Rough draft for paper #3

High school is a time for preparing students and the time to provide them with the tools they will need to succeed in the "real world". The high school years are the best time for kids to learn about themselves and what it is they are capable of. Students should be challenged and given opportunities to discover the things about themselves they never knew. High school students should be given opportunities to branch out and experience new things that can provide them with the confidence they need to succeed in whatever is it they desire. High school is also a time to teach them responsibility for themselves and the things they choose to do; it is the best time to provide students with tools like proper study habits, interpersonal communication, what is means to qualify for a job or position or even what it means to make yourself desirable in the educational and then job field they choose.

I know that extra curricular activities such as sports, band, and arts clubs are very important to help students gain confidence and other tools they'll need in life. In my high school learning a new language was not an option, each student had to have a passing grade in a certain number of language credits in order to even graduate; my stepsons' school does not enforce learning a new language, which i feel is very important in the k-12 times of their lives. Extra curricular activities were not an option at my high school either. Each student had to participate in some sort of "elective" class or club. This should be the norm and standard for every high school across our nation and if parents feel that the extra class or club is bringing down the child's grades, then there should be a set time in the school for all kids who are having trouble in their classes to attend tutoring, this way they can have one on one time with their teacher and better understand the lessons they struggle with. My stepsons are in 6th and 7th grade, learning a language is not required of them, it is very strange to me, because in my k-12 career i had no choice but to learn a new language, i was able to choose which language, but i had to choose one nonetheless. Having a second language helped me succeed in my other classes and it helped me succeed later in life when i was able to apply for jobs that required bilingualism.

Students who struggle in class should be allowed to have after school tutoring with their teachers. It should be required of the teachers to stay after school and have available times for students to come by the classroom for extra one on one help.