Talk:Westmount Secondary School

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Contents 1 Student's Perspective 2 Programming Team 3 Students 4 Controversy over Controversy 5 What? 6 Stuff that needs editing 7 Learning enviroment 7.1 Resource Room 7.2 School Library 7.3 Main Computer lab 7.4 Other computer labs 7.5 Cafeteria 7.6 Communications Technology Room 7.7 Media arts room

[edit] Student's Perspective

This category is an example of the work of a Westmount student. It also provides an insight into the unique program offered by Westmount, and the type of student who is in it. This paragraph has already been published in a major newspaper, so it is not "original research". -JoJaysius

[edit] Programming Team

The school sends two teams every year (ie. a first team and a second team). Would people stop editing the article to make it sound otherwise? HYPOCRiTE 23:34, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Students

Don't we have a different number of students now? I heard we were 200 over capacity.

200 more students sounds about right...but we have the capacity for those new students. I haven't heard any official numbers, though, so I wouldn't change anything.JoJaysius 22:57, 22 September 2006 (UTC)

Fixed it - we're at about 1200 students now, and the article reflects that. HYPOCRiTE 01:49, 19 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Controversy over Controversy

There seems to be some debate as to the validity and tone of the controversy section. Rather than allow this edit war to escalate, can we talk it over here, like mature, responsible (need I say self-paced) students?

For the record, I think that the section is valid and written with an unbiased slant. I can certainly attest to the factuality of the incident; I remember reading about it in the paper. Comments? JoJaysius 22:31, 17 October 2006 (UTC)

Glad I found this discussion as it is being added and removed bidaily it seems. What is not being mentioned is the fact that at Westmount the club was forced to disband not because of their religion but because of a time when they tried to teach creationism as a science without counter point, which is illegal. If something pertaining to that was added to the article I would have no problem with it but as of now the article makes it sound like this club was disbanded for no reason.

The group was not teaching creationism. No one was being forced to listen to their beliefs, or participate in the group in any way. Membership was on a purely voluntary basis, and such is protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Thus, the school violated the student's civil rights by banning the group. I hvae written the article in a purely unbiased manner, and have sources to back up my work. Since it has conformed to Wikipedia's standards in regards to biased content, the article will remain.

The school didnt ban it becuase of its relgious beliefs - it was banned because there was no teacher -advisor willing to sign their name next to being responsible for the club. No teacher == no club, like at any school. Perhaps you should get your facts straight (signing your name after commenting would help too). HYPOCRiTE 02:56, 19 November 2006 (UTC)

Any source for the creationism argument? I can't really find sources for either side of the issue, so I can't verify that claim. Maybe I'll just go ask Sawford tomorrow... Incidentaly, does Westmount still have a Christian club? Please sign your posts, JoJaysius 22:27, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Agreed that the section is unbiased, but the cited source has a definite bias. Can we find a better source with a NPOV? Johnbrownsbody 21:15, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

The article would be lessed bias with the mention of the illegal creationism lesson. If Professor Welch at McMaster sourced, I believe he wrote a letter regarding this topic to the faculty at McMaster because his son was present at this lecture. Hm. Rison29

I don't believe the creationism lesson had anything to do with the banning of the christian club. I remmeber hearing about the christian club being banned before attending Westmount, but I was there for the creationism lesson. sven87

Okay, well now the Christian club is back at Westmount again. Oasis is what it's called. But I don't know the details of how it came back. What now? Rison29

I must question the need for a "Controversy" section, as the issue has been resolved (and for some time now). Although a complete removal of the section would be unfair, perhaps there needs to be less of a focus on it. HYPOCRiTE

I'm of the opinion that the more information, the better, providing it doesn't get redundant. Ideally we'd have sections detailing other issues in Westmount's past (not that any come quickly to mind), so there wouldn't be such a focus on this one specific issue. JoJaysius 22:36, 19 November 2006 (UTC)

Well, it seems that the NPOV has been resolved, and as such I'm removing it from the main page. I'll leave the discussion in, just in case we need to come back to it at a future date. HYPOCRiTE 17:30, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] What?

There seems to be a series of reverts and adding content back, with personal attacks and assuming bad faith in the edit summaries. What is going on here? --Gray Porpoise_{Your wish is my command!} 22:29, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Just some vandalism. Nothing major. HYPOCRiTE 22:41, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Stuff that needs editing

[edit] Learning enviroment

[edit] Resource Room

Westmount has a room where students can come in at anytime to get help with work. Their are a few teachers that can generally help students with virtually any subject. This room is particularly useful during a students spare as they can get additional help when they are not in class. This room is also generally open during lunchtime.

[edit] School Library

Westmount has a decent sized library with a good selection of books. However it is smaller than many other school libraries, but however it also seems to have more up to date books compared to other schools. If students cannot find what they need here however, their is a public library which is about a 10 minute walk away. The library also contains tables where students can do work. However the Westmount library can get very loud at times.

[edit] Main Computer lab

The main Westmount computer lab is located in the library. It features 20 computers for student use, with 15 of these being new up-to date computers. All the computers in this room are networked, and student files are stored on a central server. Students are able to access their files from anywhere within the school. Generally their will be an available computer that students will be able to use. Students can sign out of class to come use the computers in this room. No classes are assigned to this room, so computers are on a first come basis.

[edit] Other computer labs

Their are two other computer labs in the business department. These rooms contain roughly 20 to 25 computers each. These rooms have classes assigned to them, and their are generally only a few computers available for other students to use.

[edit] Cafeteria

Westmount has a cafeteria where students can purchase food. The service is provided by chartwells. The food served here is typically very expensive and does not taste good. Also the food can be undercooked, overcooked, burnt or raw. In the cafeteria their are also alot of tables, which students can use at any time of the day. This room is a great place to work on group projects, and is usually quiet. However students generally come here to play cards, and very little work is actually achieved in this room.

[edit] Communications Technology Room

Westmount has a full Communications Technology program, which is one of the best in the board. This room is equipped with 25 or so computers, and a full TV studio. Classes are assigned to this room, however their is almost always a free computer which students can sign out to use.

[edit] Media arts room

The media arts room contains 11 emac's, which are separate from the rest of the school network. Generally computers in this room are only for arts students, however exceptions are made all the time.