Rae Turberfield, 28
High school is more than just core classes; it's a time for exploring new passions and deepening interests that could shape the future. Many students crave courses that go beyond the basics. From creative arts to technology, juniors and seniors have a lot of ideas for electives they’d love to see offered in the coming years. What classes could make the list? Here’s a peek at some suggestions that could add excitement, inspiration, and hands-on learning to our high school experience.
Cosmetic Science
Cosmetic Science would combine Chemistry and Biology while focusing on beautifying hair, nails, and skin. This class would provide the opportunity to take a look and learn the basics of cosmetology. This would prepare one for cosmetology school, or it could be a science alternative for those who have little interest in other science electives. Science can be a very difficult subject for a lot of people, so including something like the beauty aspect to it could spark a love for science in people of this mindset.
History of Queens, Princesses, and Women in power
This course would focus on different women in power throughout time. You would learn about things such as their individual impact on society, their lives and the customs affecting each time period, new ideas and technologies created during their rule, the people’s view on them, controversies, their family, and the legacy they each left. This would be a fun course for those who like history and want a deep dive look from the female perspective.
Woodworking
Woodworking would be a class that focuses on how to make different things such as furniture, bowls, little animals, and anything that can be made of wood. Woodworking would be a class in the art department. Many people don’t view themselves as the typical “artistic” type, and as of right now, the only class there is for “unartistic” people is Photography. Though Photo is a great class, it would be nice to simply have more art elective options.
Life on your Own
Life on your Own would primarily focus around seniors going off to college. The course would cover basic skills every kid will need on their own such as basic chores, easy recipes, taxes & fines, money management, appropriate attire, and court. All things that are vital for life as a new-adult.
Self-Defense
Self-Defense would be a course that focuses on basic self-defense moves and skills. As attacks are more common in modern day society, it is important that everybody, men and women, have good knowledge of how to escape or at least defend themselves. According to FBI.gov, an assault happens every 38.5 seconds, so knowing basic self-defense skills is more important than ever and something schools should offer, perhaps in line within the athletic department.
Newspaper
Though Newspaper is already a class, it would be better if it had grades. This would potentially incentivize the students that like to write but may be deferred from taking the class, due to it being a XTRA. Consistently building on a published portfolio would benefit more than just a student’s GPA; it also provides an outlet to showcase work. Both things considered, this would give students a good boost in terms of diversifying their applications to college, no matter the chosen major.
Just Sports Fitness
Just Sports Fitness would be a sport-specific training fitness class. Instead of taking regular fitness, athletes could choose to do fitness solely for training. If an athlete ever chose to drop out of that sport, they could simply go back into regular fitness classes. This would be perfect, because our school supports a lot of athletes; if they had even more training, that would give them an extra step in the direction of their athletic career.