Basically, Yes.Originally Posted by devochka
Each state has their own set of graduation requirements. So for Maryland, were I live, you need to have the following classes in order to graduate High School:Originally Posted by devochka
- English 4 credits (and pass High School Assessment Exam)[/*:m:1uowv5rl]
- Mathematics 4 credits (1 credit algebra, 1 credit geometry & pass High School Assessment Exam for Algebra)[/*:m:1uowv5rl]
- Science 3 credits (1 biology credit and 2 that include a laboratory & High School Assessment Exam for Biology) [/*:m:1uowv5rl]
- Social Studies 3 credits (1 U.S. History credit; 1 World History credit; and 1 National, State, and Local Government credit & High School Assessment Exam for Gorvernment) [/*:m:1uowv5rl]
- Health Education 0.5 credit [/*:m:1uowv5rl]
- Physical Education 0.5 credit [/*:m:1uowv5rl]
- Fine Arts 1 credit (Selected courses in art, dance, drama/theater, and music)[/*:m:1uowv5rl]
- Technology Education 1 credit[/*:m:1uowv5rl]
- Foreign Language 2 credits[/*:m:1uowv5rl]
- 2.5 credits in elective courses [/*:m:1uowv5rl]
- AND service learning hours or community service (in our area it is 75 hours)[/*:m:1uowv5rl]
Now as long as the student has taken these core classes, the school can then offer other classes (electives) or teach in the style they see fit.
Example: the school my daughters attend is a performing and visual arts school. All of the classes are taught with the arts in mind. So instead of doing maybe your usual boring book report, they might write a new ending to the book, create a play from that new ending, research the style of music and wardrobe from that time period and actually produce the play. That would cover their English, Social Studies & Art or Music classes all for this one project as they would work with all of those teachers on the same project. Or do a mock trial of Caesar in full costume, again, coordinating with different teachers and across different subjects.
So private schools and public schools have a lot a room to teach what they would like as long as they get the main core stuff out of the way and keep the "test scores" up and the parents happy.
I would not say NEVER. I remember last year in 7th grade old daughter had "ONE" lesson that covered different religions in her Social Studies (or as it used to be called "history") class.Originally Posted by devochka
But pretty much, the answer for where we live, is no. Now in private schools, that would be a yes.
Health Education is a seperate class. It is taught as a semester or 1/4 of a semester class. It goes into taking care of the body as a whole. Eating right, physical fitness as to how it is important, sleeping well, and then of course all the information about sex-ed. Each year prior to the courses starting they allow parents to come in and see the course materials and speak to the instructors. Ask questions and such. I always thought that in the beginning they should have the classes gender seperated and with gender like teachers. I know my girls did not like having the boys in the class and they had male teachers the first couple of years. It just made them all feel weirded out. Later on, they could then merge the classes back to co-ed.Originally Posted by devochka
I looked online at the course information for 10th grade Biology and it seems to focus much more on plants and cells than humans! It seems there might be "some" wiggle room in the course for chats about humans and evolution.
The area I live in is rather "odd" as Montgomery County is a very good school district and people move here just so their children can attend school. So then the richer people don't want to have their children go to school with the "lower class" people. So they have their kids go to private school. We have sooooo many private schools around here... take your pick! Here are just a coupleOriginally Posted by devochka
http://www.dswashington.org/ The German School
http://www.rochambeau.org/ Lycée Rochambeau
http://www.cesjds.org/ Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
http://www.stoneridge.org/ Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart (Catholic & for girls ONLY)
http://www.sidwell.edu/ Sidwell Friends School (Quaker and where the President's daughters attend)
http://www.britishschool.org/washington The British School
As you can see from above, we have a number of school where the religion is very focused. About the hijab... that is the only head covering ALLOWED in "our" public schools. No other hats or scarfs.Originally Posted by devochka