20th Century

We are writing to ask you to reconsider the decision not to run 20th Century Literature next year. As students that have had firsthand experience with the benefits of an integrated curriculum, we would like to share with you three main reasons why 20th Century would improve our learning. Those reasons are: the significance of an integrated curriculum in the world we will be living in, how the integrated environment supports our learning styles, and how integrated classes in the past have built a strong community that has influenced constructive learning within class and the school.
No one knows what the world will look like in twenty years, but what we know is that we will be in our late thirties with jobs of all sorts. We do not know where we will be, but we do know that the wave of global connections and the need to integrate different perspectives is already present in the jobs of today. American Studies and Perspectives (for those who took it) have provided us with a new way of thinking. It has showed us how to look at two different subjects and make them one. This is an essential skill for our future.
We believe that in the past, Deerfield High School has done an exceptional job at providing different environments to suit students’ learning. We, as students in American Studies, have been able to understand our learning styles. We took American Studies for the purpose of finding success within that environment, and those of us who signed up for 20th Century did so because we know this type of environment is where we can find the most success. Through the double periods, the ability for class discussions, and the two subjects brought together as one we have all come to know that this is where we learn best. There are different levels of senior English in order to provide a variety of learning environments for students. The lack of an integrated senior English course leaves a large number of students with options of senior English that do not best suit their learning. These integrated courses that Deerfield High School provides are great examples of how our school shows that it values how we learn best.
We have become better-quality thinkers through the environment of American Studies. The environment of the class has caused us to be self-reliant and have a positive connection with each other. We believe that an integrated class gives us a new way to think, it forces us to go beyond just facts and think at a deeper level. The two hours we spend with our class four days a week has provided us with surroundings comfortable to us. Our class has created a strong bond that has allowed our thinking to improve through trust and encouragement of our classmates and teachers. In our opinion we do not get that same feel in other classes. This bond has extended to other times and places throughout the school which has helped each of us broaden our learning.
We understand that schools face budget constraints. In your decisions of balancing finances and options for students, we felt it was important for you to understand the impact this decision has on our learning. We would be happy to talk with you further if you would like. We are looking forward to an exciting senior year and we hope 20th Century Literature is a part of it.

Respectfully,
Members of Students Requesting 2010-2011 20th Century Literature