Group C, Panel discussion, Oct 29, 2020

 Panel discussion 3: Group C

◆Topic

Instituting a skipping / repeating grade system in high school

◆Discussion members

Ethan Baird / F1 racer  ✳︎Moderator

Sow Lee / manager of the cafe and painter

Minnie White / dance practicing student

Scott Phillip / security guard

Kingsley Maskerar / mask craftsman

◆Contents

< Sow Lee >  For → For

     He agrees with this idea. Because there is the people who don’t study harder can go up the grade. He thinks that we should study more harder and understand clearly. If the people who can’t understand the subjects well go up the grade, they can not understand the important point to live like world affairs or domestic situation.

< Kingsley Maskerar >  For → For

     She agrees with this idea. She thinks that repeat the grade isn’t shame thing and everyone can do so. She said that everyone should understand the importance of repeating or skipping the grade. Because the person who study very well can go to the up stage and get any experiences, and if the person need to repeat, it’s a chance to understand more deeply.

< Scott Phillip >  Neutral → For

     He is neutral for this idea. He thinks that the skipping the grade needs sometimes, but we should think it more many aspects. He said that there is many disadvantages for children who decides to skip the grade suddenly. Also he said that if the person needs to repeating the grade, it gives us too stress to go to school.

< Minnie White >  Against → For

     She disagrees with this idea. She has opinion about the friends aspect. She said that her high school memories are made by many good friends and it was really important time for her. If there is the skip / repeat system, some people may be separated by that. It’s a sad thing and if I were so, I don’t want to go to school anymore. She thinks that the school festival or sport festival is important for students to make sociality and personality.

◆Questions within the group C 

1. Scott → Kingsley

Question     I think it is not good for children to change the environment rapidly because they are so delicate. I ask to agree people, it means the students lost time for class activity and school festival to skip the grade?

Answer     Kingsley thinks that time is important. However, she also thinks that if the children have disease or injure somewhere, they can repeat without the barrier. She feels that the chance skipping the grade is more important than friendships in high school.

2. Minnie → Sow

Question     How the children can skip or repeat the grade?

Answer     Sow said that children can choose which they skip the grade or not.

3. Sow → Minnie

Question    Children can choose which they skip the grade or not. Why do you disagree with this idea?

Answer     Minnie thinks this idea is not good because the person who is smart can teach other students who is not good at studying.

4. Minnie → Sow

Question     I think that if the children don’t to skip the grade, they can learn not only subjects but also human relationships and it will be helpful for the future and society. Skipping the grade means children go out the Apollon, how do you think about this?

Answer     Sow understand what Minnie said. However, he thinks go out the Apollon is the challenge to the high level study. If the child don’t want to go, they don’t have to go out. He thinks that it is the chance to go out.

5. Ethan → Minnie & Scott

Question     What is your best memory is your high school days?

Answer1     Minnie said that her best memory is her friendships in her dance club activity. At first, she couldn’t dance very well but she tried to do hardly with her friends and finally she could dance so good. Her personality is made by her best friends and they are all of her.

Answer2     Scott said that he has  some best friends, and his best memory is also club activity. He taught the skill and help each other. Especially, the club member tried to cooperate and win, he thinks that it’s the important thing in his life.

◆Questions from the audience

1. Which college accepts the students who skip the grade? (Mia Williams)

     Sow answered this question. He said that we think about only within the high school, so we don’t consider the point of view.

2. Can the children already skip or repeat the grade now? (Jane Fisher)

    Jane said that by now the children can skip or not, can they do that? (Robert Brown)

     Sow answered this question. He said there is no system like this.

3. Minnie said that sociality and personality is made in high school, but there are some people who don’t go to high school. However, I think they also have sociality. What do you think about that? (Pepper Gruber)

     Minnie answered this question. Although she said so, but she means the study includes junior high school. She thinks friendships are really important when children is young.

4. If the children choose to skip or repeat the grade, I think that it costs so much money. What do you think about that? (Lily Swan)

     Sow answered this question. It’s real and difficult question. He thinks there are some people who can’t skip or repeat, however he thinks about the existence of chance mainly. So, he said as answer, the children’s family or government will give the supports.

5. I think we can make friends not only in high school but also any other place. How do you think about that? (Spenser Donald)

     Minnie answered this question. She thinks it’s good idea. She realized we can make some friends in any places.

6. Can only 1st or 2nd grade students use the system? I mean 3rd grade students need to graduate the high school. (Sora Swift)

     Sow answered this question. All of high school students can use the system. But he don’t know which college can accept them. It’s decided by educational organization.

7. Why do you think the system is need? What is the problem if there is no system like this? (Robert Brown)

     Sow answered this question, first. He has a friend who cannot understand politics or science fully. He want to change the situation that the children who can not understand something well after growing up.

     Kingsley also answered this question. She is worry that there are some students who don’t have enough  understand and graduate without enough knowledge. If there is the repeat system, they can study more.

◆Result

They reached consensus.

Minnie: Change to agree

    At last, she can realize that student can make friends and wonderful memories without high school.

Scott: Change to agree

    By hearing the audience opinions, he changed his mind.

Sow: stay agree

    He thinks we can learn everywhere.

Kingsley: stay agree

    She can recognize the importance of friends.

◆My opinion

     I think this idea is good. Because the children can use time effectively. Furthermore, the children can choose which they skip or not. I feel it’s really good opportunity for children to experience some kinds of world. However, I’m worry about cost to skip or repeat. If the children go to school, they should pay the money like tuition fee. It may be high cost, when the child said go to college out of Apollon. I think that if there is the money support, it becomes more good system.