Florida Bill To Have High Schoolers Declare a Major

[RitaZ.]

This is the first time I've heard of this plan/bill, thanks to TB. I decided to do a search and apparently there is more, it will also include middle school students.

http://www.myflorida.com/myflorida/eogadmin/showPress.jsp?press_id=7321

 

[Talking Hands]

Not to say this is good or bad, but it is not new. Maybe the poor comparison between American educated kids and other countries children is that they hone in and focus on the childs strengths and interests, and don't worry so much about a 'liberal arts across-the-board' curriculum for everyone. If you think you want pre-med, what's the point in taking high school Japanese?

Because Americans are the only country where most of the people are monolingual except those who are immigrants from foreign countries and possibly military brats.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Oh for the love of it all. I bet this will all work out as well as the FCAT has. Jeb, jeb, jeb.

I just love this one:

Revising Florida's high school diploma to recognize student performance through "Differentiated Levels of Proficiency" in specific content areas. Students meeting higher standards in honors courses, such as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs, deserve special recognition. The high school diploma should reflect these accomplishments.

I guess GPA and transcripts are not enough?

 

[Mom21]

I don't see a problem. Did anyone read RitaZ's link? It said that it was "Offering students the opportunity to graduate with a major or minor area of study - just as college students do - in the arts, advanced studies or career preparation, after completing a rigorous core curriculum. "

Maybe I missed where it said it was required. If so please point that out for me. It said all students must complete Algebra 1 and Geometry. I don't see a problem with that. I think of that as a minimum anyway.

And if a student does what it takes to get an IB degree then I think they should be recognized. That is a tough course of study.

 

[babytrees]

I don't see a problem. Did anyone read RitaZ's link? It said that it was "Offering students the opportunity to graduate with a major or minor area of study - just as college students do - in the arts, advanced studies or career preparation, after completing a rigorous core curriculum. "

Maybe I missed where it said it was required. If so please point that out for me. It said all students must complete Algebra 1 and Geometry. I don't see a problem with that. I think of that as a minimum anyway.

And if a student does what it takes to get an IB degree then I think they should be recognized. That is a tough course of study.

Maybe because I am new to being a parent of a HSer but it was told to us that the kids will graduate with 2 degrees at the completion of the IB program....a HS diploma and the IB diploma....plus the opportunity at some colleges to go in with enough credits to be a sophmore. It seems to me they(IB kids) and honors and AP kids already get plenty of recognition....at least in CO schools.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

The more I think about the idea of the new bill getting more kids to graduate, the less sense it makes. The kids going to college aren't the ones who are dropping out of school.

I haven't read RitaZ's link yet, but the idea of special diplomas isn't a new one. When I graduated HS in NC more than a few years ago, we received different levels of diplomas. A special diploma won't tell you anything the HS transcript doesn't tell you. I really don't see how this is going to change anything. Maybe, I'm just looking at it from my DS's situation though.

 

[RitaZ.]

I don't see a problem. Did anyone read RitaZ's link? It said that it was "Offering students the opportunity to graduate with a major or minor area of study - just as college students do - in the arts, advanced studies or career preparation, after completing a rigorous core curriculum. "

Maybe I missed where it said it was required.

Mom21~ This is Bush's proposal at this point, it hasn't been approved/passed yet.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

how about building more schools to relieve some of the overcrowding first. the fcat is working out fine, once they're over my daughter gets to watch movies all day. the priorities need to be rearranged

 

[RitaZ.]

I found high school to be very limiting, there were only a few boring electives I could choose from. Schools have a lot more to offer today than they did when I was in high school.

College is nothing like high school. College is the first place and time when you are allowed to choose your path and what you really want to study, it is a very liberating experience. Yes, there are still basic requirements that every student must meet, but the rest is really up to you, that's really empowering. Maybe the thinking is that by bringing these opportunities to students in high school, who are unlikely to pursue a college education, they will get to experience first-hand what's it's like to take control of their education. Thus, making college more appealing to them.

Anyway, that's all I can think of. Look, I'm guessing here, I don't know! I'm basing my guess on my own personal experience.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

Does this mean that students who want to study extra Science, Math, or English can skip art, music and gym? If so, I'm all for it.

But it seems pretty silly for most kids. If I had to declare a major in High School, it would've been "Preparing To Be a Contestant on MTV's Remote Control", "Begging Mom and Dad for a Car," or possibly "Shopping at the Mall."

 

[WebmasterAlex]

This would be hilarious if it wasn't so sad. It's called smoke and mirrors.
Florida has one of the worst school systems in the nation but doing something REALLY crazy like teaching kids to read wouldn't be new and innovative! No news stories there.
So they come up with some stupid plan to make headlines and show how innovative they are because it's way easier than raisng close to worst teacher pay in the nation or cutting class sizes or doing the stuff that will really make a difference

 

[RitaZ.]

but doing something REALLY crazy like teaching kids to read wouldn't be new and innovative!

