[Debate] School Electives

[Loopulse]

How long do you think middle school electives, if a school has any, should be mandatory for before they're allowed to choose them? One year, two years, three years, or more, depending on what grade middle school starts at. Do you think they should also be mandatory for one year in high school? Or is that too long?

Definitions
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Electives - "Non-academic" classes that are placed into school periods. These include art, drama, debating, band, and so on.

[EndlessDreams]

Usually, it is mandatory during the earlier years of grade school because people believe that children can't make good decisions on choosing their classes. Also, it is supposed to make students more "well-rounded". IMO, math and science should be taught every year from elementary school till graduation of high school. Of course, that might be too radical for some people.

[Loopulse]

Usually, it is mandatory during the earlier years of grade school because people believe that children can't make good decisions on choosing their classes. Also, it is supposed to make students more "well-rounded". IMO, math and science should be taught every year from elementary school till graduation of high school. Of course, that might be too radical for some people.

Just fixed a definition since I should've been more clear.

[EndlessDreams]

The study of the Arts is still academics... That would include drama, general art classes, music, etc.

I don't approve of recess of being a "class" though. I don't think Teacher Assistant should be treated as a valuable elective either though.

[Claudia]

You spoiled children. Before I got to high school, the only choice we had was foreign language, and whether you wanted to do band, orchestra, or chorus/nothing. And some kids had to take reading classes and learning center so they didn't even get to choose that.

Also, for high school we need one year of art, music, and occupational education. As a non-artsy and music person (in other words, academically oriented), these classes hold no interest for me and are a huge sinkhole in my schedule. If I didn't have to take a music class this year, I could've taken ANY senior elective course (probably two dozen or so to choose from) I wanted, but nope, have to take an instrument i'm not interested in playing for a year. (What have I gained? Very little besides a slightly deflated GPA.)

They should either build it into the freshman curriculum or let people choose. Even though freshman are, well, fresh, they're in high school, and they have to make their own choices about the classes they want to take and they should. I wished I could have taken a wider variety of electives in middle school and early on in high school, so I could've figured out what I really liked sooner.

[Sedia]

Electives were chosen for us in Middle School. One half of the year, you either got Italian/Spanish or Music/Art Class (they switched each semester). In High School, electives are mandatory, though only in your Junior year. Sure, sophmores and freshmen get to take electives earlier, but it's only if they don't have extra classes (Academic Support,etc). As a Junior, you NEED to have credits in an art class (though the ones at my high school aren't very appealing).I probably won't have Academic Support next year seeing as how I'm taking Creative Writing as a Junior. Either that,or they'll cut my academic support in half so I go at specific periods,or if I need that class for an extremely important reason.

[Episkey]

My middle school didn't have many electives, most of them were required classes anyway -.-

Honestly, electives should be available to everyone at the middle school level. That's why they are called electives.
Having some administration who probably doesn't give a crap choose electives for you, isn't really helping you and your education.

I remember during the 8th grade when I was forced to take an Art class. I absolutely suck at drawing/painting. Thankfully, I was able to change that class and volunteer my time at the school library. I was much happier then. It's not to say I hate art, I can appreciate it's value but I just can't draw >.<

Forcing someone to take a class isn't the same as exposing them to the subject material. It's kinda why it somewhat irks me when musicians say that Band should be mandatory for a year. I know musical education is important and sadly at times unappreciated, but that isn't the way to do something.

Idealistically, all the electives should be available to everyone and students (no matter what grade level) should ELECT which ones interest them. I mean that's how it mostly works in High school, I don't see why in Middle school it's looked down upon - at least where I live.

[Ninjam]

There not electives if you dont get to choose them, in my opinion.

If there chosen for you there regular classes.

Anyway, they should require math, science, writing, and some kind of art and computing class each year until highschool. Learning about arts is fun and useful so you know more about them and can appreciate them more, computers are very important too considering how much they are used now, and its really good to know how to write well.

[Loopulse]

For my school, at 6-8 you must take computers, art, drama, debating and band/music. Then in grade nine, you pick either computers, art, communications (debating and drama), and band/music. I actually really like the system, since you actually get time to enjoy the subjects. I mean, let's be honest. More people enjoy band now in grade eight than in grade six.

[Shanghai]

Most electives are NOT fun in middle school simply because of the people that take it with you. Since most middle-schoolers are still in that kind of phase, they're usually jerky and beyond immature. It gets better in high school.

As for electives, I think my middle school did it best(art, drama, home economics/industrial tech were required in 6th grade. Music was completely optional and happened in zero period. We had a semester course so every quarter you'd switch classes) and then you could choose any 2 electives you wanted on in 7th and 8th grade. My school was generally focused on electives, you could say.

High school, it's just 1 elective, which bores me since I want to take Art but I'm also in Band.