Why Is Family Group So Important?

By Quentin Gordon-Smith
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I've been going to East High School for four years and I still don't know how family group benefit us students. What is the purpose of family group? Is it a relaxing period? Is it to make us students stay in school longer? I really don’t know. I notice people don’t even go to family group because they have no use for it. The school calls out educational detours to make students go to family group and I don’t think that’s right. I feel that every student should be happy and excited to go.  So maybe if they know what the purpose is they'll go. Teachers say family group is to pass out information but the kids never seem to get the information that they need. Some students said that their family group just puts on a movie and plays games. So why is family group important? 

According to my Principal Blocker, “Family Group was created by the U of R when it took over at East. The purpose of family group is to ‘create small groups of people to learn to interact with each other. Also, to inform close relationships with teachers so that if students needed support, they would have someone they can go to and be comfortable with.” The importance of family group is to learn to respect all people, to interact with people you might not normally connect with, and to create a small family of support within the school setting. People could make family group better by giving it a chance instead of always wanting to be around the same people. Also, to make family group better express your unique self and ways with others. People are often reluctant to be with others they do not know. And as a result, they are missing out on something that could be wonderful. Blocker says, “I have found the kids that have been in my family group over the years are the ones I have been closest with.” I agree. Family group is preparing us for the real world. In life you have to be social and it’s good to meet new people and learn from them. Now I have a clear vision on family group and the impact it has. My advice for scholars at East is to give it a try. Don’t look down on it, actually take it seriously and socialize because all it’s going to do is make you a better person.