What SHOULD be required of high school students?

Parent Cafe
61

@collegeandi- the school where I teach (and in fact every other one I know of in the area) offers vocational programs for those interested. In myndistrict’s case- we belong to a program that allows students to travel to a “career” center which offers training in a dozen or more programs in one central location. Other local schools create consortiums so that students can choose a wide array of programs, with one program house in each building.

Personally- I don’t think a kid in 10th grade is ready to decide that they are “done” with a subject- but then I’m from a LAC background- I think that exploring (rather than specializing) has merit all the way through college. And I sure would hate to see a kid limit their future options (no matter HOW “advanced” they got in their favorite subject) by not taking minimum college entry requirements.

But hey- this is all a game of “what if” anyway. I think my school should revive Latin as one of our foreign language offerings, and that we should add an AP art history class - doesn’t mean it’s going to happen

62

I understand that many disagree and I am cool with that, but I am one that does not like the personal finance and health requirements of our state. Particularly the Personal Finance. These requirements block the academic curriculum and make scheduling difficult. Offer it yes, but don’t require it, or let advanced math pre-empt it.

I am old school I guess. More math, science, history, writing, languages, arts, and math.

(yes on purpose).

63

^^Re #60. I am not against arts, FL etc. But I also know that many SD (Texas and others) are accepting computer language courses in place of FL for HS graduation requirements. YMMV.