The Three Little Pigs
and the Graduation Project
By: June St. Clair Atkinson
The Three Little Pigs and the Graduation
Project
By: June St. Clair Atkinson
September 7, 2007
(Copyrighted)
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Preface:
Beginning with the ninth grade class of 2006, all
North Carolina students must complete a graduation
project. This project must include (a research
paper, product, portfolio, and an oral presentation).
Recently, the Department of Public Instruction
coordinated a workshop about implementing the
graduation project where I made this presentation.
AUTHOR:
June St. Clair Atkinson
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
September 07, 2007
In compliance with federal law, NC Public Schools administers all state-operated educational programs,
employment activities and admissions without discrimination because of race, religion, national or ethnic origin,
color, age, military service, disability, or gender, except where exemption is appropriate and allowed by law.
Inquiries or complaints regarding discrimination issues should be directed to:
Dr. Rebecca Garland, Interim Associate State Superintendent :: Office of Innovation and School Transformation
6301 Mail Service Center :: Raleigh, NC 27699-6301 :: Telephone 919-807-3200 :: Fax 919-807-4065
Visit us on the Web :: www.ncpublicschools.org
Introduction:
am sure that all of you have
read the book, The Three Little Pigs.
But did you know that the story
you have heard over the years is not
the real story about the three little
pigs? Today I want to tell you the
real story starting with what the
title should have been in the first
place. The real title should have been
The Three Little Pigs and the Graduation Project.
I
To my knowledge you are the first
group to hear the way the story should
have been written. So here goes.
CHAPTER 1
The Little Pigs Go To High School
nce upon a time there were three little pigs who
were ready to go to high school. As the three
little pigs left their warm, comfortable home,
their mother said to them, “Little teenage pigs, I want you
to graduate from high school prepared for work, further
education, and life in the 21st century. I want you to be
able to compete and collaborate in this global economy
with people in all parts of the world. I want you to attend
a high school that will prepare you with options. Beware
of the big, bad 21st century wolf!”
O
CHAPTER 2
The Straw High School
o the three little, independent teenaged pigs left
home excited about attending high school. The first
little pig went to the first high school that he saw,
the one that was built with straw. This was a school where
all the desks were in rows. The teachers lectured every day
for about 45 minutes and students took notes. The little
pigs were not allowed to use any technology in doing their
work. The little pigs were assessed on how many facts and
figures they could memorize. All of their tests were bubble
in the answer. The little pigs were not allowed to work in
teams, nor were they ever asked to use creativity or to solve
problems. They never had to think about any situation
or circumstance where there may be more than one right
answer. The little pig’s teachers never worked together
to review student work and to discuss how they could plan
collaboratively to help the little pigs.
S
SCHOOL
o
pl
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GRADUATION
DAY!
And one day, the principal announced that all the students
would have to complete a graduation project because the
State Board of Education said they had to do so. The
teachers moaned and said, “Oh, this requirement will go
away soon so let’s just ignore it.” And the principal said,
"Oh no, we have to do it and he told the newest English
teacher that it was her responsibility to make sure that all
little pigs completed graduation projects."
It was time to graduate and as Mrs. Mother Pig's little pig
walked across the stage to get his diploma, the big, bad
21st century wolf jumped out in front of the little pig who
attended the school of straw and said, “I’ll huff and puff
and blow your straw diploma away.” The little pig said,
“Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin.” The big, bad
wolf huffed and puffed and blew the straw diploma away.
And this little pig was not prepared for work and further
education and life in the 21st century. He had nothing
to show for his experience at the straw high school.
pl
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Chapter 3
The Stick High School
he second little pig chose a school built of sticks.
Some of the classes had rows of desks and periodically,
teachers would allow the little pigs to write their
reports by longhand and when the reports were just right,
the little pigs could use a computer to key/type the final copy.
