Teaching without stress

Deirdre Newman

It’s the day before a test, but you wouldn’t know it by walking

into Steve Harper’s class at Middle College High School.

The atmosphere in the government class, comprised of about 20

students, is ultra laid-back.

Harper, a longtime teacher at the school on Orange Coast College’s

campus, says he likes it that way.

“The day before [the test] is an opportunity for them to catch up

and work on their study guides for the test, which should relieve

anxiety,” Harper said.

His informal style of teaching allows students to ask him

conversational questions, like how the surf is.

On Friday, Dec. 13, as students were preparing for a test the

following Monday, Harper found time to discuss juvenile crime and a

DVD he had just seen, “Life Beyond Earth,” in addition to the study

guide.

Harper said he talked about juvenile crime in response to

questions by students and brought up the DVD to motivate them to seek

out videos with an academic focus.

“It’s just to encourage them to find videos and things that might

give them an education in addition to entertainment,” Harper said.

Students say they respond well to Harper’s intuitive ability to

relate to them on a personal level.

“I love this class,” said Rachel Carter, 17. “He has a high level

of energy and inspires you to get work done. Coming into this class,

it’s not like ‘Oh, I’m going to fall asleep.’’’

Phil Goodwin, 18, who transferred to Middle College High School in

the fall, said Harper goes to great lengths to make sure his students

understand the material.

“He answers all our questions in a way we can comprehend,” Goodwin

said. “He explains things with examples.”

* IN THE CLASSROOM is a weekly feature in which Daily Pilot

education writer Deirdre Newman visits a campus in the Newport-Mesa

area and writes about her experience.