History of Rock and Roll....really?

17 years ago

I picked up Alex's schedule for next year and he got all the main classes he requested except one. Instead of the electives he picked, which included 3 different Art classes, the computer gave him History of Rock and Roll.

I went back to the dentist to pick him up and then we went back to school and stood in a long line of kids wanting to change their classes. He got an Art class instead. He also didn't want to have one of the teachers for Astronomy, apparently she's an awful teacher and really hateful with the kids. But, the teacher who was supposed to teach it isn't teaching it next year so he's stuck with the "bad" teacher.

Some of the classes they offer are out there. What purpose is the History of Rock and Roll anyway? I don't get it. Thank goodness, neither does my son.

Oh, and I have to brag, he got all A's and one B this semster...B was in AP Chemistry. He likes the teacher but said the teacher didn't really know what he was teaching and is planning on taking it again in college even if he made a passing grade on the exam they take to get it applied towards their college degree. He said he didn't learn a whole lot.

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Comments (7)

monica_pa Grieves
17 years ago
History of rock and Roll ??
Unfortunately...I believe it.
Surely schools can offer courses that will be more beneficial to students who will be on their own in short time..like maybe Basic Finances and Budgeting.

I think all to many schools offer these "no brainer" classes as fillers, empty calories, so to speak....that insure high grades to those students who, unlike Alex, bring the school a higher GPA.

I would think an old fashioned study hall would be far more beneficial than "Hist of R&R" .
Mystical Manns
17 years ago
Wow, History of Rock & Roll, and Astronomy, are supposed to be more beneficial than cooking, or basic finances, or Citizenship?

My, how times have changed. I think the schools are trying too hard to entertain, or keep a child's interest ... instead of instilling in them a desire to learn something relevant to life.
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nodakgal
17 years ago
History of Rock and Roll sounds like it would be right up DH's alley! Or Jeopardy! LOL

Congrats to Alex on the good grades!!
uxorial
17 years ago
Are you talking about high school? Wow! I wish I'd had classes like that.

But don't be so quick to discount the class. One of the most interesting classes I had in college was "American Popular Song," which was basically a chronological history of all kinds of American music, from field chants through rap and heavy metal. I loved that class! I learned a lot about music and continue to be reminded of things I learned. The class was taught by two doctoral candidates who were studying ethnomusicology. They took the class very seriously and made it clear from the beginning that it would not be a Mickey Mouse, easy "A" class. I had to study a lot to earn my grade of 4.0.

Personally, I think History of Rock and Roll would be a lot more interesting than Astronomy. :-) And any elective class is a great opportunity for students to expand their knowledge and become more "well rounded." JMO, though. I love to learn.
jennmonkey
17 years ago
I agree with uxorial. Having a well rounded education doesn't neccesarily mean only learning things you will use in day to day life. Heck, I would probably be able to use info from The History of Rock and Roll in my daily life than Algebra. Also, electives are often supposed to be fun, and give you a break from the monotony of math and english classes. Taking all heavy duty classes makes for bored and uninterested students who dislike school. One of my favorite classes from college was The History of Film. I loved that class! I also took Bowling in college. :)

I think that learning needs to be fun sometimes to keep students interested. Instilling the love of learning is more important than the specific information you are learning. You forget most of the specifics but the love of learning will lead kids to want to go to college and keep learning throughout their lives.
jannie
17 years ago
I remember in my high school, once you got to Senior year, you could choose lots of electives. I took an English class that consisted of reading Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin and discussing it. Should I have been reading Shakespeare instead ? Maybe. Was I harmed buy it? No, it was just one goofy class in an otherwise busy year.
Lindsey_CA
17 years ago
Music throughout the ages reflects what was going on - in the world, in our country, etc. It would seem to me that a history of rock and roll would be a "fun" version of sociology class.

History of Rock and Roll....really?

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monica_pa Grieves

Mystical Manns

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