The months of January and February are busy for most high school students and incoming freshmen. Course registration planning can be a great way for students to explore their interests and stay productive in class. However, it comes with its difficulties. Learning about the different classes, credits and requirements needed for graduation can be stressful and time consuming for all students.
Shelby Bryce, one of the counselors at Liberty High School, believes that high school is meant for exploring different class options and deciding what to take based on interests.
“High school should be all about exploring as many different things as you can,” Bryce said. “[Course planning] gives kids an opportunity to get excited about what’s to come in their high school experience and all the academic opportunities they can take advantage of.”
Research has shown that allowing students to choose their classes for upcoming years in high school increases productivity and improves academic growth over time. With the ability for students to tailor classes based on their likings, teachers experience more focus and dedication in their classes.
English teacher Schyler Fynaardt notices the difference between her honors and regular classes and feels that more effort is put into the assignments.
“I feel like discussions are better and same with putting effort into projects,” Fynaardt said.
She also mentioned that students hold themselves to an expectation that they chose to be in the class and are with other students who care, wanting to withhold that dedication. On the down side, with the ability to freely choose classes, students run into a senior slump. With class requirements weaning away, students tend to skip out on math, science or other core classes their senior year in hopes for more open periods and less time in school. Fynaardt also made the same mistake her senior year and wishes she did things differently.
“Having guidance in the registration process] would have saved me money, time and energy when I was in college,” Fynaardt said.
Elaborating on the fact that she could have used her free-time in high school to knock out core classes that increasingly became more difficult and expensive in college. Although students find more benefits in choosing their own classes, it comes with more work from the counselors.
Bryce has experienced these schedule changes and shared that students are bound to make mistakes while scheduling classes and it is the counselors jobs to fix them.
“Last year we did about 1,200 schedule changes from Aug. 1 to the first day of school. That’s why every year we’re trying new things,” Bryce said.
The counselors meet together often to discuss ways to not only alleviate the stress of course planning but limit the workload for themselves.
