Academics

Board eliminates exit requirements

Jourdan Keber

February 21, 2008

For ten years, students have fulfilled the dreaded task of exit requirements. In the beginning, the exits had a strong purpose. Longtime teacher and member of the original planning committee Jim McInerney said, “We felt the students needed to be capable of demonstrating their level of ability rather than just being in school. Exit requirements raised the level of ability for almost all students.”

It’s true that the exits did have a positive effect in the long run. They taught students valuable skills such as working well with others, learning to budget, and giving back to the community. When it was announced earlier this year that exits would no longer be a part of the graduation requirements, most students and teachers were ecstatic.

Most of the exits have already been incorporated into classes, so the paper work is no longer necessary. English teacher Amy Hottovy said, “ I think exits had a solid purpose when they were first created, but classes have evolved over time and exit requirements have become more of a hassle.”

“I think it will be a positive thing to no longer have exit requirements. We can now move on to the next set of challenges,” said McInerney.

Although the exits are no longer a graduation requirement, one part is here to stay. Students will still be required to fulfill community service, but now, instead of forty hours it will be sixty hours.

This will be a very positive thing for the students according to physical education teacher Josh Lanik, “I think community service is great no matter what. It helps students learn how to give their time and not expect to get anything material in return,” he said.