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Sept. 16, 2019
N the Red
New year, new rules Indiana Department of Education updates the graduation standards for the class of 2023, on; may be a good thing
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STAFF Editor-in-Chief: Ellie Albin Web/News Editor: John Yun Features Editor: Ben McHenry Arts & Culture Editor: Kriten Rummel Sports Editor: Nate Albin Assistant Web/News Editor: Ben Grantonic Social Media Editor/Unity Director: Rebekah Shultz Reporters Maria Galosi, Mason Gushwa-Williams, Fletcher Haltom, Ben Hamilton, Carter Hanefeld, Andrew Haughey, Ben Rosen, Sydney Territo, Lily Thomas, Emma Tomlinson Photographers Alex Craig, Ella Haan, Elissa Mitchell, Grace Vang Principal Jason Urban Adviser Kristine Brown Associations IHSPA CSPA NSPA Quill and Scroll Printer: AIM Media
igh school education has the potential to be more impactful than it has ever been. That may seem to contradict the current environment, which is filled with AP courses, standardized tests, college admissions scandals and anxiety-ridden students. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, students’ stress levels are so intense in the 21st century that it causes 35% of students to lie awake at night. It does not seem like a peaceful future lies ahead for 21st century students. But, there really is hope. The new graduation requirements for the class of 2023 and on will hopefully change the sleep-deprived, sad and stressed students of today. We are not saying that the new requirements will instantly change the mental health of the 30% of students who, according to the APA, feel depressed because of their stress, but perhaps over time, it will. The Indiana State Board of Education now requires the class of 2023 and on to have three items in order to graduate: a high school diploma, demonstration of employability skills and proof of post-secondary ready competencies, as seen on pages 10 and 11 While the last two may seem cryptic, they are actually easy to understand. Basically, Indiana wants kids to be ready for whatever they choose to do after high school. The proof of post-secondary competencies portion of the requirements means students need to take and pass a test, such as the SAT or ACT (along with other options), receive an honors diploma or create a pathway to graduation that is approved by the school. However, the most intriguing aspect of the new graduation requirements is not the new flexibility with standardized testing; it is the demonstration of employability skills. The employability requirement asks students to take on project-based learning, service-based learning or work-based learning. For example, working on the N the Red staff would be project-based learning. An example of work-based learning could be an internship, which is highly encouraged. “Defining a 21st century education” by Craig D. Jerald for the Center of Public Education in America utilized a study from cognitive scientists that revealed that even in the age of technology and the Internet, which gives instant answers, students still need to have a broad understanding of the world around them, which is something that cannot just be learned through high reading comprehension abilities. For example, one of the scientists’ studies compared a group of poor readers who were knowledgeable about baseball and a group of good readers who knew little about baseball. The kids who typically struggled in reading comprehended the text about baseball better than the kids who were considered good readers, demonstrating the value of real-world experience compared to simply relying on reading ability. This study reveals that students cannot just sit in classrooms, read textbooks and explore the Internet for answers, even if they have a high comprehension for information. Real-world experiences, such as internships, are valuable and prepare students for post-high school opportunities. All-in-all, of course, the new requirements might fail. Students are already complaining about it in the hallways. However, this change still has the potential to become more beneficial for students of different skills and passions.
