* Air conditioning (it has been HOT!)
* The school day would start at 7:00 a.m. (everyone seems to get more accomplished before 11 o’clock in the morning than they do the rest of the day)
* Every student would be required to write a blog about their thoughts, goals, daily adventures and misadventures, etc.
* Yearly comprehensive physicals for all students and staff (preventive medicine is good)
* Students would be required to read 5 other blogs.
* School uniforms (this includes staff members… I am tired of ironing dress shirts)
* No prep time for teachers, but they would have to be at school 2 hours longer than students… could be before or after school… or a combination
* 4 day school weeks (I am thinking the day should go from 7 to 5)
* Everyone reads… a lot (including all staff… certified and non certified)
* Extra pay for new ideas and innovation (teachers and students)
* Teachers and Administrators would be required to take 2 college or high school courses every year… forever (I am leaning towards sitting in on Art or Spanish)
* 1 hour each day of physical education (staff included)
* Free milk (saves me 30 cents a day)
* All students would have to watch at least 1 hour of CNN each day (we need to understand that there is a big world out there)
* Music in the classrooms, hallways, bathrooms… everywhere
* Recycling program
* Staff members would come from all economic, social, and racial backgrounds (but they would all be positive, upbeat, and funny)
* Lots of guest speakers (from inspirational to everyday people)
* All athletic contests would be held on weekends
* Technology… and lots of it
* A staff member whose sole job would be to help other staff members with technology
* Every classroom and office would have a pet (I am going with either a dog or a monkey… can’t decide)
* Students would have a voice in teacher and administrator evaluations
* Field trips to museums, colleges, inner city or the country (the opposite of where you live)
* Teachers could take sabbaticals and not have it affect their retirement
* Required classes in religion (all kinds) and foreign language (all kinds)
* Art and Music class every day
* Cooks would make freshly baked cookies every day
* All employees on 1 year contracts (a 1 year contract is a written guarantee that people will do their best)
* Free pencils (no more upset teachers if a student forgets to bring one to class)
* An end to a schedule of 45 minute classes (more time for reading… less for something else… haven’t figured this part out as of yet)
* Every student and teacher would be required to volunteer 5 hours a month
* Paperless office
* Students and Staff would have to help the janitors twice a year (and consequently would pick up after themselves)
* Mandatory speech and debate classes (has anyone NOT needed the ability to speak in public?)
* Laptops and wireless internet for everyone
* A variety of vocational classes
* All snow days must be announced in advance (sleeping in is cool)
* No study halls
* Retired teachers can come and go as they please (to help teach, tutor, and mentor)
* No lounge (staff eats in cafeteria with the students)
* Ban on students driving to school (bikes and buses only)
* No bells (they are annoying and colleges seem to survive without them)
* Only educational field trips (families, not schools, should go to Six Flags…)
* All students would have to participate on 2 athletic teams (preferably 1 where they are not good… there is a lot to be learned when you are not the best)
* Teachers would teach to the state test (seems to work for drivers education and med school)
* Every discipline situation would be addressed within 10 minutes
* Clean bathrooms (just because I am easily grossed out)
* Outdoor classrooms
* Students would have representation on the school board
* No yelling… by students or staff
* Every 5 years all staff members would have to work full-time at another job (we would all appreciate education that much more)
* Cumulative tests (life is cumulative, not short chapters)
* Free swim lessons (I have always regretted not learning to swim)
* Mandatory tutoring (older students teaching younger students)
* Volunteers in every classroom… every day
* Students would be allowed to drink water or eat fruit in class
* Dodgeball (no hitting in the face… principal gets first pick)
* No school on the first day of Spring when it is 80 degrees and sunny
* Free donuts every Friday morning
* Social hour for staff at the end of the week
* Corporal punishment would be allowed (but never used… the idea is the scary part)
A longer list than I first envisioned, but you need some extensive guidelines to have a perfect school
