" Gosh, when did they do away with these requirements? When I went through the Napa schools, we were required to have min. 2 yrs language, sciences and upper level math. There was plenty of time to take electives - I took music, was in sports, student government and other campus clubs. I did have to take Indep. Trig. due to the schedule, but that semester I was also taken 2 music classes. Big deal. I took home economics and typing one summer to fulfill another requirement, and worked part time throughout high school. We also did not have grade inflation. If these classes are so much harder, then why is so much omitted from history when taught and they still can't count out change (simple math).
So back to my initial question, when were the requirements downgraded? "

" On a different topic, who is responsible for allowing the schools to teach the students that global warming is a fact and caused by man; and mainly attributable to increase in CO2?
I have learned that students who even try to question this are ridiculed by the teachers and students - and otherwise discouraged from voicing questions.
Why is Gore's movie the only thing shown? particularly since the 'facts' in his movie have been determined to be inaccurate by a Court of Law? Why is that not also mentioned in the classroom? or the history of our climate? Why are they also not taught the opposing viewpoint and the evidence - including the global cooling? the lack of sun spots? the rapid ice melt and equally fast ice growth - so that the ice masses have grown 'back' to their 1979 size? or how CO2 generated by man has no effect on the climate? the actual amount emitted compared to the other gases, etc.? Why are they also not then taught the political side of the global warming promoters? maybe they should be taught the findings in the senate minority report?
bottom line, why isn't the Board of Education insuring the students are taught both sides of an issue - since their time in school is supposed to be for an educational purpose, and not to be only force feed one side of a science issue which serves to indoctrimnate and politize the issue. Why is any teacher allowed to remain in the classroom if they deny and fail to teach alternative scientific theories - and without bias? That is not their role, nor their job. "

" Question to 3rdgenNapan
When did you graduate? It is only within the last decade that two years of college prep math have been required. I graduated in 1975 and many of my (female) friends were discouraged from taking algebra and steered into classes "more approprpiate" for their gender. It was fewer than ten years ago that I had to go into to talk to a counselor in order to advocate for a kid I was tutoring. He was Mexican and when he tried to sign up for geometry they tried to make him retake algebra. Math was special. You had to really fight if you did not fit the mold. So when was this golden age of high standards to which you are referring? And where was this school? and in which alternate universe? because it sure wasn't Napa in the last 50 years. "

" It's about time! Math, Science, accurate History/Social Sudies, Foreign language(s), communication and computer skills are what is required in this day and age.

The US is the most competitive job market in the world. It is time to stop coddling people and get them ready to compete in such a market.

On a side note about grade infaltion.....I took my DL renewal after being away for so long. It was completely watered down vs. the one I took 5 years prior.

I truly was dissapointed that this is occuring in the US. "

" 3rdgenNapan-
Last year at the school I was at before I transferred to Redwood, we had to watch Gore's "Inconvenient Truth". I couldn't stop laughing at how outrageous his claims were.... "

" Raise the bar, don't lower it! I took years of math and two science courses, one with a lab. I was able to take ridiculously easy electives as well. School today seems easier than it was 10 years ago when I graduated. My son's elementary school is an alternative one with mandatory parent participation and it's still not what I would consider to be above and beyond what should happen. It's more like what schools used to be when I was in elementary and the traditional public schools have the standard lowered. All most high schoolers know how to do is send text messages. "

" Are they reinstating requirements that were already in effect for at least 20 years?!?!?!? Or are they trying to make it a requirement for kids that are struggling as it is?

taureen - in the late 80's I was required or steered on the path of math and language because I was set on going to college. I recall it also had to do with your CAP scores coming in from junior high that steered you into college prep requirement courses therefore two decades ago, not one.

The 'gender' deal was no longer an issue (in my eyes) either, but I do recall special vocational classes for Mexicans, which I even questioned since viticultural sciences sounded like an awesome class to me.

I also often wonder if they are still pushing for 7/8th grade kids to pass their high school graduation requirements (6 proficiency tests in math) or are they waiting until high school to issue these? I passed all 6 in seventh grade... "

" Anyone who thinks raising these requirements will "raise the bar" and get kids ready for the real world better think again. This initiative will put kids that aren't capable into higher level classes that they will not succeed in, and therefore more pressure will be put on teachers asking "why graduation rates are dropping" and "why is my kid not passing" which will result in MORE WATERING DOWN OF CLASSES. The best thing for our kids is to get the parents more involved in their education, help them with homework, talk to them about school, and don't try and force feed college to kids who have very little motivation to try and get there themselves. Junior college is ok to figure things out. "

" Native74

I don't think any of the public schools give proficiency tests anymore. I think those have been replaced by the high school exit exam, (CAHSEE) which is required for all students to pass to graduate. I could be wrong but my son went all through Redwood and is now a Junior in high school and never took any "proficiency test". However, he did take and pass the CAHSEE as a sophomore. "

" To those concerned about the Science being taught: The state has Science standards at every grade level. Go on line to the State Government's Education wedsite and take a look. If those standards are not being taught to your children at the appropriate grade level, the school is out of compliance , and someone (you) should go to the Head of Curriculum in the Puzzle Palace on Jefferson Street and ask about it....Those folks are there to insure your children are being taught what the state has mandated. "

" Again, this is not about making more kids go to college, it is about better preparing kids in HIGH SCHOOL for life after high school, regardless of what that might be.

Transplant, are you really comfortable with the idea that someone is going to tell you that your freshman aged child is "capable" or not capable to take classes that will determine the depth and rigor of education they receive?

I am not. I will expect high standards and set high goals for my child, and expect the school to do so as well. I will do everything in my power to help them achieve those goals, and expect and demand their teachers to do the same. Keep the bar low Napa, and in five or ten years we will all be complaining about why are kids can't get entry level jobs, succeed in a vocational school, or pass a class at the community college. "

" Raise the bar! Especially for science as there seem to be an alarming number of citizens unable to wrap their heads around the global warming crisis. And don't use movies to teach! "

" No Pat, I am not comfortable with someone designating my child to be capable or not, and that is not my point. My point is that the requirements that were in place when we went to school are still the same. If you think back to your high school days did all students take the same classes and everyone went to college? No. Some kids graduated and never went to school again. What if someone had told them that they couldn't graduate unless they were actually capable of going on to college and passed all of those classes with C's or better. It doesn't make sense. The answer is not to raise requirements, it should be to raise students abilities so they can move on to other courses, not force it on them. "

" Raising the bar to meet college expectations is a responsible requirement for those that have choosen that path. However, to be "capable" to do the work they must have a foundation that is built in elementary and middle school. Is that going to be addressed?

Parents absolutly need to be involved but sadly many students come home to an emplty house where there is no help or inspiration. They may find condemnation for not getting good grades, however.

Our students can rise to any realistic bar set for them because I have observed it in other countries. I have seen middle school student in trig classes.

A frind of mine was required to design a power plant for his "senior project" to graduate from his high school in Bulgaria. Think how much science, math and thinkng he was able to do because he was prepared by his educational system. "

" I think it's important to keep in mind that the problem doesn't begin at High School, it's just where all the problems finally come together. If students are allowed to go through the system, without being held accountable for reading or mathematics, then suddenly putting them in an intensive course in high school is just going to lead to failure. Why are we continually cutting money from early education, and then complaining about drop out rates later on? Doesn't anyone see the correlation between the decrease in Early Childhood spending, and the increase in spending for jails and prisons?

Childhood is where you make an impact. Trying to play catch up in high school is just stupid. "