Course selections are a stressful process. On top of deciding which classes to sign up for, students must take into account required elective courses. Due to these requirements, students may find that schedule space is limited and they are unable to take classes that interest them more.

Required credits for Microeconomics and Computer Essentials total five; one mandatory semester of each. The same goes for Health and Fitness until 2014, when the required credits were bumped up to ten—two mandatory semesters of each. Though these courses are important, they can become redundant when taken more than once.

Mandatory electives should be limited to one semester courses to prevent redundancy and therefore make more efficient use of students’ time and efforts.

If students could take classes that allowed them to pursue their interests or prepare them for their futures and careers instead of repeating classes, they would make better use of their limited time in high school.

In place of additional Health and Fitness courses, students could pursue their passions. These could include gym, but they could take it by choice, rather than being coerced into taking it. If their passions lie elsewhere, they should be granted as many opportunities to explore their interests as possible.

Additionally, they could also take a study or a less rigorous course to reduce stress by allowing them more time to study, relax, and get work done. A study could be especially beneficial for students who challenge themselves academically, work, or take part in extracurricular activities. And a laid-back course is likely to relax any student—as long as they’re interested in the subject.

There are so many interesting courses offered in our Program of Studies, such as Ceramics, Drama Workshop, Mathematics in Sports, Forensic Science, Sociology, Introduction to Philosophy, Fashion and Retail, Wood Technology, or even Journalism (hint, hint). Students should have more opportunities, not fewer, to take as many of these courses as they can.

High school should be a place that prepares students for their futures, primarily by encouraging them to explore their passions. By eliminating redundant mandatory electives, students would be granted more freedom in selecting courses with which they could pursue their interests or dedicate time to relaxing or studying.
The unsigned editorial reflects the views of The Editorial Board.