School board mulls new elective classes
New courses at Coeur d’Alene’s two high schools could create a fresh generation of Ray Bradburys and Kirtland Cutters. Or they could just provide students with interesting electives next year.
The school board heard a proposal for four new courses Monday night, including “Reading and writing science fiction and fantasy literature” and “Housing, interiors and furnishings.”
The course additions process takes place every year. Schools write a proposal, which then goes through two district committees before it reaches the board for final approval. The board will vote on the proposal next month.
New elective classes are introduced to keep things fresh, said Assistant Principal Tom Mollgaard, who supervises the curriculum. Students need to take 58 classes to graduate from high school. Half of the classes are requirements and half are electives.
At Lake City High School, freshman David Mills said studying science fiction would develop people’s imaginations and lead to creative books, media and inventions.
“Maybe we’ll have floating lunch trays in the year 2020,” he said.
Mills said he likes the idea of having more specific classes that cater to students’ interests and delve into them, instead of scratching the surface with general overview classes.
Teachers have additional goals in mind. The proposal for the sci-fi course said it aimed to use interest in science fiction and fantasy literature to develop reading, writing, vocabulary and communication skills. The housing and interiors class intends to introduce students to graphic design, interior design, architecture, realty and building professions.
The initial cost of adding courses comes from buying new textbooks. That might prove prohibitive in offering a newly approved anthropology class next year, because building budgets have been reduced, Mollgaard said.
The sci-fi class books will be paperback, which aren’t expensive, he added.
Any books or equipment for the housing and interiors class will be covered by federal money earmarked for professional-technical courses. The newly approved “Art 2” class will not cost the district anything.
Not everyone at Lake City High is excited about the offerings.
Megan White, a junior, said she probably wouldn’t take the classes. “They’re not going to help me career-wise,” said White, who plans to be a teacher.
Maggie Steele offered a different perspective. Her eyes widened when she heard about the class on housing and interiors because she wants to work in the latter field. But even for students who don’t want to be science fiction writers or interior designers, Steele saw a benefit in the courses.
“It gives a lot more diversity to our classes here,” said Steele, a junior. “Coeur d’Alene’s a small town. Having those options open for us to experience is a good idea.”