New Connections course required of freshmen

This school year is the first year that all non-magnet and non-CAP freshmen are required to take two semesters of Connections, a course designed to ease their transition into high school and to introduce them to the different academic programs and opportunities that Blair has to offer.

According to Connections teacher Michael Benefiel, the class is designed to allow students to maximize their educational experience while in high school. "The choices that students make will have consequences." The course is designed to guide students through choices that they will make throughout high school, and allow them to achieve their goals.

"The purpose of this course is to prepare ninth graders for the rigor of high school by focusing the attention of the students on goal setting and the development of skills that will be essential to their success in high school and beyond. In addition, this course will introduce the students to the five academies available at Blair so that they can make appropriate choices for courses during their four years of high school," wrote academies coordinator Susan Ragan on the Blair Academies website.

However, the course has attracted criticism, both for the many logistical problems associated with adding a new required full year class and for the underlying requirement that all non-magnet and non-CAP students take it. Many students have been required to forgo or delay certain electives due to the Connections requirement.

According to guidance counselor Reginald Spears, most students did not have significant scheduling problems because of Connections. "We have enough sections, but the biggest problem is that we have classes filled to capacity." The maximum number of students allowed to be in a single class of Connections is 30, but some sections have been forced to exceed that number, while others are below it.

Spears said that the group with the most scheduling conflicts was students who were taking a double period math class or a science class that is linked to a technology education class. Also, some students taking foreign language, fine arts or music electives had a problem integrating Connections into their schedules.

Spears added that most people with scheduling conflicts were given the opportunity to take Connections 8th period. Despite this option, only 15 students are enrolled in the one section of 8th period Connections. In an email sent to other Blair parents on August 26, freshman parent Joseph Zillo said that "I do not think the vast majority of 8th grade parents even knew this was an option."

"Last spring, there was an incoming 9th grade parent meeting, but there weren't that many parents, maybe like 100," said PTSA President Valerie Ervin. There are approximately 700 students taking Connections this year. Specifics of the Connections course were discussed at that meeting, including the option of taking it 8th period.

MCPS has also failed to provide transportation for all of the students taking Connections 8th period. Freshman parent Susan Shiotani was told that students staying late for Connections are not allowed to ride the magnet and CAP busses that leave after 8th period. "The situation is being investigated, but I don't know what the resolution will be," said Ragan.

Students not taking Connections 8th period had to push back or eliminate some class to make room. The majority of students delayed taking physical education or art classes, and consequently the PE and art departments have been the most affected by the new requirements. "We must ride the storm until next year, when our numbers should increase," said PE resource teacher Cynthia Changuris.

In the mean time, the PE department has essentially lost two positions. Over the summer, one teacher retired and one voluntarily transferred to another school. Since then, one part-time position has been added, "[the PE department] still had a net loss of 1.5 positions."

Based on data provided by Changuris, there are 4 fewer sections of PE this year than last year, despite the fact that the number of students at Blair has increased. Last year, 7 teachers taught a total of 32 sections of PE, but this year 6 teachers (one part time) are teaching 28 sections of PE. Due to the loss in staff and fewer sections of PE, some classes also have as many as 40 students.

"Because of losing people, we also have people teaching what they're not used to. Specialty PE classes such as weight training and dance are being taught by teachers who in the past have only taught general PE."

Although no one from the health staff was available for comment, Changuris added that 3 of the 20 health sections taught last year have been eliminated and some of the health teachers are teaching sections of Connections. Because generally only sophomores take health and only freshmen take Connections, there are not fewer students taking health this year.

"Nobody asked or consulted us initially about the course…luckily we didn't involuntarily lose two of our teachers." Changuris is supporting it because she's "part of the team," and wants to "make it work" for the students. However, outside of her official capacity, she still ultimately believes that "we're really hurting these kids by cutting these electives and not giving them a broad of an education as possible."

Ironically, giving students broad educational opportunities is one of the goals of the Connections course. According to Mr. Benefiel, the goal of the course is to let students know of "all their options" and expose them to different activities and ideas.

Fine Arts resource teacher Jan Matthews recognizes the importance of maximizing the number of electives that students have available to them, but also believes the Connections course has merit. "I really support the idea, the 9th graders need the extra help," said Matthews. "Just the impact that it had on our department was unforeseen."

"In the previous 8 years that I have been teaching at Blair, we saw increased enrollment in art classes every year, but this year we saw our first decline." Decreased enrollment in art classes, mainly among freshmen, necessitated the loss of a full time visual arts teaching position and a part time music teaching position. Matthews attributed the decline in enrollment largely to Connections, but also to other academic initiatives that prevent students from taking as many electives.

Due to decreased enrollment in music electives, electronic music teacher Sara Josey is teaching one less music section and one section of Connections. "I'm not against the course...but I was devastated to have lost one of my [music] classes" remarked Josey.

Josey does believe that the skills taught in Connections are very valuable, especially to freshmen. "I wish my kids could have learned this when they were in high school," she said. She also admits that choosing between the merits of Connections and extra fine arts courses is difficult. "I think that both classes teach skills that are necessary in order to succeed."

"I would like to see fine arts incorporated into the curriculum [of Connections]. So many other things are incorporated, reading, writing, history." Josey suggested adding a two week rotation of arts and music in order to educate students about music and visual arts opportunities at Blair.

Material is still being added to the curriculum, as material designed for a semester long course is being supplemented to fill the current year long Connections course. Mr. Spears added that "the course is still in the experimental stages." Both Changuris and Matthews expect to see the number of students enrolled in their departments to go back up next year.

For more information, visit the Blair Academies website at http://academies.mbhs.edu