Even with the onslaught of senioritis and construction, I believe that most seniors would agree that this year has been our best year of school yet. For starters, we have all matured and become friendlier to one another. We’re eager for the future, yet at the same time we are enjoying our last days with each other. In addition, the easy schedule and light work load allows us more spare time. Senior year is about enjoying your last year as a kid, and having a good time with the people you grew up with.

This is why I was disappointed when I heard that a year-long, more rigorous senior English class would be replacing the array of electives (Crime and Justice in Literature, Contemporary Literature, etc.) that are currently offered. The staff’s argument is undoubtedly sound, especially from an education standpoint; students would learn more, and wouldn’t have an easy A.

But realistically, is this change necessary? A variety of English electives allows for different kinds of students to take classes that suit them. Those of us that are college-bound have more writing and reading intensive options such as College Writing or Contemporary Literature, and others can enroll in a class like Public Speaking. Less than 60 percent of us will directly move on to a four-year college or university next year, so why force everyone else to take a class that includes literature analysis and college-level writing? Will a student attending Renton-Tech’s auto mechanic program ever need to know how to analyze slam poetry?

It is obvious that this change is imminent, but if anything, the English department should consider designing a curriculum around post high school writing necessities and not impractical literature analysis. Senior English electives were about having fun and enjoying your English class; I’d hate to see that go away with the new change.