I’ll be glad and so will you,” is a cadence that I fondly recall. Drill Sergeant McCain ordered me to lead cadences on several different occasions. This training technique forced me to learn the cadences in a way that cannot be replicated by simply singing along with my peers and fostered confidence and leadership skills, as well.
During the military police school phase, the drill sergeants selected members of the platoon to alternate as platoon leaders. This leadership position entailed giving orders as routine as “about face” or as critical as “charge” to the platoon members. When the drill sergeant selected me, I was nervous that I was going to look incompetent and lose the respect of my peers. Consequently, my experience as a platoon leader provided me with valuable leadership and interpersonal skills. In other words, peer pressure is a powerful tool in an educational environment.
Of course, proponents to having enhanced participation might argue that students are unqualified to teach and, therefore, having them do so would hamper the learning of their classmates and disrupt the learning environment. However, I strongly disagree. Professional teachers would be present to monitor the accuracy, thoroughness, and conduct of the student teachers. Permitting student teachers would generate interest and provide valuable skills, and the learning process would be immeasurably enhanced. My sister-in-law, a high school Spanish teacher in Fredericksburg, Virginia, has given students the opportunity to teach in her classroom. She expressed that it infused excitement into the classroom and increased her students’ interest. Furthermore, she said it was a wonderful reprieve for both her and her students from the often monotonous classroom setting.
After a careful analysis of the US military training protocol, one can see that enhanced participation among students is, indeed, invaluable. Permitting high school students to teach would generate interest and valuable skills that will help students in the classroom and beyond. Moreover, peer pressure is a powerful tool that should be used in an educational environment to teach as well as reach students.