How School Curricula Can Get With the Program

With graduation and college admissions requirements becoming more strict each year, high school students don’t have much flexibility when it comes to enrolling in elective classes--those courses taken primarily for interest’s sake.

Hot Topics wonders, “What class should be offered at your school that is not in the curriculum?”

“A modern dance class because it is really embarrassing going to dances when you don’t know how to dance.” Amy Webb, 15, sophomore, Rancho Alamitos

“Sex education because teen-agers don’t know the truth about disease, pregnancy and protection.” Kristen Peterson, 17, senior, St. Margaret’s

“A class called Peer Pressure, where kids that have problems at home or school could talk with each other and help one another understand what being a teen-ager is all about.” Kathy Hong, 15, sophomore, Los Amigos

“A home economics class; we need to learn how to cook.”

Madeline Amat, 14, freshman, Rosary

“A class that teaches kids to read Braille, because if they happen to go blind, they’ll know how to read Braille.” Victor Bustos, 14, freshman, Bolsa Grande

“Fashion sense because I never know what to wear.” Klaus Flouride, 14, freshman, Huntington Beach

“Law.” Veronica Baragan, 15, sophomore, El Modena

“A free writing class for writing poetry and short stories.” Brad Love, 15, sophomore, Sunny Hills

“Courses in astrology, meditation and mental health.” Bob Hornwell, 17, junior, Servite

“Board games.” Steven Tze, 17, senior, University

“A sign language class should be made an essential part of our curriculum.” Shannon Holmes, 14, freshman, Los Amigos

“Study hall because it will give us an opportunity to finish our homework if we were not able to do it the night before.” Shellie Tsuji, 17, senior, Rancho Alamitos

“Russian as a foreign language.” Brad Beacom, 15, sophomore, St. Margaret’s

“German should be offered because now that Germany has reunited, more people will be interested in learning the language.” Linda Yoon, 13, freshman, Rancho Alamitos

“A mandatory drug abuse class and one that teaches kids of child abuse, not just physical and emotional. People should be more aware so they can protect themselves.” Heather Williams, 16, junior, Bolsa Grande

“Child psychology.” Rene Erickson, 15, sophomore, El Modena

“Advanced Placement Pascal, because I have to take adult school (classes) in order to meet my high school computer requirement.” Chung Kim, 17, senior, Huntington Beach

“More arts and crafts classes instead of strictly drawing and painting.” Amy Denton, 17, senior, Sunny Hills

“Underwater basket-weaving.” Lisa Inman, 17, senior, University

“Aerobics should be offered as a PE class. Aerobics is great exercise for everybody.” Rosie Cervantes, 15, sophomore, Los Amigos

“A speech and drama class.” Jeff Cooper, 17, senior, Servite

“Driver’s training classes because it isn’t fair that past years’ students took it but future students won’t get the same opportunity.” Clare Nerby, 14, freshman, Rancho Alamitos

“A class that explains why we have to take some of the college prep classes to graduate.” Dena Abramson, 16, junior, Los Amigos

“A chorus class.” Kathleen Alvarez, 15, freshman, Rosary

“A course in clothes designing, where you design your own styles and make the clothing you design.” Katherine Matus, 16, junior, St. Margaret’s

“Photography--it would be nice to get out and take pictures of what teachers and students are doing during the year.” Olivia Arrizon, 16, junior, Bolsa Grande

“Cultural awareness.” Debbie Sklar, 17, senior, El Modena

“Sociology.” Stella Kye, 18, senior, University

“Oceanography because it is one of the most interesting sciences.” Matt Stirling, 17, senior, Huntington Beach

“Latin.” Amy Raat, 17, senior, El Modena

“More practical elective courses to help us discover possible careers.” Peter Wilson, 18, senior, Servite

“A home economics class in order to prepare us for a family of our own.” Christine Bixby, 15, sophomore, Rosary

“Human sexuality.”

Jason Park, 17, senior, University

“Music history.” Dawn Brooks, 17, senior, El Modena

“Aerospace because it’s something that everyone should learn about.” Karen Ho, 15, sophomore, Huntington Beach

“Expand journalism to include TV broadcasting.” Elizabeth Bangs, 15, sophomore, Sunny Hills

“Wood shop because there’s nothing of the sort at this school.” Shanna Smith, 15, sophomore, St. Margaret’s

“Surfing.” William Huang, 18, senior, University

Next Week’s Hot Topic:

Who do you look to as your role model? Why?