Because I had worked in an entirely different environment at I.S. 24, also on Staten Island, I was shocked at the contrast between these two schools. Two schools in the same district were run differently, populated by different students, and obviously had different student outcomes. Was the educational system so flawed that it produced such radical inconsistencies? At the previous student teaching experience I had, from January to March, I was inspired to see the students responding to the material and to the teachers. The overall educational environment was stimulating and positive. It was not like that at McKee High School, which had a depressing learning environment. The contrast made me think about what specific issues were different at McKee, and how those differences might be changed so that all students can achieve their highest potential. Contemplating the differences helped me also comprehend the role that school administrators and policy...
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