Almost from the moment you enter high school you begin to think
about graduating. Freshmen receive far from warm wishes upon
entering the jungle that is high school. Juniors and seniors
– and even sophomores – want nothing to do with freshmen.
Meanwhile, sophomores are left with an uncomfortable in-between
feeling, and juniors can hardly wait to become seniors. And seniors
get senior-itis.
Almost from the moment you enter high school you begin to think about graduating. Freshmen receive far from warm wishes upon entering the jungle that is high school. Juniors and seniors – and even sophomores – want nothing to do with freshmen. Meanwhile, sophomores are left with an uncomfortable in-between feeling, and juniors can hardly wait to become seniors. And seniors get senior-itis.
All high school students are familiar with the infamous “senior-itis.” It begins with acceptance into college. Then, the follow-up question looks something like, “I got into college. Why am I still working so hard?” And then comes the crash. Grades fall. Interest in school disintegrates. But due to recent budget issues in the United States, this may change.
In an attempt to save money, some states are now instituting the option to skip your junior and senior years of high school. However, 10th-graders would still need to pass a test in order to graduate early. In ways this system appears practical. Students who are not planning on going to college or university would be able to finish high school quickly and get a job or enroll in a community college.
Obviously, in order for this system to work, the curriculum of participating high schools must be altered to accommodate the new graduation options.
The program is being based on the school systems of high performing nations such as France and Singapore. Early graduation could increase the number of students taking remedial courses in college – which is by no means desirable. The new curriculum must be streamlined and work to create a strong foundation for students who wish to graduate after their sophomore year.
In Kentucky, Main, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont the new coursework will begin in 2011.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated $1.5 million to jump-start the program. The estimated cost of the new program is $500 per student. This goes toward the new coursework design and the training of teachers.
Will this system really work? Why are we cutting education requirements when now is the time they should be valued most? Can the country afford to completely renovate our education system? These are all valid questions that cannot truly be answered until we try the system.
However, there is another way of viewing this situation. Yes, high school is negatively stereotyped. But what about school sports? Prom? Making friends? The high school experience will be cut in half. High school is a journey that helps many students discover their passions and future aspirations. Will students be ready to face the world as a 16-year-old? Are we mature enough to graduate as sophomores?
A sophomore at Ann Sobrato High School, Anastasia Rud, says, “I’m about 30 percent ready for college. The other 70 percent consists of fear and not knowing which direction I want my future to go in yet. I think that in 10th grade college still seems far away – like you still have some time before you have to go out on your own.”
It is difficult to predict the outcome of graduating as a sophomore. Some 16-year-olds are more mature than others and have a clear view of the pathway into their future. Some know that once they graduate high school they will immediately begin to work. For hardworking students the option to complete high school and college quickly has always existed.
This idea is a mixture of “what ifs” and could be beneficial to some. I think that as long as high schools continue to offer the four-year plan, the two-year plan is worth a try.
If it is successful on a small scale, then perhaps it will be successful on a larger scale as well.
It all comes down to this: Senior-itis or sophomore-itis?
Sabrina Werts is a sophomore at Ann Sobrato High School. In addition to writing, she enjoys piano and dance.
