It made me question education at the high school level once again. I think our district does it right. I think these students are prepared for the next step in their life. I don't really think public American/California high schools have the right programs to offer our population. For some, yes, high school education gives them opportunities to learn, prepare, enjoy sports, become that well rounded individual that colleges are seeking. For others, they need to offer more - not just more, but different courses of study.
It is an old problem, but if a student is ready for AP classes, why not just let them graduate high school early and take the college classes for college credit? If a student knows they never want to go into Chemistry, Engineering, or other math and science related fields, why continue to teach them math concepts beyond Algebra? There are so many good skills they could be taught that are relevant to their life. It is no wonder they feel they are wasting time in school. Why do they need to complete the last two years of high school only to repeat those courses as general education courses during the first two years of college?
I think high school could be completed by tenth grade with a very focused course of study (general education). At that point they should be able to start focusing on things that matter to their future life. It might be college. It might be a skill or trade. It should look very different than it does today. The whole idea of a school day can look different for those older high school students. They all seem to enjoy part time jobs. It would be easier if they had a schedule that was more like a college schedule.
We all endure high school to get to the next step. Why not fix high school education so it propels you into the next step? Throw out the status quo. Be brave and make the change.
