“How different the man who devotes himself to the study of the law of the Most High! He explores the wisdom of the men of old” Sirach 39:1
What curriculum decisions would please me, as a parent of potential Dominic Savio students?
First a disclaimer – I realize that curriculum is determined by the principal, superintendent and the diocese, with primary advice coming from expert teachers. I trust those responsible to do the right thing.
Some general thoughts:
1) don’t let students “cop out” – set reasonably high expectations for “core curriculum” for graduation (perhaps 4 years math, 3 years science for all – this is a STEM school after all) but create achievable science and math options for those struggling rather than let them bail out and avoid the problem completely. Reduce the chance of parent/child struggles over choices – set a minimum number of credits that addresses what colleges would look for.
2) don’t overly dilute the core curriculum with excessive electives
3) allow “common sense” choices that help parents and kids: for those in sports reduce or exempt from the PE requirement, for those who do a strong theater, or art, or music or dance program after school, allow them to get credit for this to satisfy their arts requirement.
4) offer multiple levels of math and science courses so ALL students can progress.
5) Writing is important – There is a good reason why 4 years of English (including writing courses, and British and American Literature) are required at most schools
6) Don’t necessarily follow the TEA model – if St. Michael’s has a great curriculum idea, if the national recommended standards are better in another, if colleges require more in another – use common sense. For electives play to the available teachers’s strengths – if we can hire a great teacher in one area, but not another – use our advantages.
7) Use common sense with AP classes. They are a good thing, although they require a lot of work. Beyond the four core (English/Calculus/Chemistry/Physics) AP classes – play to the schools strengths (e.g. who they can hire) in the remainder but make sure that there at least one or two “easier” AP classes (US History?) available to juniors.
Require some religion classes (at least require 1 year Old/New Testament, and 1 year on Catholic faith/doctrine, and perhaps some Church History)
Can we be more efficient than other schools? For example, would it be practical to skip the boring grade 9 Introductory Physical Science – if everyone at the school is going to take three years of science anyway? Can we use a radical new approach to Math that would allow students to progress at varying rates? Can we avoid reteaching Math in Physics class – by setting the right prerequisites or using one of the math assessment tests to let parents and students see what is expected. At the beginning of each semester can we use online Math assessment tests to determine whether a student needs supplemental computer aided math instruction(e.g. HeyMath used by some Catholic schools) to catch-up? Can we follow the examples in Math of the best states (like North Carolina and Illinois) … and the lessons they learned from Singapore? Can we vary class sizes from small to large depending depending on the type of course to most efficiently use money? Can we, unlike the public schools, go “paperless” (for tests, handouts etc.) – not just for environmental reasons but also it may save some money and better prepare the students.
As the diocese hires a principal and staff, I will be excited to see how they approach curriculum – and whether years from now we can look at this as a pioneering school addressing some of the problems with low expectations.
