Boothbay Region High School is a school that serves its students well. A staple of the town is the high school. I believe that school should be a tool that students can utilize and take advantage of. Most schools do that, provide a platform for students to become well-rounded people and leave with the skills of learning needed for the real world. 

Today, employers are looking for specifically trained individuals that can put their skills to work. The world is becoming specialized; the value of people who exceed in one thing is growing. The cost of college is also growing. So if colleges are producing more individuals that are exceptional at one thing, then high schools should help the next generations of students in finding that one skill that someone has a passion for that can also be applied to a career. Students must be able to pursue what interests they may have.

I am aware of Boothbay's distinguished education quality through our dedicated and engaging faculty as well as our competitive course offerings. However, students are still held back by state curriculum standards, scheduling issues, and a lack of student population to fill classes.

There is a balance for schools to find: forming well-rounded individuals that come out of high school with as many opportunities and skills as possible as well as letting students pursue whatever interests they want. According to a study of 75 BRHS students, 43% of those surveyed have wanted to take a class but couldn’t due to required courses, and 66% want to be able to take a larger variety of classes. Many students want to take certain classes that they may be interested in but can’t because they are held back by state standards.

It is vital for students who haven't found out what they are passionate about to be able to pursue certain academic fields. Students have been taking the same classes since fifth grade: English, math, history, and science. These are valuable areas of study important for schooling but I think that students are limited in finding what they love if they are forced to take these classes. 

The state controls the school curriculum. I propose that a curriculum coordinator be incorporated into the school system to help advocate for students and the interests they hold. When asked if a curriculum coordinator would help, chemistry teacher, Lauren Graham said, “Yes, significantly.” She discussed the need for someone to evaluate both standards of learning and the needs and wants of the students and teachers. Curriculum standards are controlled by the state. However, there is no doubt that a coordinator could work with the district to build a better-suited curriculum.