Is the History department holding Libra Juniors and Seniors back?

Have you ever wanted to exceed your limits? It’s a great experience because you get to test yourself and discover your potential. Have you ever been denied of those advanced classes that would look good on your college applications? Do you even want to try in a regular class? Well, class of 2016 and 2017 know that feeling.This school year, the history department is not offering honors U.S History for the juniors nor honors Government for the seniors. Some students may feel that they are being held back and aren’t being given the opportunity to go beyond their expectations.

A fellow junior, Eveanna Del Cid, was asked about her feelings towards being stuck in a regular history class, her response, “I’m not being challenged as much as I should be.” You may be thinking why didn’t she just take AP U.S history if she’s not feeling challenged enough? Well, she also says, “I didn’t take AP history because I would have to deal with other APs and sports.”An honors history class would have benefited students such as Eveanna to be challenged enough without being overwhelmed with balancing other AP classes and sports. Other students would agree. Yoanca Reyes, who is also in a sport, even states “We don’t get any work done.” She too would have preferred an honors history class.

Mari Pinzon, a Libra senior, gives us an insight on what her Government class is like. According to her, “the class is very slow and some students copy each other’s work”. Mari doesn’t appreciate the lack of productivity that is presented in that class. She would have much rather chosen to be in an AP Government class “or at least an honors class” as she even says. Mari even expresses how she has a different feel in that class. It’s not the same as how she remembers it. Having new students who are at different learning levels and have different work habits doesn’t help them get to where they desire to be.

With proof of how some of our fellow juniors and seniors feel we can ask ourselves, is the history department letting us down? Whatever the reason may be for these advanced classes not being offered to us, our teachers should know about this and let it sink in on how their students feel. Now on to the Sophomores and Freshman, don’t let yourselves feel this way. Encourage others to go past their limits and demand for advanced classes if onot offered because you should all want to go big and beyond.