High School English classes should be non-compulsory

:] "Most grammar and vocabulary necessary for daily education is taught before high school. " Although this is true, like most things the English language is constantly changing and evolving and although it may seem like overkill to make it mandatory to have students take English related courses from grades 9 to 12 I'd say the benefits of this are very much worth the time invested in it. "Ninth grade students will write in a variety of forms, building on earlier experiences in written expression while exploring and correctly using the conventions of language and vocabulary. Students will learn and use techniques of oral communication and critical/strategic reading skills exploring a variety of literary genres. " "Tenth grade students will write in various forms to demonstrate skills of evaluation and analysis while refining the usage of language conventions and vocabulary. Students will explore the principles and techniques of literary criticism, conduct research, and document career options. " "Eleventh grade students will continue to develop techniques of discussion and written expression through critical reading of American authors and poets with emphasis on an analysis of the interrelationships of culture and literature. Students will write more sophisticated compositions in a variety of forms and create a significant writing product requiring basic mastery of research, documentation, and synthesis of ideas from a variety of sources. Techniques of oral communication will be strengthened. " "The twelfth grade English curriculum is the culmination of the students' study of language, literature, and writing in high school. Students will explore primarily the works of Great Britain and the British Commonwealth to refine skills in critical reading, literary analysis, and written expression. Students will be required to write a number of compositions that apply critical reading skills and various methods of literary criticism, as well as compositions to inform and persuade. " In the United States schools are having less and less control over what they actual teach as these curriculum are almost always mandated by the state in which you reside in the hopes that you can get the most out of your education and succeed in life beyond school. Skills such as "critical reading" and knowlege of "a variety of literary genres" is not important to the everyday individual. "Critical reading of American authors and poets with emphasis on an analysis of the interrelationships of culture and literature" is insignificant to many different professions: -truck drivers -plumbers -electricians -lawyers -doctors -entrepreneurs -factory workers -farmers -etc English is one of the most important subjects to schools because obviously it's what we use to communicate our ideas and feelings to the surrounding population which serves to make us more effective in all the things we do. Though it may seem that there are people that don't need the knowledge they would learn from taking mandatory English classes, it would strongly benefit each and every career you listed to at least have high school experience in English. "Because such information is ultimately irrelevant to many people's lives, individuals should not be forced to take four years of high school English class. " Lastly, I'd have to imagine even if you didn't have these classes you'd either fill them with other electives, or have study halls - which would be more beneficial to you in the long run? Besides, schools try to offer a wide range of different classes as to broaden the horizons of the students - I mean. . How do you know that one of those people you mentioned above didn't a certain knack for writing, and had they taken those English classes they could have had a change of heart and pursue a career as a writer?