Manual Arts Senior High School

My son attended Manual for 2 years, and that was enough. The school is not terrible, but there is an attitude among the teachers that since this is a ghetto school they should be able to do whatever they want. There is no leadership from the administration and teachers run their classes however they see fit. Mr. Channel, who is mentioned elsewhere here, has a rule that if a student is absent even one day, with or without an excuse, they fail the course. My son was sick one day (with a doctors note!) and failed the class, even though he had all A's. Channel also designates certain pretty girls to be his "helper teachers", and these students get special privileges. Other teachers do much the same, favoring some students, enforcing bizarre rules, etc. We went as far as the school board to protest this, but the attitude seems to be "well , those teachers work in a tough school so we let them alone". At least we didn't have to worry about "teaching to the test". Nobody in this school seems worried about how their students do, long term or short term. I come from a family of educators and I have never experienced a school like this.

Although I am not 100% on board with the structural changes taking place at Manual Arts, I have met the principal at a community function and he seems to be making a serious commitment to this school which I applaud.

i am currently a freshman at mahs nd its is a good school the staff isnt topnotch but if you do fond a good teacher it will help you. i am in NAI (USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative) and i feel it is really helping me get through all dillemas at school because it helps me to achieve higher.

Thank G-d I never went to Manual Arts Senior High School. I would hate to be associated with them. Irma Suarez Montes de Oca class of 1986