The answer is yes… depending on the school.

One of the most difficult times educationally and socially for students is Middle School. The ever-present, life-draining, engagement-sapping question of, “Why do we have to learn this stuff?” is what will make or break a class for adolescent students. And so will a teacher who cares about the answer.

At Countryside, connecting learning to life is a part of every day.

One way we accomplish this is through our Occupations, during which professionals from various fields come to work with our students to develop skills and also learn about different businesses in our economy.

Dan Kemper, former president of multinational Schur Packaging Systems, Inc. is working with students in our shop class helping them design and make products that they will eventually put on market in the local community.

Dan Kemper, former president of multinational Schur Packaging Systems, Inc. is working with students in our shop class helping them design and make products that they will eventually put on market in the local community.

Mr. Kemper shared his goals for the students during their time together. “I am incorporating math in shop class so that the students can understand how to create their own designs,” said Mr. Kemper. “Eventually I would like to take them to a manufacturing plant so that they can understand the actual manufacturing process.”

So, why do we study geometry? Because if we want to make the many things we like to use, we have to understand space, dimension, shapes and their relationships to one another.

Do the kids care about this?

We will let the photo do the talking:

Middle School at Countryside