Closed Trojan Time lessons need improvement

On various block days throughout the year, CVHS holds closed Trojan Time. It’s a 42 minute period where students learn about social and emotional well-being (SEL lessons) through slides created by Ms. Tigerman and our assistant principals. Discrimination, empathy and sympathy, consent, identity, academic honesty, and more, are all subjects taught under this program. 

While I do believe these lessons are essential to learn about, we are in high school. We know about discrimination, empathy, and sympathy. We have been through the assemblies, the guest speakers, and the teacher lectures. And with social media such an important part of our daily lives, we’re even more aware of socal and emotional well-being than ever. 

When asked if she had any previous knowledge of Trojan Time topics, sophomore Sanjana Kumar responded, “I know them pretty well since some of them have been taught to us since elementary school.” 

In surveys taken after various SEL sessions, other students also commented that some of the information is repetitive and they learned about it before. They stated that it is frustrating to lose 42 minutes of potential study or work time to host SEL lessons. 

There are benefits, however. In the case that students were not previously aware of these subjects, Trojan Time ensures that these important moral lessons are learned. 

“They probably should be taught every year because there’s always new people coming to the school,” said sophomore Jonathan Scholton. Learning about these topics every year guarantees that students are well accustomed with these subjects.

When asked how closed Trojan Time sessions could be more engaging, students had lots of feedback. In the 2021 to 2022 school year, students were asked to fill out a survey from the day’s closed Trojan Time slides. While certain topics like identity and allyship were the most interesting, students wished the lessons went more in-depth and inclusive. For consent and discrimination, a popular request was wanting the slides to explain school policy around these issues and to address the already existing problems on campus. 

As important as it is to be well-versed in the lessons taught in closed Trojan Time, the program needs work. Repetition may be the key to success for some, while for others it is only a one way ticket to boredom.