Curriculum of Choice: Dating, Music, Design
Is there such a thing as algebra in the real world? Just how big a role will Shakespeare play in your adult life? Where exactly does frog dissection come into play after high school?
OK, there are reasons to take those on in high school, but imagine coming up with a curriculum relevant to your personal needs and interests. Hot Topics wonders: “If you could start a class in anything at your school, what would it be and why?”
“Scuba diving, because I think everyone should know how.”
Amy Foushee, 17,
senior, Dana Hills
“A business class--I think a lot of people would be interested in it.”
Misti Lerma, 15,
sophomore, Dana Hills
“Eating, because I don’t get to do it very often.”
Diana Debellis, 16,
junior, Dana Hills
“Philosophy, so I could get a better understanding why people do things and of mankind in general.”
Stacy Lee, 15,
sophomore, Dana Hills
“A class in which all you do is read books and do oral book reports, because I enjoy reading.”
Dane Pysz, 16,
junior, Dana Hills
“Baby-sitting, because everyone must know how to take care of kids.”
Wendy Stone, 14,
freshman, Estancia
“Interior design, because everybody’s got to learn how to home-make.”
Shirley Adams, 15,
sophomore, Estancia
“Military--to learn more about the service and politics.”
Tom Wooden, 16,
junior, Estancia
“Dating--to learn how to succeed in society.”
Andy Parker, 17,
senior, Estancia
“Fashion design, because everyone needs clothes.”
Cindy Hopkins, 14,
freshman, Estancia
“Sex education--you know why.”
Andy Pulley, 17,
senior, Huntington Beach
“Music theory--it’s really necessary as a lot of the people in choir are really ignorant of what makes up the music.”
Meg Alton, 18,
senior, Huntington Beach
“Religions of the world--it will help people to have an awareness and understanding of why they believe.”
Shane Christensen, 17,
senior, Huntington Beach
“Piano, because some people want it and they don’t offer it.”
Suzanne Nguyen, 17,
junior, Huntington Beach
“Fashion design, because it’s creative and fun.”
Ellen Lee, 16,
junior, Huntington Beach
“Electronics, because I would like to learn to build things like radios and computers.”
Travis Umbreit, 17,
senior, Irvine
“Body boarding and surfing--early in the morning.”
Nathaniel Caruso, 14,
freshman, Irvine
“TV journalism, because we could run a news show every morning with what’s going on in school.”
Bobby Herzog, 14,
freshman, Irvine
“Manners, because too many people are rude and impolite.”
Anthony Goel, 16,
junior, Ocean View
“Study skills--to help students learn how to succeed in their other classes.”
Marina Gerson, 17,
senior, Ocean View
“Art appreciation, because of the lack of culture in our present age group. Art inspires one’s own imagination, and imagination brings innovation.”
Leland Quinn, 17,
senior, Ocean View
“ROTC class or program, because the armed forces are an important part of this country. In light of all these revolutions and dangers to the free world, I feel this is justified.”
Hubert Ho, 16,
junior, Ocean View
“Media, because we could learn about how television and newspapers affect society. Most people with psychology majors take this class in college, so why not get it over with in high school?”
Karen Schaefer, 16,
junior, Ocean View
“Current events--you could just come in and talk about social issues and debate.”
Tony Trivison, 17,
senior, Orange
“Practical money management--so that I could learn for myself and so that others could learn correctly how to manage their money.”
Tom Ring, 18,
senior, Orange
“Instrumental music performance, because choir shouldn’t be the only non-band performance class.”
Nick Hildalgo, 17,
senior, Orange
“Life skills--all the things you really need to know, but school never teaches you. For example, how to do well in a job interview and how to treat people fairly.”
Rachel Jacobs, 17,
senior, University
“International affairs--what’s going on in the rest of the world politically.”
Lisa Weiss, 16,
junior, University
“Dating skills workshop--all the things you need to know about dating and relationships.”
Christy Tudor, 17,
senior, University
“Political affairs.”
Gadi Barlevy, 17,
senior, University
“Comparative religions.”
Jane Solomons, 16,
senior, University
Next Week’s Hot Topic:
What is your best or worst holiday memory?
Hot Topic responses gathered by Dana Wilshin (Dana Hills), Sydney Truong (Estancia), Jane Wey (Huntington Beach), Adria Silva (Irvine), Felice Wu (Ocean View), Jennifer Turner (Orange), Kiley Coble (University) and Heather Orey (Western).
DR, JORGE AYALA
