Discussions of making health and speech classes optional for Katy ISD students have begun to circulate among teachers and parents, opening up room for discourse on whether health and speech are necessary courses. Supporters of the change argue that the requirement should be removed due to students who aim to take as many 4.0-level classes as they can, while others believe students may not feel inclined to take any health or speech classes when they are not mandatory.
Changing health and speech from required to optional elective courses in Katy ISD should not happen.
Importance of Health Education
Making health a required course for high schoolers has been a common practice for decades. While the subject of health may seem irrelevant or superficial to some, learning the basics about one’s well-being can be life-changing. For students, a health course taken in school may be the only time they have discussions about critical topics like safety against drugs and alcohol. If students are averse to participating in a class that can prepare and support them throughout their lives, they may remain uninformed about issues relevant to their teenage years.
The Gravity of Speech Skills
Speech is also a key part of education. Understanding how to speak may seem like a given, but speaking effectively is a learned skill. Additionally, speech is becoming a more prominent necessity due to COVID-19 isolating many children, limiting in-person interactions that help develop essential social skills. If students lack a class that assists them in public speaking or simply holding conversations, they could face disadvantages in their adult working lives.
Impact on Teachers
The teachers of these courses are also at risk when the student population enrolled in their classes shrinks. Health and speech teachers are often coaches, and many are primarily certified in these areas. When there is a significant decrease in enrollment, the number of classes taught will also shrink—meaning coaches, who already lead athletic programs, may face scheduling and eligibility issues as they’re required to find a new course to teach. Preparing to teach a new subject may become complicated due to certification requirements and the heavy course load associated with unfamiliar content.
A Possible Compromise
A solution for students concerned about their GPA could be to offer AP science courses that cover topics related to the human body and health while also fulfilling the health credit. Every student would still have the option of an on-level health class, but those who want to go above and beyond could take an advanced course instead. In such a class, a unit could be included to cover the core content of a traditional health course. A similar solution already exists for the speech requirement, where students may take AP Seminar to fulfill their speech credit.
When it comes to encouraging students to take these courses, a requirement is the most effective motivator. Making health and speech optional will lead many students to overlook how crucial these courses are. They’ve been required for years be
cause of the life skills they provide, and making them optional may leave students underprepared—doing more harm than good.
