2008
5
_
Eight-class schedule logical solution
for new freshmen credit requirements
■ K elsey S chrader ___________
Staff Reporter
Compared to neighboring
school districts, our six-
class schedule system
seems pretty complicated.
With different schedules
to keep track of, students,
teachers and parents can
become confused. Not
only that, but with new
requirements starting for
this year's freshman class,
space for electives has
diminished to one per year.
This means more required
math and science classes
and less time to learn about
photography, art, or drama.
Eliminating our six-class
schedule and replacing it
with an eight-class schedule
would actually simplify
our system, meet the new
requirements, and allow
students to take more
electives.
An eight-class system
would simplify the system
by entailing only two
schedules: classes one-
through-four (Block One),
and classes five-through-
eight (Block Two). Just
like existing block days,
each class is roughly an
hour-and-a-half long, and
W
the mysterious my-printer-
broke-down phenomenon.
More room for
electives could lead to
the development of more
elective classes from which
to choose and the room in
student schedules to take
them. Also, with more room
Kim Carlson, Assistant
Principal, said. "We are
looking at other ways
students can earn credit
other than during our six
period day. There are many
discussions going on and
those will continue over the
next several years."
—Natalie
Snyder, sophomore
"More classes
equals more
homework. I have
friends at Lake
Oswego, and it's just
more stuff to deal
with."
McKenna Miller, senior, concentrates on her acrylic painting during
Art III. If the district changed the standard six period days to eight
periods, then students would have more options and be able to take
more electives, such as art classes.
Photo by Malia Chong
in schedules, both early
release and late arrival
could be possible. Students
would meet the state
required courses and would
also be able to focus on
multiple areas in electives,
such as taking both drama
and art classes, or Yearbook
While this may sound
discouraging, if enough
students desire to take more
classes, there is a way to
make that happen. If we can
get enough people, students
could approach ASB and
try to convince them to talk
with the school board. It’s
true, it m ay take a couple
period every day, not just
and Journalism , w ithout
w orrying about m aking
on Tuesdays, Wednesdays
and Thursdays. Switching
block periods every day
gives teachers a consistent
amount of time to teach and
to prepare, and guarantees
every student two nights
to complete homework for
each class. This could boost
the overall student GPA,
and also might alleviate
the problem of late work
and even possibly solve
space in your schedule with
summer school or early bird
courses. However, don't get
your hopes up, it doesn't
look like the district is
making any kind of change
fast.
"It takes a district
decision to change any
school's schedule and there
is also Wilsonville [High
School] that would be part
of the big conversation,"
w o u ld g iv e stu d en ts a break
"I think eight
classes would be
better because
during sophomore
year you don't get
very many electives."
of years to forward the
process, but in the long run,
it will be a positive change.
With eight classes, students
will be able to earn more
credits, and also take more
of the classes that they want
to take. An eight period day
is an idea that needs to take
effect as soon as possible
so that students can have
both a simplified system
and more opportunities for
learning.
—Michael
Cummings, senior r
Do yo u think
that having eight
classes instead o f
s ix is a g o o d idea ?
"I think that having
eight classes would
be a lot better.
You could balance
taking A.P. and
honors classes with
electives."
Students reflect on encounters with sexism
liiisii sill gregliiil______ a
continued from page 4
Even in the United
States, there is no official
amendment or law that
provides equal rights
to women. Only 14% of
members in the House
of Representatives (the
ones that were elected to
represent "the people"),
are female. This makes for
a very unequal balance of
power, and many issues
could be overlooked or
poorly represented because
of their importance, or
lack thereof, to the male-
dominated house.
After centuries of this
discrimination, you may
think that sexism will
always exist. That men and
women, although created
equal, will never be equal
in this country or anywhere
else in the world. For
awhile, I was also under
that impression. That was
until the student who had
assaulted "anonymous
female student" came
forward, and I realized that,
if he is willing to apologize
and learn from his mistakes,
anyone can.
"Last year in PE I
did something that is
unacceptable. I know,
everyone is shocked at how
bad this whole thing wound
up being. But at the time I
didn't know how bad of a
thing it would be. I don't
know what I was thinking.
The first time I slapped her
on the chest area, then on
the butt, but after that she
went to the bathroom. I had
to then go through all of the
semester in that class feeling
a lot of grief and shame. I
will not tell names but, to
the girl I did this to, I am
very, very, very sorry. I hope
this apology is acceptable. I
have learned a lot from this
whole experience," he said.
Everybody makes
mistakes and everybody
makes bad decisions, it’s
human. What it comes
down to is whether a person
is willing to apologize and
make it right, or whether
they take the easy way
out, and pretend nothing
ever happened. For years,
we as a society have tried
to sweep sexism under
the rug, to keep it out
of the mainstream and
hope that nobody takes
notice. Sexual harassment
or discrimination affects
almost everyone at some
point or another.
—Jessica Smith,
junior
"No, because even
if its an elective,
you still have to do
more work."
—Thomas Ward,
freshman
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