My colleague wrote an interesting story about a freshman orientation program at Webster Groves High School. You can read it here. It sounds like an excellent way to help students make the transition from middle school to the high school jungle. But what gets me is this paragraph:
The program may be the only one of its kind in the area. Students get a quarter of an elective credit for participating. The students stay in 10 teams, and teams compete throughout the week in activities such as the relay race and a team cheer contest. They’ll also see which team dumps the most change in their team buckets to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
While this sounds like a worthwhile program, why in the world should students receive elective credit for participating in relay races and team cheers? This is purely social learning, not academic. It should not merit academic credit of ANY sort.
Aisha covered education and breaking news for nearly ten years before joining the Lifestyle staff where she writes a "Dirty Laundry" parenting column. She is the home and family editor and wastes too much time on Facebook. Join the conversation on Twitter @AishaS. 
A quarter of a credit? That’s hardly a blip on the map in terms of the credits kids need in high school. Seriously, what difference will quarter of a credit make in the grand scheme of high school so who cares if they get cerdit for it? If it gets kids more prepared for high school, I say do it! I would have liked to get a feel for where everything was in my school before it started. The stress reduction would have been worth that quarter of a credit when I was in school!
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I go to webster im a senior this year. personally i love webster. The reason we recieve a fourth of a credit, is because this is not a required program, besides getting a tour and what not, we also worked on problem solving, and team building. Just like at work you get paid for going to team building programs, we get a 1/4th a credit for going to this. It is actually quite nice seeing as incoming freshman are required 24 credits.
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Webster is great? My senior year of high school they spray painted our school before a football game and called us fairies…only they spelled it “ferrys”…true story. Now that’s education…
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Webster’s record speaks for itself. Among the best, no contest.
My daughter attends a middle school in another district we are planning to move from asap. She watched
11 full length non-educational movies before, during or after “teacher conferences and MAP” sessions,
which devour entire weeks of their year. And while I’m “on,” would we be in this mortgage crisis fiasco-mess if schools taught some real life lessons, like, say, the difference between a loan and a banana?
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It’s interesting how we each focus on different aspects of this event. This caught my eye:
Thirty older students, called “Pacers,” serve as helpers and role models throughout the week. Webster Groves teachers, coaches and administrators lead morning and afternoon classes, which cover topics such as respect and diversity, conflict resolution, and the history of Webster Groves High School.
John Thomas, an assistant principal, led the students around campus for a tour. As the students rounded the southwest corner of the campus, he stopped underneath a tree with a plaque at its base. The tree was planted for one of his classmates, the member of the class of 1987 who died in a drunk driving accident.
“We want to do all we can to support you and help you make good choices,” Thomas said.
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It is not dumbing down of the school. That insinuates that the curriculum has been altered to make it easier for all students to pass a course. I know that is splitting hairs, but that is another can of worms. This is more bribery on the school’s part, of trying to get these new students to come and get prepared for high school so they aren’t completely lost when the big show begins. It does seem completely asinine for a school district to give ANY academic credit, elective or not, for something like this.
Depending on how they structure their course credits, this may not have any effect on a students standing. Most normal high schools use 1/2 credit increments for classes. 1 credit for a year-long class and 1/2 for a semester. A 1/4 credit wouldn’t do anyone any good.
Regardless, it is sending the wrong message. There is already an amazingly disgusting trend in schools that give students the idea that there are subjects that are ‘easy A’ classes. Even our government tells students the only subjects worth their attention are Communication Arts, Math and Science. As if everyone on earth was left-brained.
Thanks for nothing, MAP.
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