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High school students in Michigan from Kent City and Kelloggsville took part in a “student swap” initiative, where they spent a day at each other’s schools to experience a different environment. The goal of the project, according to Kent City Superintendent Bill Crane, was to expose students to different backgrounds and spark ideas for improvement in their own schools. The students highlighted both visible and intangible differences, such as the variety of teaching methods, building structure, rules, social dynamics, and diversity.
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High School Student Swap Highlights Similarities and Differences
During an economics class at Kent City High School, Cheyenne Maloley, a junior, reminded Tina Le, a senior from Kelloggsville High School, to try the water. The two students, participating in a first-of-its-kind student swap in Michigan, raced down the hallway to the nearest drinking fountain. The simple act sparked a lively discussion about the differences and similarities between their respective schools.
While the taste of the water sparked laughter between the two, the student swap was designed for more than just casual observations. Over several weeks, 18 students from each high school swapped places, exposing themselves to a new educational environment. The aim, according to Kent City Superintendent Bill Crane, was to burst the students’ bubbles and encourage them to experience other educational environments.
The innovative swap called attention to both the intangible and tangible differences between the schools, from the use of technology to building architecture. Notably, students also recognized the socio-cultural differences and diversity among the student populations.
Kelloggsville High School Principal Nick Patin and Kent City’s Jordan Stuhan plan to gather insights from the swapped students to stimulate ideas for innovation and improvements in their respective schools. They believe exposure to different school environments will help students prepare for diverse working scenarios in the future.
Both principals are eager to conduct more student swaps in the future, witnessing the formation of unexpected friendships and valuable inter-school connections. Tina, despite her preference for Kelloggsville’s water, is keen on repeating the experience, acknowledging the value of exposure to different school environments.
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