During class registration periods, students select their academic paths for the next school year. For some students, the choice is easy; however, for others the decision is difficult. The biggest obstacle when picking classes is the decision of whether to undertake the challenge of honors classes or to simply sign up for regular classes.

Many students who need to be in regular classes sign up for honors because of the fear and dislike of students in regular classes. Although regular classes are not for everyone, honors classes are for even fewer. The attitudes that some honors students have are also a reason that some regular students stay out.

That is exactly why Western High School junior Jeremy Bolanos would never want to be in honors classes. He says, “People in honors classes act like they’re smarter than everyone else, but if I really tried, I could be in honors classes too.”

Anyone could be in honors if they really wanted to, but what is the point?

Honors classes are supposed to prepare students for going off to college. What about the students in regular classes? Are they not going to be ready for college? Regular class students should get the same amount of attention as the honors class students, with the work being not as difficult, but with the same expectations for success.

It is not even known how much stress is lifted off students who are in regular classes. Students do not even understand that just an hour extra of homework can make the night terrible.

Colleges do not even look for students in honors classes; they look at a student’s grade point average. Colleges do not look at student's weighted grade point average either; they want the actual grades. So again what is the point of honors when it will most likely just put a strain on a student’s GPA?

Western freshmen Yolanda Holman agrees, saying, “I am happy to be in regular classes; what is the point of extra work?”

It does not seem that many students think about all of this before they register for the next year’s classes. All students have to leave high school with the same knowledge and information. It’s not like honors students are learning more than everybody else. The only real difference is probably that honors students have longer homework assignments and maybe a few extra questions on tests.

Every student should be treated equally no matter what classes they take, or how easily they learn new facts and ideas. Some people think picking regular classes is taking the easy way out or just being lazy, but having things easy every now and then is not going to hurt anybody.

The choice is up to students, and it is their decision whether or not to be in regular classes or honors classes. If picking honors classes makes students feel better about themselves then go for it, but regular classes work, too.

-Return to March 2003 Issue-