The Parents of Low Achieving Students vs. The School

In this weeks seminar, we did a role play activity centered around a proposal for a High Stakes school. We were put into groups and given a various role to play in the "town meeting" where this proposal was going to be introduced and discussed. My group was given the role of the parents of low achieving students. Based on our role we then set to the task of coming up with questions and argues against this new proposal (my group did not support the proposal). At seminar, all groups were given a chance to speak their side and the superintendent and curriculum director answered questions and responded to arguements.
In my opinion, I felt that this activity was very beneficial and engaged us as students. It was beneficial because it forced us to see different viewpoints on school policy. As future educators, we already narrow our vision to look at policy in terms of how it effects us as teachers, and may not take into account how it effects other educators, or high-achieving students (in the case of the proposal used here). It was effective at engaging us because we had to put ourselves in shoes of someone else and see their side, as well as teach us to look critically at the proposal. Everyone was engaged and as the class went on became very involved in their role and how this proposal would effect them and any students they may work with.