If I had been forced to take Algebra II, I never would have graduated. I'm glad to see some flexibility allowed for kids who are wired like me- Honors English student (believe it or not!), but totally clueless when it comes to math, especially Algebra. In college placement tests a few years ago, I scored 97% in English and only 3% in math. Yes, I'm that bad.
Problem with this whole thing is they need to start in elementary school.
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- High school students likely will have to take two years of a foreign language to graduate, but that requirement will be phased in after parts of a new mandatory high school curriculum take effect.
A conference committee on Wednesday hammered out a compromise version of the new high school graduation requirements that would first affect students graduating in 2011 -- today's seventh-graders.
The Legislature already had agreed that students should be required to take four credits each of math and English, three each in science and social studies, and one each in physical education and the arts.
Two credits of foreign language would be required of graduates under the deal reached Wednesday, but would first affect students graduating in 2016.
The full House adopted the conference committee report by a 97-9 vote late Wednesday. The Senate must also approve the compromise before it would head to Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who endorses the deal.
Lawmakers said there is plenty of flexibility built into the legislation, crafted from differing bills previously passed by the House and Senate.
Some credits could be satisfied at the middle-school level, for instance, and earlier in the case of foreign language. Students could switch from the mandatory curriculum to more personalized plans in certain cases.
Under the compromise, Algebra II will be part of the new math requirements. The proposal reached in conference committee would allow districts to spread the class over a two-year period, if necessary, and to build in other ways for students to satisfy the requirement.
Granholm had criticized bills that allowed students to switch to a more individualized plan and avoid mandatory requirements if they can make that choice in their sophomore or junior years. She wants that choice left to their senior year.
The compromise reached by the House and Senate committee does not specify a grade level when students can switch or test out of requirements.
Have to disagree with the Guv on this one. By my senior year I was so incredibly bored and frustrated- it's a wonder I didn't quit, but, all I had to do was show up. I did absolutely nothing my senior year in the way of schoolwork, and still managed to get out of there with a diploma.
Sometimes I wonder what might have been if my education had been more tailored towards my strengths; a career in art, music, writing, etc., instead of trying to force a round peg into a square hole all the time. Maybe I would have been interested enough to continue my education instead of running screaming from academia.
This is striking me is a personal way because I was just out to my high school recently. My old school has been torn down and a new one built in it's place, so, it was a bit foreign to me. But the driveways and parking lots were the same, and it brought back a powerful feeling of nostalgia (and revulsion). A big sign proclaimed "This is a smoke-free campus", so immediately I lit up a cigarette. In a bit of serendipity, "Smoking in the Boys Room" came on the radio. No joke. It was almost surreal.
Good luck kids. I hope this doesn't cause our dropout rate to escalate.