Submitted by cat (not verified) on October 12, 2006 - 14:46.
First, I notice there is an assumption amongst commenters that college is a given. "I didn't declare my major until my junior year of college!" "I changed my major three times in college!" Well, super, but many high school students have absolutely no interest in attending college, and all the liberal arts education in the world isn't going to change that. The choice to "major" in vocational fields is more likely to engage at-risk students and provide them with not only specialized training, but an incentive to stay in school. Truthfully, since the students will still be required to complete the same core curriculum (four credits of English and math; three credits of social studies and science; one credit of fine arts; and one credit in physical education and health), I fail to see how asking students to focus their electives into major and minor courses will limit them in any way. It's a flexible program; they can "change their major" just as many of us did in college. In my opinion, you don't have to be an astrophysicist to know that adolescence is a stressful time: a time when students explore their interests, struggle with a sense of identity, test their independence (we've all been there). But it also makes sense that this stress can be minimized when students are given the opportunity to take an active decision-making role in their education. In life. Too many students graduate from high school lacking the ability to evaluate priorities and make decisions, essential life skills. To say that people who recommend declaring a major in high school do not have any knowledge of adolescent development is not only condescending, but disingenuous. Good for Florida.
First, I notice there is an
Submitted by cat (not verified) on October 12, 2006 - 14:46.
First, I notice there is an assumption amongst commenters that college is a given. "I didn't declare my major until my junior year of college!" "I changed my major three times in college!" Well, super, but many high school students have absolutely no interest in attending college, and all the liberal arts education in the world isn't going to change that. The choice to "major" in vocational fields is more likely to engage at-risk students and provide them with not only specialized training, but an incentive to stay in school. Truthfully, since the students will still be required to complete the same core curriculum (four credits of English and math; three credits of social studies and science; one credit of fine arts; and one credit in physical education and health), I fail to see how asking students to focus their electives into major and minor courses will limit them in any way. It's a flexible program; they can "change their major" just as many of us did in college. In my opinion, you don't have to be an astrophysicist to know that adolescence is a stressful time: a time when students explore their interests, struggle with a sense of identity, test their independence (we've all been there). But it also makes sense that this stress can be minimized when students are given the opportunity to take an active decision-making role in their education. In life. Too many students graduate from high school lacking the ability to evaluate priorities and make decisions, essential life skills. To say that people who recommend declaring a major in high school do not have any knowledge of adolescent development is not only condescending, but disingenuous. Good for Florida.