Final Exemptions

STUDENT TAKE: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CHANGE TO FINAL EXEMPTIONS?

"You should be able to take final exemptions in any class, as long as you're doing well in it." Sammy Turnbull, 9

"It makes sense, but I feel like you should be able to use them in other classes too [besides the one earned in]." Maria Qalbani, 12

"I think I like it, because I honestly don't like math at all, and not having to take a math final would be awesome if I earned it." Destiny Johnson, 10

"I think that it's far, because you're taking a final exemption in the class it's for." Josh Teemul, 11

“I think it makes a lot more sense to do it that way, because you're not setting yourself up for a class you weren't prepared for." Clara Bonstead, 9

"I think it's unfair because I just feel like you might have a class you don't want to waste your time studying for." Caroline Mitchell, 11

Administration's new final exemption policy is an understandable way to gauge students' knowledge in specific courses NORTH STAR TAKE: FAIR FINAL EXEMPTIONS

Last semester, administration established new rules regarding the final exemption policy at FHN. Sophomores and juniors were only allowed to use exemptions earned from Algebra I and Algebra II last semester, as well as any exemptions earned from receiving a score of 27 or higher on the ACT. Seniors were not affected by the new policy. Freshmen will be the first class to go through high school with the new policy, although they were not personally affected this year, since freshmen don’t have final exemptions, but this new policy should be here to stay. On Behalf of the Editorial Staff @fhntoday.com | @FHNtoday At first, some confusion was aroused as students believed that the new policy meant final exemptions were being removed entirely, but this is not the case. From now on, students can only use their exemptions in the class they earned them in. For instance, if a student scores advanced or proficient on their End of Course (EOC) exam in a certain class, they can only use the exemption it earns them in that class in particular. This prevents students from using math exemptions for their English finals and so on. It's an understandable concept.

The other requirements for exemptions have remained the same. Students must have an A in the selected course, have 95% attendance that

(Illustration by Minnie Adams)

semester, remain free of suspensions and pay all school fines. They must return their textbook must prior to the exam.

Final exemptions have changed before, such as in 2017, when students campaigned for exemptions on AP exams, which had not been available in the past. This opened up a new pathway for relieved finals stress and was a reform in exemptions. Administration has made changes in the past to do what is best for both the school and the students, and they continue to do that now.

The newly instituted policy is fair. It only makes sense that proficiency in math should result in rewards in math, not for a different class that uses a different skillset. Administration put this new policy in place in order to gauge students’ knowledge accurately.

Students still benefit from these changes. All their hard work still pays off and they can still skip the finals that they’ve already taken in the form of EOCs, because they test much of the same knowledge. Finals can be a hassle at the end of the year, when students have different things to focus on and the promise of a break from school is at hand. Final exemptions can be integral to a student’s sanity. This is why they’re not disappearing - they’re just changing formats to be fairer to classes. Students lose very little with these new changes. What they do lose is lost understandably.

Because students keep many of the benefits of final exemptions, the new rules should be welcomed without much protest. The policy makes sense, and FHN should exemplify community in this respect: on board with the fair, constructive rules that the school puts in place. Administration is right to move forward with the final exemption policy and maintain the newly instituted system this May and onward. Podcast Editor: Tom Jamison Isabella Manthey Allison Moore Amber Scheulen Rachel Stover Oscar Sun Samuel Watkins Sarah Williams Amber Winkler Avery Witherbee Riley Witherbee Salam Abouchleih Addalynn Bradbury Alayna Furch Sydney Giacomarra Bryanna Ginn Aidyn Gleason Sky Hebisen Adam Hogan Anna Hollinger Pavan Kolluru Entertainment/Opinions Editor: Justin Christensen General Staff:

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