Here at John Dewey H.S., the auditorium, which had recently been under renovation for undisclosed reasons; is now back up in service for Dewey to enjoy. Fostering a new sense of community and progress right in our very school. With so much going on in the school, it could explain the varying reactions across all of Dewey.
The auditorium offers more to John Dewey’s students no matter how you look at it. More than just a stage for performances, and assemblies & such, the auditorium seems to capture the bright minds at Dewey, generally there are positive & negative opinions regarding its use & potential throughout the community.
Students, teachers, and faculty alike can enjoy this space, thanks to our School A.P of Finance, Mr. Messinger. When asked about the auditorium he remarks about the renovation included “state-of-the-art lighting and sound. Plus brand new seating and we reslopped the floor, so it’s less of a trip hazard” Mr. Messigner . He ultimately referred to it as “a state-of-the-art auditorium which rivals any other auditorium in the city”.
After all he isn’t wrong, the auditorium is a considerable step up from its predecessor. It certainly encapsulates the modernity that the world as a whole aspires to become moving forward. Sometimes it makes you think “Why isn’t the rest of Dewey like this?”. However, the students seem to formulate their own opinions on this renovated space.
“I think it is useless, and it doesn’t serve any purpose, and you can tear it down, replace it with anything,” said Arthur Grenaderov, a J.D.H.S senior. “Unless you are in theater or something like that, it is completely useless”.
“I like how elegant the design is, everything is clean & well-lit” commented Angelica Kamensky, a J.D.H.S Senior.
“The auditorium, although unanticipated, has much to offer to us, the students of John Dewey. I could see that this work should’ve gone somewhere else said Vadim Stepovenko, J.D.H.S Junior. “. . . but that may be my personal bias, as I am connected with people in extracurriculars & they always rant about how budgets & their equipment are behind. However the auditorium, from when you just walk in looks great. Not millions bucks worthy, but it is there”.
With changes like this, it is reasonable for student reactions to be negative considering the timing & budget (or lack of budget) that it may have taken up for other sectors of the school (although untrue according to Mr.Messinger). However, the auditorium no matter its negative effects seems to be the right step for Dewey to modernize itself.
This just leaves the teachers being the remaining party left out of this. Teachers feel rather lenient on the matter (or lack of the matter). When interviewed math teacher Mr. Wong remarked that “the auditorium looks nice & I hope we can use it more”.
And I would love to see shows & more usage of it, I guess. . . I think we’ll be able to host shows & have students collaborate to share their talents, I think it a good way for outside companies to maybe rent the auditorium & give students in Dewey a chance to see other types of production that other school might have, or shows that might be playing outside that students can’t afford to see, I think it is a good opportunity for everyone”.
The auditorium is a space unlike any other, and it is now operational after all these years as now there are town-halls, presentations, school rallies, and audition performances like just recently an upcoming B.S.U (Black Student Union) audition for next school week (December 9-13). This has been underway since October of this year and it is amazing to see what wonderful things that they can utilize this space for.
The Auditorium is appeasable or abominable to the Dewey community, it truly is a space to nurture all this discussion & thought. After all it is in our very humble school & it is certain that this won’t be the last of the many projects that the administrators would undertake to transform our school into something more. To you the reader I leave you this: What changes do you want to see in Dewey?
