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I want & need Journalism IV

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, there are six different definitions to the word journalism.

One of the definitions states that journalism is “an academic study concerned with the collection and editing of news or the management of a news medium.” It is an academic study; a study in which I take part in. I am an aspiring journalist. I am a junior. I am 17.

I have taken journalism as an elective all three years I have been in high school. As I quickly approach my last year of high school, I am starting to buckle down and take life seriously, especially my academics. I am going to start looking at colleges and applying. When I look for a college, I will also look at their journalism program.

Journalism is something I am very passionate about. I think it is something I am good at. I have gotten numerous comments on my work. In order for someone to major in journalism they have to be able to take four years of journalism electives, if offered at their school. Journalism IV is not offered as a course in Warren County. Why is that?

I can honestly say this with confidence; I am not the only student in Warren County who wants to major in journalism. I understand a teacher in Warren County has written the curriculum for Journalism IV. That is great news to hear. Warren County School District will not approve the request for Journalism IV. That is not great news to hear.

If the school district does not approve the curriculum, I will be forced to retake Journalism III again, but audit the class. I will still have to do the work for the class; I just will not earn any credit for it. I know auditing the class without earning credit will show a college admissions officer that I am able to take on the work without being forced too. But, it is not what I had in mind. I would not even mind having to take it online. Journalism is already a career that is mostly electronically based now. There are so many types of journalism out there. It is just not about making a newspaper.

Originally, journalism was offered to students in the district who were in grades 10-12. As enrollment numbers fluctuated in journalism, guidance counselors scheduled freshmen in the course to keep the enrollment numbers high so the course could still be offered. I understand the reason behind letting freshmen in, but now the district has decided that no freshmen will be allowed to take journalism in the future; therefore, there is no need for a Journalism IV course. However, for the students who were allowed to take Journalism 1 as freshmen, we need a Journalism IV class to remedy the situation that those students are now in, which is taking the Journalism III course for no credit or not taking journalism at all which could be needed to count towards college admission or high graduation credits. At Warren Area High School, all the levels of journalism are taught in one period, so it wouldn’t cost the district any extra money for a teacher either.

I am a soon-to-be senior, and I want and need Journalism IV. My journalism teacher, Amy Eaton has contacted Eric Mineweaser and talked to Jeff Flickner about this issue to no avail. I did not realize I would have to fight for my education twice in one year with the school district.

So, Eric Mineweaser, will you approve the class or not — give me a chance to have a full four-year education in journalism?

Madison is an aspiring journalist and soon-to-be senior at Warren Area High School.

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