Social studies department undergoes relocation

Story by Grey Johnson, staff writer

After a decision to relocate some ninth grade classes, social studies teachers Chuck Zach, Lance Kyles and many others have been moved into new classrooms in what used to be a building specifically for freshmen while some ninth grade teachers have been relocated to former history classrooms.

“Administration made the decision to move the freshmen out of the old building in an attempt to improve their behavior,” history teacher Chuck Zach said. “They will be easier to monitor in the classes in the courtyard instead of in the other building.”

The social studies teachers are not the only ones affected by this move. Freshmen teachers Karen Russell, Alejandra Hernandez and Steven Teague were some of the ninth grade teachers moved out of the freshmen building. The teachers are convinced that the move will be positive.

“I think it will benefit the students,” ninth grade teacher Karen Russell said. “It’ll get freshmen out and not be just within themselves so that they can interact and see upperclassmen.”

The relocation will affect the students, but the social studies teachers don’t think that the move will have a large impact on them.

“I don’t think the location of our classes will have much impact on the social studies teachers,” Zach said. “Although we will miss not being able to help monitor and interact with the students in the courtyard between classes.”

However, the ninth grade teachers are already noticing a change, even before the start of the school year.

“There are some things about my old room that I still really liked,” ninth grade teacher Alejandra Hernandez said. “You know like where it was and how it was far away from the courtyard and the chaos that happens here.”

One feature that ninth grade teachers previously did not have now allows them to see clearly out of the classroom.

“This classroom has windows,” Hernandez said. “The other one didn’t have windows so I’m really excited about that. We had no idea if it was raining or snowing. We had no idea what was going on until the kids would show up like half drenched.”

After the initial feeling of resistance to the change, the social studies teachers warmed up to the idea as they realized their teaching experiences would not be altered.

“At first I was resistant,” social studies teacher Lance Kyles said. “But when I looked deep within myself I realized: ‘Meh. It’s whatever.’ The essence of the Lance Kyles teaching experience is not about a particular room or a particular set of desks, it transcends physical objects.”

The building that the history teachers were moved to is commonly referred to as “the dungeon” by some students.

“The word ‘dungeon’ gets thrown around a lot,” Kyles said. “People say ‘oh they moved you to the dungeon.’ But historically dungeons served important purposes so I take it as a compliment.”

The move does not show any possible negative effects at the time, but only time will tell.

“The new students won’t know any difference, right,” said ninth grade teacher Steven Teague said. “Ninth graders will always think they were supposed to be here, so it should work out fine”