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Physical education among changes at high school
(by Sue Hoffman - February 10, 2010)
Physical education among changes at high school
By SUE HOFFMAN
Next fall, Solon High School will have some new options and requirements for students, as set out in the 2010-2011 program of studies.
The changes have been communicated to eighth- through 11th-graders, who completed next year's schedules last week.
Physical education is the big change next year, according to school officials. For many years, students have had to take a basic physical education class for a year to earn the half-credit required by the state. Most students have taken the class in their freshman year.
"Our physical education department saw a need to reinvent itself to meet the interests of kids," Assistant Principal Terry Brownlow said. "They did an incredible job," creating "courses that appeal to kids and meet their scheduling needs."
Rather than taking a basic physical education course straight through their freshman year, students will be able to take elective semester classes anytime during their four years in high school, Mrs. Brownlow said. Options range from basketball to personal fitness, lifeguard training and dance basics.
The school also has added a before-school "zero" period from 6:45 to 7:35 a.m. each day for a physical education class. This allows students to free up time during the regular school day for other classes, Mrs. Brownlow said.
"All of these classes depend on the number of sign ups" to be offered this fall, she said. "We really feel that the new setup should meet the needs of most kids. It's very positive anytime you give kids choices. I think we'll get more upperclassmen taking the classes because of all the choices."
For the first time, the high school also is allowing students to take physical education in summer school. They can achieve the half-credit requirement by attending the six-week program from 8 a.m. to noon daily, five days a week.
Mrs. Brownlow said the price for summer school has not yet been set, but historically has been about $300.
While the basic physical education course has been given pass-fail, all freshmen and upperclassmen who have met their physical education requirements will receive a regular letter grade for the new electives, she said. Upperclassmen who are taking a class to fulfill the requirement will get a pass-fail grade.
Among other changes in the program of studies, the district will offer Advanced Placement psychology. The new course will be the 20th AP class offered by the school.
"We offer regular psychology, and have had more and more kids who opted to take the AP test," Mrs. Brownlow said. School officials felt it was important to provide the AP class, she said.
Another new opportunity is symphonic choir, an audition choir for underclassmen. The school has had an audition a cappella choir for upperclassmen for several years.
Other changes in the program of studies have been mandated by law. Incoming freshmen will be required to take four credits of mathematics, including algebra 2, rather than three credits, Mrs. Brownlow said. They also will be required to take a "financial literacy" course, and can choose between economics or AP economics.
"In today's global economy," she said, it's important for students to know "basic economic principles."
In addition, starting with next fall's freshmen, the district is upgrading accelerated classes in mathematics to the honors level, she said.
Some math classes will be renamed based upon feedback from college admissions officers. Mrs. Brownlow said the names of some classes will change to reflect what's taught in the classes. For example, the class now called trigonometry and analytical geometry will be renamed pre-calculus in 2011-2012, she said, which is what the actual subject matter is.
The state is finalizing details on options to earn credit outside the classroom, Mrs. Brownlow said. "Kids need options. Not everyone learns the same way or takes the same path," she said.
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