Alex, they are already doing that. There are many reading teachers in schools teaching and helping the students that are struggling. They also tutor the kids after school.

 

[Stacerita]

Heck, I didn't pick my major till my second semseter in college. And then I changed it over the next few semesters as well. And Im thinking of going back and trying something different than I did before. Its nice if they give kids an option. Some kids know what they want to do as sure as they are breathing. But some dont. The sweetpea knows what she wants to do with her life all the way through retirement. I just hope this doesn't pidgeon hole kids into one thing and not let them try something else.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

new and innovative!

You forgot "exciting" and "proactive"! Those are the four words public school administration people know and love. I don't think I've seen a single paper from a public school that didn't have some or all of those words in it.

They are also learning the word "dynamic," so be prepared to hear that a lot.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

Alex, they are already doing that. There are many reading teachers in schools teaching and helping the students that are struggling. They also tutor the kids after school.

Depends where in florida from what I understand. They are making lots of new rules and the state is telling the school districts to do a lot of things but it's not really happening. They still haven't fixed the ridiculous teacher pay and they are filling in with non-qualified people
Plenty of things they could fix before rolling out this idea

 

[KristaTX]

I haven't gone and read all about this plan, so all I've read is what's on this thread. But my initial reaction certainly isn't horror . On the surface it actually doesn't sound like a bad idea at all to me, depending on if each students' strengths and interests are identified (starting in junior high), and if they are shown how they can pursue a career involving those strengths and interests.

How many of you here had a clue what you wanted to do when you got out of high school? I had no idea, but I sure do wish someone in those years had given me some guidance. I was a straight A student in high school, but after that I just kind of drifted into being an English major my first year of college because the person who enrolled me was an English professor. Then I drifted into nursing, which I really didn't like but which I finally graduated with a degree in because I thought it was practical.

I guess I just see too many young people (even the "A" students) graduating from high school with no clue what they "want to be when they grow up". Then so many of them who would never have dropped out of high school simply drop out of college.

I don't know if it is part of the Florida plan, but it sounds like helping kids early on to decide what they might want to study could be very beneficial.

It could also be a way to lead some students down a more technical-school path, while others head down a more academic/bachelor/graduate degree path. As it is now in a lot of places, EVERYONE is expected to want to go to college. But that path just is not for everyone.

Maybe the plan stinks. But it is at least worth looking at.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Well with having spent a few years in the Florida public school system and the kids going through it now (not our choice, their mom won't send them to private school even with our financial help), there are a few dozen other things that need to be taken care of first before rolling out this program. I think this is also a way to justifying the cutting of arts programs (band, choir, drama, graphic arts, etc.).

Oh and reading is part of this new, innovative plan.

 

[KristaTX]

From the original quoted article:

Under Florida's plan, high school students would be able to major in such subjects as English, communications, math, science, history, social studies, arts, foreign languages and vocational skills. They would also have to declare a minor.

If there is any truth in that quote, then MORE classes in all categories would have to be offered than are offered now. If it were run as that quote says, they would have to come up with more classes - especially for the communications majors, arts-related majors (music, graphic arts, writing), and vocational-skills majors.

I don't see majoring in "professional sports". That must mean that if they cut anything, it would have to be the sports programs. I'm sure that will happen .

 

[yeartolate]

Wow.

That seems like it would narrow opportunities for our children rather than broaden their horizons.

Every child left behind part deux.

 

[JudicialTyranny]

The more I think about the idea of the new bill getting more kids to graduate, the less sense it makes. The kids going to college aren't the ones who are dropping out of school.

I think it makes more sense, not less.

You are right - the kids going to college are not the ones dropping out.

So why are the others dropping out or not going to college? Perhaps if they were learning some specific skill (major) that they selected in high school, they would stick with school and/or graduate from high school with some specific skill rather than just a general education.

In my school district, you can choose to go to the high school or the vocational-technical high school in 9th grade. In the vo-tech school, you get to choose a major.

I went to the vo-tech school. I chose a technical field and continued my education, but they guys in the auto body shop or carpentry shop were not going to go to college - so why not let them choose that as a major? Most (all if I recall) graduated, and they probably work or worked in their selected major. How would they have benefited if they didn't have that choice?

And for those going to college, I've read posts about people not knowing what their major would be until after starting college or changing it during college - well wouldn't it have been better to try that major and find out if you liked it or not while you were in high school, rather than spend time/money in college classes on something you didn't like?