High school students get a glimpse of college inside their own high schools with English 101. Although students have already experienced AP courses throughout their high school careers, English 101 seems to offer a different kind of college experience.
Even though English 101 is taught in the high school and is instructed by high school teachers, there is no doubt that it is a college course.
Under the FERPA laws, the students of English 101 regardless of their age are entitled to these college rights. Teachers are not allowed to connect or talk to student’s parents, the class follows FCC’s curriculum and grading policy and there is a max seating in the class room which keeps it from getting over crowded. The course follows FCC’s schedule, with the class only meeting two days a week and starting and stopping with FCC’s semester.
But how does English 101 other English classes offered at the high school like AP literature, AP language, and English 12?
The class treats high school students like college students with regard to the fact that they are probably only seventeen.
“There’s a lot more freedom involved,” said MHS senior Cameron O’Dell.
MHS senior Evan Moreland said it’s more “deadline driven; the teacher is in more of a lecture mode, than hands on.”
MHS English 101 teacher Kelly Headley said English 101 is “more aligned with a college course.”
The student is “expected to do twice as much outside of class,” added Headley, “but inside of class there is less filler. We get right to the point.”
And with only two classes a week, a student gets to sleep in or go home early the other three days. Friday is designated for office hours where students have the chance to meet with their teacher for any reason.
Although English 101 is a great option for high school students it may not be for everyone.
Moreland said English 101 is for someone who “is a solid writer and doesn’t get discouraged from constructive criticism.”
Headley said that she recommends students to take AP language and literature if they are looking for a career in the humanities.
As of now, English 101 gives both college credit and high school credit, but a student cannot be reprimanded from sports for poor dual-enrollment grades.
For a lot of college bound students, English 101 seems like the right choice. It provides college credit as well as high school credit and there is no need to pass an AP test in the spring to receive that credit, as long as the student passes the class. Although AP classes are free, their tests are not. And if a student fails the AP test for the class, he or she won’t receive any credit for their hard work.
In English 101 the high school offers the class at a more discounted price than it is at FCC.
O’Dell said he took English 101 because of the reduced price for a college class.
AP classes tend to have “a hard work load such as class every day,” added O’Dell.
As far as more dual enrollment options, MHS guidance counselor Paula Langley said we are likely to see more offered at Middletown. At least one more course is being added, said Langley, “statistics and probability, psychology, biology, and the possibility of much more.”
Headley loves teaching in this college-like classroom setting, and hopes to see more options; “I’m excited for 102.”
