Every year, one high-school educator converts his classroom into a totalitarian state to teach George Orwell’s book. This year, the lesson feels different.
Andrew Simmons
The Atlantic - Nov 20, 2016
My classroom becomes a totalitarian state every school year toward the end of October. In preparation for teaching 1984
to seniors, I announce the launch of a new program aimed at combating
senioritis, a real disease with symptoms that include frequent
unexplained absences, indifferent reading, and shoddy work. I tell each
class that another class is largely to blame for the problem and
require, for a substantial participation grade, that students file daily
reports on another student’s work habits and conduct; most are assigned
to another student in the same class.
We blanket the campus in
posters featuring my face and simple slogans that warn against the
dangers of senioritis and declare my program the only solution to the
school’s woes. Last year, my program was OSIP (Organization for Senior
Improvement Project); this year, it’s SAFE (Scholar Alliance For
Excellence). We chant a creed at the start of each class, celebrate the
revelatory reports of “heroes” with cheers, and boo those who fail to
participate enthusiastically. I create a program Instagram that students
eagerly follow. I occasionally bestow snacks as rewards.
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