Politicians are always talking about our failing education system and spouting how the U.S ranks poorly compared to other developed countries. They make grand policy proposals which would take years to implement and cost billions of dollars when there are a few easy things schools could do now to improve students educational experiences at the high school level.

1. Exercise

High schools need to set one period aside for physical activity. It should be mandatory for everyone who does not play a sport outside of school or for the school to use this period to get some form of exercise. The type of exercise should be left up to the student. If you want to jog, go jog on the track. Want to play soccer? Go use the field. The kids who do play a sport regularly can use this period as a study hall period or as a free period. Research has proven time and time again that exercise improves student's mental health and physical health. A third of American kids are obese, it's time to take action.

2. Shorter Class Periods

We waste too much time in class. In classes where the teacher teaches something new and critical nearly every day, they are usually done with the lesson with 15 minutes left on the clock. The rest of the time they ask us to get a head start on the homework. In classes where we rarely do anything, students are tasked with tons of pointless busy work to kill time. Shortening class periods would do a couple of things: A) Force teachers to get to the point B) Allow students more time and energy to study the concepts they need to study C) Allow time for that period where students can be active. Keep in mind that Northern European countries which consistently score high on international exams have much shorter classes than us.

3. Post Worked Out Solutions To Everything That Won't Be Graded For Accuracy

There is nothing more frustrating than not having an answer key to check if you are doing the work correctly. Teachers don't always go over every problem, and sometimes you may miss class that day. Having a reliable key is essential for reviewing for quizzes and tests and making sure you are on the right track. Some teacher do actually go over all the problems and hand out keys regularly, but this is rare. It should be a universal practice.

There's a lot more we can do, but taking these small steps is definitely a good start.