This school, built of sticks, allowed some of the pigs to take
classes that were engaging and filled with activity requiring
creativity and problem-solving skills. Only a few little pigs,
however, were required to do a graduation project where they
could do in-depth research, a project, a presentation about
something that really interested them. There were some little
pigs, however, that struggled with learning because they didn’t
see the relevancy of what they were learning. And when these
little pigs wanted to do a graduation project, some of the
teachers said, “Oh no, you don’t know enough. You don’t
have the skills so you will have to do some more worksheets
before you can do a senior project.” But the brightest
little pigs benefited from having a mentor in
the community, an opportunity to learn
about something that interested them.
T
SCHOOL
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GRADUATION
DAY!
And the second little pig, whose mother wanted him to be
prepared for the 21st century, wasn’t one of the “chosen” pigs
to receive the benefits of a graduation project. The time came
for the second little pig to graduate from the stick school.
After he walked across the stage to receive his diploma, the
big, bad 21st century wolf jumped out in front of him and said,
“I’ll huff and puff and I’ll blow your diploma away.” And the
second little pig said, “Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin.”
And the big, bad 21st century wolf huffed and he puffed and
blew half the second little pig’s diploma away.
When the second little pig went to college, the college people
said, “Oh, you will have to enroll in remediation courses.
You are not prepared to do reports, or speak in front of
groups. You need remediation courses so you will be prepared.”
And the second little pig went to work, only to find out that
he was not prepared to work in teams, do reports, make
presentations, and solve problems.
Mrs. Mother Pig became very distraught because two of her
little pigs did not meet her expectations. They were not
prepared for work and future education.
Chapter 4
The Brick High School
he third little pig went to a brick school. This school
was quite a place. All faculty members took responsibility for helping every little pig with a graduation
project. They made sure that every little pig had a community
mentor. In some cases, the little pigs had virtual mentors.
These little pigs used engaging technology to create their work.
They were always challenged in every class to use creativity,
problem-solving, and decision-making skills. It was just a way
of life in the brick school for students to use project-based
learning. Ongoing formative assessment was the routine and
on any given day, the little pigs knew exactly what they needed
to improve. The teachers in the brick school were models
for students in showing how to work as a member of a team.
Regardless of what teachers taught, they found ways to
incorporate the skills needed for completing a graduation
project with their little pigs.
T
SCHOOL
FIRST DA
Y OF SCHO
OL!
START Y
OU R
GRADUA
TION
PR O J E
CT TOD
AY!
o
pl
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GRADUATION
DAY!
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All the little pigs in the brick school had electronic portfolios.
As they started their graduation project work in the 9th grade,
the electronic portfolio was used extensively as a repository
for work. It was just so normal for the little pigs in the brick
school to make presentations, do research, and solve problems.
All little pigs were expected to perform well and when they
had trouble, the teachers and mentors were there to help.
Finally, graduation day came for the third little pig from
the brick school. As the third little pig walked across the
stage, the big, bad 21st century wolf jumped out in front
of the third little pig and said, “I’ll huff and I’ll puff and
blow your diploma away.” The third little pig said, “Not
by the hair of my chinny chin chin.” The big, bad 21st
century wolf huffed and puffed and the third pig’s diploma
withstood the huffing and the puffing.
Finally, there was no air left in the 21st century wolf, and
he fell to the ground exhausted. The third little pig just
stepped over the big, bad 21st century wolf and went on
his merry way with a diploma that gave him options –
options for work and further education in the
21st century. And Mrs. Mother Pig was so
very happy with the brick high school, she
invited all the teachers to a pig pickin.
Oops! I mean a wolfpickin!
WOLFPICKIN ’
TIME!
THE END.
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T he tale of the Three Little Pigs
and the Big Bad Wolf was included
in Nursery Rhymes and Nursery Tales
by James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps,
first published around 1843. It seems
to have become popular during the
late 19th century.
June St. Clair Atkinson, Ed.D., State Superintendent
6301 Mail Service Center | Raleigh, NC 27699-6301
Phone 919.807.3432 | Fax 919.807.3445
www.ncpublicschools.org/statesuperintendent