I can see someone on the board of education saying something like, "Let's put up a photo of someone playing an instrument, someone in an art class, and someone on an iPad...That's what the parents want to see."
There is much more to New Trier than that. I feel that those particular photos were not chosen for any other reason besides to show off to people like parents and non-New Trier students. I think those photos create a very cropped image of New Trier, forgetting about so much more that New Trier has to offer.
I think the average user of the New Trier website is probably a student from New Trier who is not in the least bit interested in seeing another student studying. So, why bother with putting up those propaganda-esque photos in the first place? I mean, we get it already. New Trier is a pretty awesome high school. It is not fair to sum up an entire student body in 7 measly photos.
I really like your argument on how the school is just trying to please parents. The pictures on the front page of NT give the vibe to me that NT is just trying to show off what they think are their best characteristics. I wouldn't go to far to say that its really close to propaganda but I do understand what you are trying to say that the pictures on only meant for parents rather than the students who actually use it more. The question I ask you is what do you think should be on the home page and why?
ReplyDeleteWill, great question! I wish the pictures focused more on students pursuing their personal goals without idealizing the life of the NT student body. For example, there could be pictures of students working together on a project or a teacher helping a student that needs help. I just want there to be more in terms of the everyday life of a student. Feel free to disagree because I'd love to hear what you think should be on the home page as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Josh that the photos on the website are what parents want to see but I think you could say that about almost any photo that goes up on the website. For example, if they did put a picture of a teacher helping a student that could be seen as New Trier saying, "Look how great our teachers are!" For the website to accurately depict the life of a New Trier student without idealizing it, the pictures would have to show overwhelmed and exhausted students too and that probably isn't how the students in the photos want to be seen. I think it is hard to show positive images on the website without idealizing New Trier.
ReplyDeleteMaddie, I agree with you in that putting up pictures of students that are over-worked would probably not be the best idea, but I do think that would be better than what is there now. Not that I am so against showing off how awesome New Trier is...please don't get me wrong I'm not a New Trier communist, I just think there needs to be something more factual. But, then again, it is the parents who are paying taxes that fund the school and if that's what they want to see, so be it. But, come on, we can do better.
ReplyDeleteHi Josh,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for a post. The only thing I was frustrated with was the lack of a suggestion as to what you thought was a better choice for the 7 photos. This is the beauty of the blog, however: your attentive comments in response to your readers was exactly what good bloggers do.
2 little things:
1) The BOE does not choose which photos appear on the webpage. I wonder who does, though. Maybe you could interview them?
2) What the heck is a "New Trier communist" exactly?
I think New Trier communist is not what I meant. I meant that I am not completely against the school board or whoever decided on the photos, rather I disagree with the particular choice of photos on the NT website. I'm still a big supporter of most New Trier organizations.
ReplyDelete