New Graduation Requirements Proposal Raises Concerns

Tomorrow’s public high school graduates may do half a year less of Physical Education and a whole year less of Social Studies, if a proposal by the Graduation Requirements Task Force gets the green light.

Students will have the option of taking 2 years (2 credits) of foreign language, performing/fine arts or vocational education as a replacement to these subjects.

The Task Force, comprising district superintendents, high school principals, college admissions staff and parent representatives, recently presented their recommendations to the Board of Education. Members of the public will be able to voice their opinions about the proposal when it is aired at a series of public meetings across Hawaii.

This new proposal will require students to complete 3, instead of the present 4 credits of social studies required to graduate. Economics, currently an elective, will be relegated to a component to be integrated within the required history classes, along with cultural anthropology, geography and political science. Eliminating the fourth social studies credit will not only reduce the incentive for schools to offer economics, it will also reduce the opportunity for students to take a stand-alone economics course.

The Graduation Requirements Task Force did not include any members with expertise in social studies education. The Hawaii Council of Economic Education has requested the Task Force revisit this issue and include social studies experts from the Department of Education, the University of Hawaii, and other interested organizations to participate in the dialogue. Your input is important -- your voice at the public meetings let the Task Force know how you feel about this issue and its impact upon your instruction and your students’ education.