Given the “choose your own adventure” mentality that comes hand-in-hand with the block schedule, it’s no surprise that students seem outraged by the thought: that we have to choose between only two English classes senior year.  But Contemporary Literature and Composition, the new Senior English required course, provides a logical solution to problems created by the “menu system” that leave many students unprepared for the demands of college.

Those worried about losing the menu system’s variety, have no fear: The new course combines four already available English classes—World Literature, Contemporary Literature, Crime and Justice, and College Writing—in one class.  The remaining current options will become electives available to all grade levels.

Under the current system, some students end up with two English classes in one day (too much for anyone), or have College Writing in the spring, when it isn’t any help—at that point, they have already written their college application essays.  By rolling the essentials into one, students can get what they need when they need it.

As things stand, students can—and do—select classes that cater to their interests instead of their needs.  For example, seniors could take two reading-based classes and avoid writing an essay for the whole year.  Pretty sweet deal, right?  Not in the long run: these same students will head on to college with a junior writing level and a serious academic disadvantage.

Few believe it, but sometimes the skills learned in high school are used in real life.  I can’t think of any subject where this is more true than English, the class that teaches you how to communicate with other people.  Yes, sliding by with a College Writing and Public Speaking combination is no longer an option.  But giving students an easy way to slack should have never been an option in the first place.