Criticism in schools can be taken in a variety of ways from teachers giving constructive criticism to even coaches helping student athletes. There are many different forms of criticism; however, it can be difficult for growing adults here at Air Academy High School to understand what are positive or sometimes even negative critics. 

“Criticism is negatively affecting students and not promoting a place of inclusivity. Which is what we need here at Air Academy to be more positive with each other,” junior Avery Brandt stated. 

Brandt is the vice president of the No Hate Place for Hate Club here at AAHS. As the vice president, it is her job to assess situations at the school and understand how her club can make a more positive impact. 

“Certain critiques are helpful for students who need that structure, for example in sports a lot of athletes need that organization. Unlike, perhaps, a high academic achiever who may not need a lot of heavy criticism that may affect their mental health,” Brandt continued. 

While this may be true all students are different when it comes to succeeding. Criticism sometimes is not always the best when it comes from peers, or vice versa when it comes from teachers. Even though teachers want to see students succeeded it can be hard for teachers to convey their opinion to students without being negative, 

 “I also think that criticism in classes and athletics can sometimes be more negative rather than constructive and when students work hard on stuff it can sometimes end up being negative feedback putting them down not only as a student but as human,” junior Ella McCauley said.

McCauley is the President of the No Place for Hate Club and her goal for the end of the year is to try to find students who also make a positive impact towards anyone at AAHS. One of those students happens to be freshman Caddee Montoya. As a freshman, she has already made an impact at the school by joining Student Council, being the leader of Kadet Krazies, and helps athletic teams strive towards positivity. 

“I just want to see more positivity in everyone. I’m not saying I’ll change the world in one night but by doing the things I have done freshman year has hopefully made an impact for when I am a senior here,” Montoya said gratefully. 

Giving more to a community can help a lot of people. For example, the No Place Hate Club’s goal this semester is to reach out to groups who might not always be included in popular activities and try to give them opportunities to feel included as a whole. Another goal of the club is to go around and see what everyone’s opinions on teacher criticism are for a feedback poll. 

“I do have a lot of good teachers that I can go to for advice, but there aren’t always some that I completely trust the most with asking for help. It’s not like I don’t like them as a person, just their feedback is really rough and makes me feel bad about my hard work,” junior Wyatt Bauguess said humorously.  

Criticism is taken into consideration for people’s mental health here at AAHS. If that is in any form of positive or negative, it all varies. But the most important factor is seeing what works for the person that you might be giving feedback to next time.