Philosophers’ High School

General Topic:

Design a modern-day high school that incorporates the

philosophies of at least one author whom we have studied into all
its policies and procedures (if you choose more than one, their ideas
should be at least somewhat compatible).

Specific areas to be completed by teams:

1. Program of Studies/Curriculum/Materials

2. Student Handbook

3. Vision Statement, Mission and Strategic Plan

4. Food Service

5. Library/ Media Center Services and Materials

6. Co- and Extra- Curricular Activities

Program of Studies/Curriculum/Materials

a. Read through the Mascenic Program of Studies sections on Math, Science

and Social Studies.

b. Revise these sections in a way that reflects the philosophies of your chosen
author(s). You may choose to revise present courses or to add new ones, or a
combination of both. You must come up with a total of TWO new or revised
courses for each area, Math, Science and Social Studies.

c. Create your own Program of Studies including just the revised courses you
created. Design a cover for it as well. Put the whole thing together as BOTH a
full-size booklet AND as a miniature in which at least the cover is readable.

d. Also make up a miniature textbook for each of the three curriculum areas
you designed; the cover should be readable and the title should reflect the
philosophies of your chosen author(s) in some way.

e. Compose an essay in which you explain how you decided to write the
Program of Studies as you did, making specific references to the reflects the
philosophies as well as your own work.
Student Handbook

a. Read through the Mascenic Student Handbook.

b. Revise AT LEAST FOUR sections in a way that reflects the philosophies

of your chosen author(s).

c. Create your own handbook including just the areas you revised. Design a
cover for it as well. Put the whole thing together as BOTH a full-size booklet
AND as a miniature in which at least the cover is readable.

d. Compose an essay in which you explain how you decided to revise the
Student Handbook as you did, making specific references to the author’s
philosophies as well as your own work.
Food Service

a. Research the dietary habits of your chosen author(s). If you cannot find
their actual preferences, you may use information about food, diets, eating,
etc., during the time when the author(s) lived.

b. Create at least four menus to lunch and/or breakfast based on your

findings. Print up the menus on full-sized paper in large print.

c. Create out of clay miniature (1 inch = 1/2 foot) replicas of the meals
described in (b) above. Use the clay available in 103. After the miniatures air-
dry, paint them of course!

d. Compose an essay in which you explain how you decided to create the
menus you did, making specific references to the philosopher(s) and/or their
times as well as your own work.
Vision Statement, Mission and Strategic Plan

a. Research the life and philosophy of your chosen philosopher(s).

b. Read Mascenic’s Mission, Vision Statement and Strategic Plan (available

at www.sau.mascenic.org/attachments/197_Strategic Plan 2010.pdf)

c. Revise the Mission, Vision Statement and AT LEAST FOUR sections of

the Strategic Plan in a way that reflects the philosophies of the your chosen
author(s).

c. Create Mission, Vision Statement and Strategic Plan including just the
areas you revised. Design a cover for it as well. Put the whole thing together
as a full-size booklet. Then, make a small (1/2 inch = 1-foot scale) model of a
sign or plaque that would go in the school, stating the Mission and the Vision.

d. Compose an essay in which you explain how you decided to revise the
Mission, Vision Statement and Strategic Plan as you did, making specific
references to the author’s philosophies as well as your own work.
Library/Media Center Services and Materials

a. Research the lives and philosophies of your chosen author(s), especially as

regards their thoughts on education and studying.

b. Based on the above as well as what you know of the needs of modern-day
high-school students, design a library/media center for Philosophers’ High
School. Include both the floor plan and the various components of the center
(equipment, books, etc.)

c. Draw out the floor plan on large sheets of paper that can be hung on the
bulletin board (in 103, not the miniature school!).

d. Make up an equipment list for the center, and a list of Essential Tomes: the
books your chosen author(s) would have believed essential in any library
were they living now (they can be books written after the author’s lifetime).

e. Create at least 5 miniature replicas form the Essential Tomes list (on a 1
inch = 1/2 foot scale)

f. Compose an essay in which you explain how you decided to create the
Library/Media Center, making specific references to the philosophies of your
chosen author(s) well as your own work.
Co- and Extra- Curricular Activities

a. Do some research on the pastimes, leisure activities, hobbies, etc. of your

chosen author(s), as well as their political and social interests, views on social
equality, social activism, political action, religion, etc.

b. Based on this and your knowledge of various school clubs today, create AT
LEAST FOUR different clubs or other types of groups for the students of
Philosophers’ High School to become involved in outside of class but still
related in some way to the school.

c. Create a full-size “Philosophers’ High School Co- and Extra-Curricular

Activities” booklet containing a description of each club beneath its name (be
creative with the names, please!). Design and make a creative cover for the
booklet, too.

d. For the miniature school, create to-scale posters advertising each group:
when it meets, what it’s for, etc. Be creative!

e. Compose an essay in which you explain how you decided to create

activities and groups you did, making specific references to the philosophies
of your chosen author(s) as well as your own work.
 Grading Rubrics for all Projects

All Projects will be graded on the following THREE AREAS:

AREA ONE: The thoughtfulness of what you created, especially in terms of how well it reflects your
chosen author’s philosophies. (40%)

4= Excellent 3= Good 2= fair 1= poor

4: Content of the project showed complex thought and a thorough understanding of the philosophies as they related to the
assigned topic. Nothing in the project conflicted with the ideals of the author(s) referred to in the essay or any other part of the
project.

3: Content of project was generally thoughtful and showed an understanding of the philosophies as they related to the assigned
topic. Nothing in the project conflicted with the ideals of the author(s) referred to in the essay or any other part of the project.

2: Content of project showed only a superficial understanding of the philosophies as they related to the assigned topic. A few
elements in the project seemed inconsistent with the ideals of the author(s) referred to in the essay or any other part of the
project.

1: Content of project failed to show a real understanding of the author’s philosophy as it related to the assigned topic. Many
elements in the project seemed inconsistent with the ideals of the author(s) referred to in the essay or any other part of the
project.

AREA TWO: How well your visual components are constructed/composed. (30%)

4= Excellent 3= Good 2= fair 1= poor

4: Visuals were always sharp and clear and fulfilled all size requirements. Composition was always finished and neat with
effective use of color where appropriate. All visual components assisted in conveying the project’s content to the viewer.

3: Visuals were generally sharp and clear and fulfilled all size requirements. Composition was generally finished and neat with
effective use of color where appropriate. Most visual components assisted in conveying the project’s content to the viewer.

2: Some visuals were sharp and clear and fulfilled size requirements, while others seemed messy, unfinished or off-scale.
Composition was inconsistent: sloppy in some places but careful in others. Those visual components which were well-composed
did assist in conveying the project’s content to the viewer.

1: Visuals and text were generally sloppy and inaccurate. The overall appearance was poor, with many sloppy or unfinished-
looking areas. Few if any visual components assisted in conveying the project’s content to the viewer.

AREA THREE: How well your essay is written; it will be evaluated according to the Six-Traits
Rubric as well as on correct use of MLA internal citations and Works Cited page. (30%)