souihw/ORcls Vol. 24 No. 9
January 15,1988
Maine Township High School South
New innovations in curriculum A "Ctirriculum Planning for Next Year and Beyond" was held in the student cafeteria on Monday, January 11 from 7:30-9:00 pm. The program's primary purpose was, according to Mr. Kenneth Reese, Director of Student Personnel Services, " an efort to communicate with the parents of current freshmen in relation to next year's registration process and future plans. It is an attempt for parents to recognize the importance of the long-range planning in the college admissions process and the changes in the college admissions for their children." The administration feels that the parents begin to lose contact with their children in their schooling process; thus, this program is an effort to make the parents aware of their children's needs. Such topics as the course selections offered during the school year, the four-year planning forms, and the summer school course offerings were discussed. In the brochure "Guide for Parents," published by the National Association of College Admission ^ k Counselors, parents are urged to see that their ^ r children obtain a strong foundation in reading and writing, in math, and in good study habits by the time they reach seventh and eighth grades. In addition, the children should take advantage of such course offerings as social studies, science, and foreign languages. Furthermore, parents are urged to "take an interest in what your child is studying. The courses your child takes or the grades he or she now receives have a lot to do with what your child can do after high school." The following chart is a guide for both the parents and the students to see if the students are taking the required courses needed for graduation and for their future plans.
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In the December 30, 1987 edition of the Chicago Sun-Times, Education Secretary William J. Bennett published his own requirements for high school student in his report "James Madison High School: a Curriculum for American Students." In the report Bennett suggests that all students should be required to take four years of English. Freshman year, students should be enrolled in "Introduction to Literature." This course should include such works as Huckleberry Finn, a Dickens novel, a few books of Homer's "Odyssey", parts of the Bible, and sonnets and plays of Shakespeare. Sophomore year, an "American Literature" course is recommended, which should include writings by such authors as Hawthorne, Poe, Whitman, Melville, Dickinson, Faulkner, Hemingway, Frost, Ellison, and Robert Penn Warren. Junior year, "British Literature" and works from Chaucer to Milton to T.S. Eliot to Shaw should be studied.
Grad requirements to be changed Dist. 207 graduation requirements Classes of '88, '89, '90, '91
Dist. 207 graduation requirements Class of '92 (tentatively approved)
Subject
Subject
Number of years
i^nfjlish
English
.Mathematics
Math
Science
Science
Social Science
Social Science
Foreign Language, Applied/Fine Arts
Foreign Lang., Applied/Fine Arts
P. E./Health
P.E7Health
Additional requirements: Consumer Ed or proficiency exam; Driver Ed (safety). Total credits required for graduation: 17
Senior year, a course entitled "Introduction to World Literature" should include translations of Greek and Roman classics, Dante, Cervantes, Dostoevsky, Zola, Mann and Ibsen, and perhaps also an introduction to works from such countries as Japan, China, the Near East, Africa or Latin America. Bennett suggests that the three years of the Social Studies include Western Civilazation for freshmen, American history for sophomores, and American Democracy for juniors. He also believes that the math courses taken by high school students should include three years from Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra D, and Trigonometry or Intfoductory and Advanced Calculus. According to Bennett the science course requirements should include three years from Astronomy/Geology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or "Principles of Teclmology. In addition to the requirement of two years of foreign language, Bennett also suggests a one-semester course in art history and music history. Also, Bennett suggests lliat the two years of physical cducation/liealth for freshmen and sophomores shoud include a quarter of tlie time dcvoicd to health, including nutrition and first-md techcontinucd on page 2
Number of years
Additional requirements: Consumer Ed or proficiency exam; Driver Ed safety, Oral Communication. Total credits required for graduation: 18
Sec. of Education William J. Bennett's recommendations Subject
Number of years
English Math Science Social Science Foreign Lang., Applied/Fine Arts P.EyHealth Based upon the ".Fames Madison High School" report—free (;opies of the complete report are available f rom: Office of Public Affairs, Dcpt. of Educa lion, 400 Maryland Av. S. W., Washington, D. C.20202