Jesse Heussner ’11
Sports Editor
Late last night, the Board of Education voted to replace arena with a computer-generated scheduling system with a 6-1 vote.
While the status of the embattled schedule system has been widely discussed during the last few years, this has been the first firm action from the Board of Education and Superintendent Elliott Landon.
“[Arena will be replaced] by a computer generated schedule with balanced classes and with every student receiving the classes he or she needs,” Landon said via email.
For more in depth coverage on the conclusion of Arena, read the Oct. 22 issue of Inklings.
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- Adios, Arena (06880danwoog.com)
A very angered and CONCERNED STUDENT • Oct 15, 2010 at 8:40 pm
elliot- ever think about what it’s like to be a student?
A very angered and CONCERNED STUDENT • Oct 15, 2010 at 8:38 pm
This is absolutely ridiculous. I was looking forward to getting decent reccomendations from teachers that i’ve bonded with my sophomore year and gettin them again senior year. Now that’s not an option, this is effecting my future. I’m furious, why would elliot landon do such a sudden and abrupt ending? It should be grandfathered in, and new students should not recieve it. There was absolutley no respect nor consideration that went into this decision for next year’s seniors and juniors. I recommend challenging that decision- ON BEHALF OF MANY STUDENTS, WE WOULD HAVE ATTENDED THIS MEETING IF IT WAS MADE PUBLIC!!!
Sasha • Oct 14, 2010 at 6:37 pm
True, if you don’t like Arena- don’t go!
Michael • Oct 13, 2010 at 10:31 pm
I think that all of the students reading this realize that arena, for a vast majority of kids, is not about getting a teacher to suit their “learning style,” it’s about getting the teacher with the reputation for being easy or fun. Not once in my three arena experiences did I ever hear someone say “I’m taking this teacher — she really fits my learning preference.” Anyone that said that would just be given a weird look. Staples kids take the teachers that they’ve heard are easy. Arena was a disaster for too many students, and a computerized system is not only easier to organize and more efficient, it is undeniably fair, and arena is not. Arena depends on too many subjective factors to be considered fair, and the computer does not care if you cry at it.
Gladiator • Oct 13, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Do we have any proof that a computer system will be more effective than arena? I for one had an incredibly messed up schedule at the beginning of my freshman year because of a computer error, and that was when the computer was handling 1/4 of Staples students – not the thousand plus students it will have to handle if arena is stopped.
Also, what were the motives behind this decision? Dr. Landon says the computer provides students with “the classes he or she needs” but arena already does provide students with the classes they need, and if not the problem can be resolved with relative ease in guidance. What makes the computer any better?
It is absolutely within the jurisdiction of the BoE to stop arena, but I would like to know specifically why they chose to do so. Someone please tell me, it would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
Leah • Oct 13, 2010 at 9:32 pm
James, learn how to spell before we can take your comment seriously.
James • Oct 13, 2010 at 9:14 pm
I feel that this should and shouldn’t be cancelled. From what I hear the teachers go under a lot of stress with areana and for that reason, it should be cancled. But, why not let the computer just make them? The computer made mine freshman year and I had a better schedule then than I dont now. Yes, it does gives us more “freedom”; but when I went to Areana, all it realyl was was everybody being stressed out.
Sasha • Oct 13, 2010 at 8:59 pm
The main problem with the Board of Ed’s decision is that the Board of Education should act in consideration of the student body. Clearly, the Board of Education failed to ask students what they thought of Arena. Though the Board of Ed should act in order to benefit students, it is composed of parents who are ill informed of students’ needs and talk to Mr. Landon, a man who rarely comes to Staples, not the students themselves. It’s imperative that a group that is supposed to be representative of the Staples community stops being disconnected, and gets back to reality.
Marcus • Oct 13, 2010 at 7:34 pm
Arena was one of the few things at Staples that actually put the students in a position where they had to figure stuff out for themselves. Yes it was annoying, sure it sometimes didn’t work out well, but it was a great analogy to the real world where you don’t always get what you want. It gave us students freedom to prioritize what we thought was most important to us and get the classes, teachers, and periods we felt were essential to the coming academic year. Taking arena away represents another loss in the character of the school, and will result in more upset students who possess less control over their education.
Chelsea • Oct 13, 2010 at 6:17 pm
If they have to eliminate Arena at some point they should phase it out by having it be a senior privilege only. Seniors deserve to pick their schedules, especially when so many factors play into it.
Anne • Oct 13, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Classic Board of Ed not listening to what the students want. they never even asked how Staples Students felt about it. They listened to Elliot Landon rather then the people who matter the students.
Nick • Oct 13, 2010 at 5:10 pm
This is totally baloney!!! I demand respect
Sasha • Oct 13, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Thats ridiculous, Arena gives students the opportunity to shape their schedule in a way that a computer cannot. Arena lets students select good teachers unique to their learning style. Not all teachers are equally good for each student and their individual learning style and teacher personality preference, and Arena lets students take advantage of this fact to suit them better.
Sasha • Oct 13, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Thats ridiculous, Arena gives students the opportunity to shape their schedule in a way that a computer cannot. Arena lets students select good teachers unique to their learning style. Not all teachers are equally good for each student and their individual learning style and teacher personality preference, and Arena lets students take advantage of this fact to suit them better.