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High School Seniors and Chilling

According to a new study by the National Center for Education Statistics, the average high school graduate in 2009 earned about three credits more than graduates in 1990. Theoretically, this means that today’s students are spending 420 more hours in class.

Based on my observations of high school students in Anne Arundel County, let me say this: hogwash.

Back in the day, you went to high school your senior year just like everyone else. Sure, that meant you took more classes than you actually had to take, but no one figured out that we all had more high school credits than we needed. (We were a little dumb.)

I also think that a lot of good high school students are taking college credits at local community colleges and the classes are very easy for them. So instead of grinding out their senior year getting sharp for college, they have a year to virtually goof off. The kid in me thinks that is very cool. But the kid in me is dying out and the adult in me – the parent in me – thinks it is not the best way to get ready for college.

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