With students having already signed up for next year’s classes, many have been wondering about the class options and if they have the choice to plot their own schedule. Underclassmen will feel the effects the most because of Park’s newer required classes and potential schedule changes.
Park teacher Alexander Polk said the issue with class tracks isn’t necessarily their difficulty, but rather the limited variety of courses available. He said although it can sometimes be challenging, students are able to adjust their schedules to better align with their interests.
“I don’t think classes are too restrictive based on the level. Of course, it would be nice if we had different options, but I think there’s always the option for students to switch into different things, even if it’s not necessarily easy to make that switch,” Polk said. “If they want to go into a certain career path they should be able to do so.”
Freshman Julian Bruns said the information students learn in school can be helpful for students to get a sense of what they might want to pursue down the road. However, he said he believes having to take more classes has its limitations.
“To a certain extent, everything that you learn can be applied, but if it really is something you won’t need later, I may wonder why I’m learning it when I could focus on other classes I’m passionate about,” Bruns said. “(Unwanted, but required classes) can be a waste of time, but you also don’t know definitively what you want to do a lot of the time.”
According to sophomore Sky Leventhal, students shouldn’t have to spend excessive time on advanced topics they’re unlikely to use, especially when it limits their ability to explore subjects they’re truly passionate about.
“Having to take four years of almost every class isn’t very good. I would rather use those class (spaces) to learn about topics I’m interested in and that I will either do in college or will need for the real world,” Leventhal said.
According to Polk, the range of electives students can explore while in school could be more diverse.
“I don’t think (student’s paths) are necessarily restrictive, (but) I also don’t think we have enough options. I think we need more electives, which we just don’t have,” Polk said. “(Elective tracks lack) greater diversity in what a student wants to do, or if a student wants to go do many other paths,”
Bruns said students are limited in the ability to focus on the subjects they’re interested in, and having more electives or earlier access to classes could help address this issue.
“The potential (of students who are interested in certain subjects) are definitely (limited) just because you can’t focus as much on the topics you want to learn,” Bruns said. “Having more electives or easier ways to get into some classes could be helpful.”
According to Leventhal, the class requirements that put students through three or more years of one specific subject is not ideal. He said this is because they would require more time and effort.
“I feel that if I want to go into a certain subject I shouldn’t need to take harder and harder classes every year, likely lowering my GPA and taking up time because I’m required to take classes I don’t want,” Leventhal said.
