U-46 to swap high school courses

Advanced placement psychology, a course in Mandarin Chinese, and a class in manufacturing may be swapped into Elgin Area School District U-46's high school curriculum as nearly two dozen other less popular or defunct courses are removed.

The school board is considering adding Mandarin to the course offerings at Streamwood High School's World Languages and International Studies Academy; advanced placement psychology to the offerings at Elgin, Larkin, Streamwood, Bartlett and South Elgin high schools; and a computer integrated manufacturing course at Bartlett, South Elgin and Streamwood.

At Streamwood's academy, Spanish, Japanese and English are the only advanced placement language choices offered.

"The United States sees China as a global power with its rapidly growing economy, the modernizing military, and its cultural influence. As we prepare students for the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead, it is a perfect time to (offer Mandarin)," department chairmen wrote in their mid-December presentation to the school board. The cost of the course would be $9,085 the first year.

District officials have been investigating adding the course since 2008.

AP psychology, would replace the current semester-long honors psychology course offered at all five high schools.

The rationale behind the decision, South Elgin High School psychology teacher Michelle Besch told the board, is that interest in psychology has grown in the district over the past several years, with more students enrolling in introductory and honors courses. However, with just one semester of classes, students who take Honors psychology are at an "unfair disadvantage" over those in other districts who took a full year of psychology.

Additionally, she said, universities view the title "AP" on a transcript with more weight than a simple honors course.

The cost to the district would be $29,037.

The computer integrated manufacturing course, expected to cost $38,600 to implement, would teach students the functions of a manufacturing business, including building projects and conceptual design, all by computer.

Students would be recruited during this upcoming semester for next year's classes.

To help cut costs, 27 math courses, bilingual courses, business, fashion and consumer science, industrial technology, health occupations, and social studies courses would be eliminated. According to district officials, the courses were selected for elimination because they are either being combined with other courses, do not count toward state graduation requirements, or do not feature a rigorous enough curriculum.

The board will vote on the changes Jan. 11.