In previous years, Mr. Klumpenhower taught Current World Problems during sixth period, but starting this year, he is teaching FWPA Citizenship, a new elective exclusive to sixth graders.
FWPA Citizenship is a one-semester elective that replaced the class Service Learning. FWPA Citizenship focuses less on academics and more on learning how to be a proper citizen within a community. One of the activities the students participated in was quietly walking down the halls while classes were in session. This activity taught students how to be respectful to others that are learning and how to be proper citizens in school.
When deciding who would teach FWPA citizenship, Mr. K. was one of the best options, due to his long history at FWPA. Ms. Thornton, FWPA’s principal, says, “Mr. K has been at FWPA for many years, so he understands what FWPA stands for and represents.” Furthermore, Mr. K. teaching FWPA citizenship creates more room for other elective opportunities. Now that Senior S. does not teach FWPA citizenship during sixth period, it allows him to run a high school P.E. elective, granting students physical education credits, which are necessary to graduate high school.
Although FWPA citizenship is different from Mr. K.’s usual subjects, he still enjoys teaching it. He says, “I would rather have students who are decent human beings than students that know geography.” Mr. K. also pointed out that by having all the sixth graders before they’re in his seventh-grade ELA and history classes, he gets to know them better.
Additionally, many of the students enjoy the elective and having Mr. Klumpenhower as their teacher. Declan Banting said, “I like Mr. K’s humor.” And Wilson Nguyen said, “I enjoy the conversations about good citizenship.”
Overall, FWPA Citizenship is the newest addition to FWPA’s sixth-grade electives. Both Mr. Klumpenhower and his students enjoy being a part of it.
