By Morgan Conlin
Each day thousands of teenagers across Michigan will spend around eight hours sitting in a desk at school. Not many Pioneer students know that the graduation requirements have changed. According to the updated requirements, credit is given “not based on seat time, but based on a students demonstration that he or she has successfully met the content expectations for the credit area”. Now, students are able to pass a core curriculum class by only showing up to take the state required exam.
Many students are unaware of this alternative way of learning that could be beneficial for them. Rephael Berkooz a senior at Pioneer high school says “ I didn’t even know of this law until it was mentioned today.” Other styles of learning this bill include; work-based learning programs which allows a student to work side by side with professionals of the career they are interested in, project-based learning is a method in which students spend a big amount of time studying one specific problem and analysis every aspect of the situation, independent teacher-guided study, or testing out. The bill allows students to not show up for the classroom part of school but only for the actual assessment given by the state.
This law could be helpful for teens that at get anxiety and stress about schoolwork and other responsibilities. “Honestly most of those kids [who would do that] are probably school phobic” says Colleen Creal, head of Pioneer’s Counseling Department. “I think the bill is good for people who might have a medical condition that prevents them from going to school.” says Berkooz. It’s no shock to find that 36% of high schoolers are feeling overwhelmed from school and that 31% feel stressed out from school. “If a kid doesn’t really want to be at Pioneer, then they [will] probably look at an online option, or something at the community college can be more flexible, because Pioneer doesn’t really work for everyone” explains Creal.
Many college admission counselors do not like this option because they believe it takes away from the social aspects of high school such as sports, clubs, and music. Students also learn lifelong skills including getting along with others, working in groups, and making friends. Pioneer senior Henry Huang disagrees with this idea “I agree that school is a social environment, and that you do learn some of your softer skills that you use for the rest of your life, however there are other environments outside of school where you can learn those skills. I believe that a school environment should still be primarily based off of furthering your own education.” Rephael Berkooz thinks that if a teen doesn’t go to school, it can take away from some great experiences. “Going to public school has significantly influenced by social behavior; I can’t imagine every student who actively avoids other teens has had the same social growth as I did.” says Berkooz.
Many students are unaware of this alternative way of learning that could be beneficial for them. Rephael Berkooz a senior at Pioneer high school says “ I didn’t even know of this law until it was mentioned today.” Other styles of learning this bill include; work-based learning programs which allows a student to work side by side with professionals of the career they are interested in, project-based learning is a method in which students spend a big amount of time studying one specific problem and analysis every aspect of the situation, independent teacher-guided study, or testing out. The bill allows students to not show up for the classroom part of school but only for the actual assessment given by the state.
This law could be helpful for teens that at get anxiety and stress about schoolwork and other responsibilities. “Honestly most of those kids [who would do that] are probably school phobic” says Colleen Creal, head of Pioneer’s Counseling Department. “I think the bill is good for people who might have a medical condition that prevents them from going to school.” says Berkooz. It’s no shock to find that 36% of high schoolers are feeling overwhelmed from school and that 31% feel stressed out from school. “If a kid doesn’t really want to be at Pioneer, then they [will] probably look at an online option, or something at the community college can be more flexible, because Pioneer doesn’t really work for everyone” explains Creal.
Many college admission counselors do not like this option because they believe it takes away from the social aspects of high school such as sports, clubs, and music. Students also learn lifelong skills including getting along with others, working in groups, and making friends. Pioneer senior Henry Huang disagrees with this idea “I agree that school is a social environment, and that you do learn some of your softer skills that you use for the rest of your life, however there are other environments outside of school where you can learn those skills. I believe that a school environment should still be primarily based off of furthering your own education.” Rephael Berkooz thinks that if a teen doesn’t go to school, it can take away from some great experiences. “Going to public school has significantly influenced by social behavior; I can’t imagine every student who actively avoids other teens has had the same social growth as I did.” says Berkooz.