New graduation requirements make
sense, help students be competitive

_     By Alichia Stevens
    Hawknews Writer
    23 ½ credits, Preposterous right. At least that’s what any normal Kenny Lake student who has lived in our community for a couple years would say to an increase in their high school graduation requirements.

I also used to think this way, but now I’ve had a change of mind. Competing with 49 other states for a higher education is one thing the Kenny Lake and Chitina   an community has done. However, with our district requiring only 22 credits for graduation, it’s hard for some of our students to qualify for the Alaskan scholarships needed to go to an Alaskan college, which means they will have to borrow money and go in debt.

Last year we only needed 22 credits, which is not a high enough standard for the new Alaskan scholarship that can pay for most of your college tuition. This new requirement requires a lot more work than some kids are used to, but to be eligible for this scholarship, a student has to do better than pass their classes with C’s and D’s. A student has to show academic rigor to increase their chances of earning this scholarship. To qualify, the student must pass four years of math, science, social studies, and English, or three years of math, three years of science, four years of English, four years of social studies, and two years of a foreign language. Increasing the credit requirement to 23 ½ for Kenny Lake and Chitina students is something that should be instituted.

The new credit requirement might look like a high standard for students to meet in four years since they only have a total of 24 classes during this time.  It might be kind of hard to do; I’m telling from experience.

Also the two classes that are being offered as time to get your work done are being neglected or just not being used to get things done. Don’t get me wrong, but if you took a look at an ordinary study hall period, some of the kids spend most of their time goofing off, not using their time wisely, or just sitting there. So in a sense, why should a school give the time for students to work if it isn’t being used for that?   

I’ve always had a problem with getting my work done and study hall does help me, but when I look around at all the other students, I can spot the ones who goof off. Yes, I know in rural Alaska it’s hard to get to school and it’s hard to keep up with the work when you live miles away. When the kids who do have time at home to do their work, and someone to help them with homework, decide to spend their time slacking, you know they don’t try.

            Then there are the students in the schools who earn their right to graduate that can’t get the Alaskan scholarship because they don’t have the required credits. Is this fair to these particular students?