Restricted classes cause frustration among upperclassmen

Let’s say you’re a junior looking for elective choices in the upcoming school year. Classes such as AP European History and AP Computer Science along with Marine Biology and Anatomy and Physiology don’t interest you much.

Beyond these, you may have few other choices. The problem is that too many electives target only freshmen and sophomores, and upperclassmen seeking to find a new interest find themselves with a limited range of options.

For example, a new class for the 2013-2014 school year, Intro to Engineering and Design, was restricted to solely freshmen and sophomores.

Another example is Journalism One, which is also for only freshmen and sophomores. This is mainly because juniors taking it would only have one year of newspaper or yearbook and seniors would end their experience after the starter class. Regardless, the introductory course to journalism is still a useful tool for juniors and seniors interested in the field.

One concern is that upperclassmen will crowd out the younger students and compete with them in these classes. However, since the classes are only electives, freshmen and sophomores should have no problem competing with upperclassmen.

Usually with basic starter classes, upperclassmen show genuine interest in the subject, and are not looking to one-up the younger students. The rules should definitely be abolished, resulting in fair choice for interested upperclassmen.

On the other hand, underclassmen who are eager to take higher level classes should, more often than not, be restricted, as they have not matured to the proper level to try and take on such classes. For example, taking a class like Calculus BC as a freshman is a stretch for all but the most gifted math students.

Clearly, there is no benefit to restricting older students from taking these classes. It only caps the number of new opportunities for juniors and seniors during their last few years of their high school careers, years that are supposed to be filled with freedom and choices.