News staffer Maggie Kelleher thinks about her classes for her junior year. Kelleher feels that the block schedule will cause problems for some students due to its inability to accommodate a large amount of challenging classes. Illustration by Lilli Sams
News staffer Maggie Kelleher shares her thoughts on block scheduling coming to CCHS in the 2020-21 school year and how it will affect her plan to pursue a scientific career.
For as long as I can remember, my favorite subject in school has been science. Even when I was at Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School, I knew that a career in science something I wanted to pursue.
I like learning all subjects, but in science classes, I feel like I’m helping people and learning more about how things function. This is especially relevant today, where education in science is vital to help our world survive.
Thankfully, Clarke Central High School offers Advanced Placement Environmental Science and other interesting science classes that will help me pursue my passion. I decided to seize this opportunity and take as many of those science courses as I can.
However, my plan fell apart when the CCHS administration announced the switch to block scheduling for the 2020-21 school year.
Prerequisites are now a part of some AP courses, requiring an advanced course in the first semester in addition to the AP class in the second. This extra class limits my options for other classes I would like to pursue.
Additionally, JROTC, band and orchestra are requiring year-long commitments, limiting the number of classes that many students involved in these classes will be able to take.
Although I’m not entirely sure how the switch to a block schedule will affect the placement of my classes or my graduation requirements, I am optimistic about its positive effects. Balancing four classes instead of seven seems easier. Hopefully, I will benefit from more time in the science courses that I am taking. Despite this obstacle, I know that my passion will still be in science and I will work with the opportunities I am given to be successful.
