May Day provides new outlet for learning

By Julia Sheth
Contributing Writer

Not too often do students have the opportunity to teach their teachers or learn about their nonacademic interests during school.

Mira Costa will hold its first annual “May Day” on Tuesday. This event will give students the opportunity to be teachers and conduct classes for an audience of Costa students and faculty.

“I am excited for May Day because I think that it will be a cool way to learn about your own interests from teachers and students,” freshman Erin McCarthy said.

May Day was created by administrators in response to Technology, Entertainment, Design speaker Sir Ken Robinson’s proposal to look at learning in a unique way. Robinson spoke to Mira Costa teachers and administrators in January about this concept, prompting them to create the event.

“If you can light the spark of curiosity in a child, they will learn without any further assistance very often,” Robinson said at the Costa staff meeting in January.

The purpose of May Day is to allow students to take part in activities that spark their imagination and critical thinking skills, according to Mira Costa Vice Principal Deborah Hofreiter.

“I hope students and staff members will take the opportunity to experience learning or teaching in a different way,” Hofreiter said.

In total, Costa students and faculty will teach nearly 50 classes on May Day. Students signed up for two 90-minute classes or four 45-minute classes on May 28. Some clases include Meditation and Introduction to Juggling.

“I will be teaching salsa dancing at May Day,” Spanish teacher Felise Shapiro said. “Since I already love salsa dancing, I decided to teach a class on it because then the class could enjoy it.”

Although some teachers are taking on their normal roles and teaching classes, some teachers are going to go back to being students for a day, perhaps even learning from their own students.

“I’m very curious to see how May Day goes, how the faculty and students respond, and then to see how this is a first step to something larger,” English teacher Jonathan Westerberg said.

Students teaching classes during May Day have to face a new challenge: the task of learning how to effectively teach a class in a fun and entertaining way.

“I am teaching ‘The History of Impressionism and Impressionist Art,’” junior Madison Hummer said. “The hardest part will be developing a comprehensive lesson plan. I think teaching something you’re really passionate about comes naturally.”