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MN New State Standards: Core Courses vs. Electives

Electives may feel the squeeze from the new Minnesota Academic Standards.

That wasn't the intent of lawmakers as they crafted the new standards to replace the Profile of Learning. But supporters of world languages, health, physical education and other areas say it may be the result.

There is only so much time in the day. So with new core course requirements, noncore curriculum courses may be avoided by students, some worry. Another concern: Will budget-conscious administrators target non-core courses such as a fourth-year French program that may not attract many students?

It's too early to tell. The new standards take full effect with the graduating class of 2008.

But some fear the new law has created winners and losers among the various academic fields.

Math and the arts are seen as winners, with more students expected to sign up for courses in those areas because of the new requirements.

The losers? Areas such as world languages, physical education and health that are no longer covered by the standards as they were in the Profile of Learning.

"We feel it is a travesty for students in this day and age not to have the opportunity to study another language and culture,'' said Fridley Spanish teacher Adele Munsterman, who is president of the Minnesota Council on the Teaching of Languages and Cultures. "Different schools have dropped portions of their language studies, and if languages aren't listed as a core subject they feel they can do it.''

"It's a real disappointment for us,'' said Bemidji State University associate professor Eric Forsyth, president of a statewide coalition of health and physical education teachers. "If nothing is mandated … then perhaps districts won't push it.''

Others, however, aren't as pessimistic. No self-respecting school board member will want to cut a health or a world language requirement since it will likely result in a parent backlash.

"I don't think the survival of an elective depends on it being a mandated standard,'' said John Eller, executive director of the Minnesota Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Rep. Alice Seagren, R-Bloomington, said lawmakers expect school districts to continue such offerings even if a state standard is not directly tied to them.

"It's always a balancing act,'' she said of the decision on what to include as a core subject area. "But it doesn't mean we don't think they should be offered by schools.''

The Minnesota Academic Standards include math, language arts, social studies, science and art as core subject areas.

In language arts, social studies and science, the new standards are not expected to have much impact on what students sign up for in high school. But they could in math and art.

Under the Profile of Learning, schools required two to three years of math in order to complete the required standards. The new standards require three years of high school math for all students.

In art, high schools must offer three areas (music, visual arts and theater, for instance) and require at least one academic year of study in one area. Many schools already require that much, but some do not. And not all schools may offer certain art courses in theater, media arts or dance for credit.

Arts supporters applaud the move by the Legislature. They reject the notion their win is at the expense of other subject areas.

"It's a false dichotomy,'' said Judy Hornbacher, director of arts education for Minneapolis Public Schools. "It would be ridiculous for school districts not to offer languages. And we aren't going to stop offering health and physical education.''

The arts provide a way to hook some students into learning that may be left aside in other classrooms, said Kathleen Maloney, executive director of the Minnesota Alliance for Arts in Education.

"There are different ways of being smart and different ways to get kids engaged in their education,'' she said. "We are not a frill. … The definition of arts as a core is very important.''




— John Welsh
New Standards: Core Courses vs. Electives
Pioneer Press
2003-08-31
http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/living/education/6652009.htm

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