Final Post
- kdvasquez14
- May 10, 2023
- 3 min read
The time has come for my final AP Research Project post! After a great year, full of growth and learning, it's time to move forward.
Looking back on my project, I think there are so many important things I'll be taking away from the research experience. While I cannot share the exact results of my data, I can talk about the drastic differences between district communications and what they mean for the future of Colorado schools.
One district, for example, complied with my project but requested that if I chose to publish my findings, I would also complete their district’s Institutional Review Board training. However, the harsh response of a certain district exposed an inconsistency in permitted communication. While the district as a whole felt my work was an abominable threat to children, multiple of their principals released data without any objection. It begs the question: If there aren’t even clear guidelines set for the release of information, are there any aspects of school safety that are well established? Additionally: What do our districts have to hide? Is it truly about the protection of information? Or perhaps an attempt to avoid accountability? These questions can be left up to interpretation based on the individual’s perception of the education system. However, one thing is indisputable: the Colorado metropolitan region as a whole is not consistent in its approach to school safety improvement. By the time I had concluded data collection, my research advisor - and school principal - had received emails both praising and criticizing my work. However, at no point in time was there any contact made by an official governing body. The school board was entirely reticent and unexpectedly absent from the official Research Symposium. From principals to superintendents, it appeared as though nobody had ever inquired about specific safety measures before. This strongly suggests that there truly hasn’t been any review or evaluation of the resources being utilized in Colorado schools. It is my opinion that without consistent inspection of security systems, the safety of students can not be improved or ensured.
This project has, most importantly, taught me to be relentless in my research investigations. While some portions of this project were overwhelmingly tedious - like perhaps, collecting the names of over 200 principals - it was so worth the time and effort. This topic allowed me to explore an incredibly important topic and understand the issue on a deeper level. Gathering as much data as possible gave me the opportunity to draw significantly more accurate conclusions. While I did confine my research to the metropolitan region, it was still a very extensive survey, and I interacted with a variety of districts from around the state. To my knowledge, this type of evaluation has been an unprecedented task, most certainly for a student. When writing my final paper and giving my presentation, I felt confident in the answers I'd come to. Perseverance during the planning stages of a research project like this is integral to success later on.
As a person, this course really developed my character and beliefs. This is such an exigent issue and conducting this research made me realize my passion for the topic. My results, and everything I learned during the process, left me feeling defensive and protective of the students in Colorado. I came to the realization that tip-toeing around deeply influential problems is no longer an option for our leaders, and can only lead to more fatalities. In the future, I can only hope that the school board will be held accountable. Most notably, I have hope for our teachers. They'll need courage and strength to continue in this increasingly challenging profession. All of the time and effort put into this class bonded me to the problem and the people it impacts.
With the conclusion of this blog post, I would like to take a moment to thank those who have supported me in my academic journey.
First, to Mrs.Dobos, my passionate and loving research advisor, I would not have been brave enough to take on this topic without you. Thank you so much for all your help.
Second, to my school administrators and the infamous Principal Abner, your support is not overlooked. I deeply apologize for causing a commotion in your inboxes, but this investigation was long overdue.
Next year, I'll be continuing my education at the University of Colorado Boulder, studying Arts and Journalism. Thank you to everyone who's been following along! Sko Buffs!
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