Youngest, 12 yo, is getting ready to register for classes at middle school next year. The new school has what they call "elective wheel." It sucks for her, because she was planning to take orchestra for one set of credits and then use a truly free elective to branch out and experiment with new stuff. Unfortunately for her the 'elective wheel' contains no electives. There is a set of 4 9-week courses the kids take. Three are good courses, one of them is just health. They're not what she wanted to take, but they're good courses.

I understand her objection and I think she has a legitimate gripe. OTOH, I'm not opposed to the school's idea. However, I do object to calling this an "elective" wheel when there are no electives. This is reminiscent of the INS term (which they used to have and may still use for all I know) "temporary permanent resident."

k

Cain't speak to your elective wheel but I might be able to to do your INS's "temporary permanent resident" one better. The IRS has a category "non-resident alien." Does this mean someone like Max, who is not in the US and, as far as I know, has never been in the US, can still be assessed a US income tax?

A person, neither a citizen nor a resident of the United States, comes into the country for less than 31 days in the current year (and less than 183 days in the last three years) and opens a savings account at First Miskatonic Bank in Arkham, Massachusetts. The alien deposits large sums of money in the bank and has the interest sent to him on a monthly basis. Should this non-resident alien pay income tax on the interest? Seems reasonable enough to me ... and to the IRS.

That's it in one, FS. I'm one meownself ... although I haven't yet hit the tax threshold ...

I'm one meownself

A person like Capfka who lives in "Utter Placebo, Planet Reebok" could easily be classified as an alien, 'tho the "resident" part remains in question.

I agree, FF. Calling them "electives" implies a complete freedom of choice from any subject of study, as long as it conforms to *certain academic standards. It's part of what unifies a University. Any restriction 'squares' (hi, tsuwm) the edges of a well-rounded education.

A person like Capfka who lives in "Utter Placebo, Planet Reebok" could easily be classified as an alien, 'tho the "resident" part remains in question.

Thanks Padre. That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me today. I shall treasure your words forever ...

Sounds like the "complete freedom of choice" is what the school execises in picking the courses for the pupils!

and complete freedom "from" choice for the students.

k

A couple hundred years ago, I served in the curriculum committee of a university department. There was a definite split in the members' thinking about "elective" courses. One group though them important for freshmen and sophomores, to allow those persons who had not yet settled on a major to explore a wide variety of areas, in order to settle on the one to which they would devote themselves entirely in their junior and senior years. Another group, to which I belonged, thought that too much of the four years of undergraduate education was consumed by requirements for graduation in a particular major, that it was most important to turn out graduates with well-rounded educations, and that electives were what prevented the entire four-year path to a bachelors degree from being a sort of ivy-covered trade school.

The quite wonderful thing about elective courses is that the students who choose them tend to be highly motivated by the interest which led them to select the particular course. Subtract that interest from the process and one is left with compulsory attendance in courses which someone else thinks to be "good for you."

While my undergraduate major had nothing to do with any of the following courses, they were of great value to me: agricultural economics, medical bacteriology, printing technology and anthropological linguistics. Surely no one would have been wise enough to select these courses for me ... and no one ought.

My daughter wants to take Home Ec. Her sister did before her. I wish I could have taken it when I was in HS, but boys had to take shop - a class in which I learned absolutely nothing of value and which was dominated by boys who were free to harrass me. Most commonly that sort of class was taught by a contemptible ignoramous.

She also wants to take tech tools, which on the surface is a good course, but in fact was taught by an incompetent boob when my older daughter took it. But she wants to take it anyway - and she's really annoyed at the decisions she's forced into making because of the rules. She's officially decided to not try for orchestra - after taking strings the last three years and being lead violin the last two. Unfortunate choice and she's still fuming about it, but otherwise she won't get to take these things (Home ec, tech tools) that she really needs for what she wants out of the experience.

Additionally, the "non-elective" language survey course might be good for a typical student who wanted a bunny grade, but she despises easy courses, has surveyed a number of languages on her own (mandarin, spanish, german), and already knows what language she wants to study.

It occurs to me there may be some perceived "problem" with kids only taking bunny electives. I say, let them and their parents worry about it.

Thing is I've given her an assignment some months ago - between now and 11th grade build yourself a list of things that you like to do: cook, talk, write, build, etc. and a list of subjects that you really like studying.

k

Keith's daughter may have to wait until college to take agricultural economics and medical bacteriology.