Freaky Friday

The Cherokee Tribune releases today, high school students throughout Cherokee were comparing notes Friday, not on classroom assignments, but on the different high schools in the county. About 15 students from each high school in the Cherokee County School District participated in a countrywide "school swap." Students attended another high school in the district for a day to learn what it's like at high schools.

Cherokee High School senior and Student Government President Makenzie Bowker, 18, of Canton, initiated the idea and the school's student government association designed the swap. Makenzie, who said she learned from being a swapped student at Sequoya and left ideas there, said the event both showed students how other schools operate and was an opportunity to meet students from other schools. "outside of sports, we really don't have contact with each other," she said. "I wanted to see if the grass was greener on the other side."

Cherokee High Principal Pam Biser said the swap was a positive experience for the students. "It also unifies the country and unifies kids from the different schools." she said, adding she would consider the students suggestions after the swap. "I think we'll all be open to listening and learning. Different schools work very differently," she said, adding the swap was a good opportunity. "It opens you up to other schools ways and ideas."

The kids enjoyed seeing how other schools functioned and how their activities were handled. "We think of the other schools as being certain stereotypes, but found that the stereotypes were untrue, and were not as different as they may thought." The students are now wanting to do the high school swap a new thing to do and do twice a year to break up the daily routines." All swapped students agreed that the swap does the body good, but the school good.

Sources:
The Cherokee Tribune