The commission is holding meetings around the country to discuss ways to make senior year more meaningful and it plans to release a report in June. Chicago-area high school counselors and teachers say this is an old problem that defies simple answers. Even with the so-called better students, there's a high absentee rate and a lack of effort on exams. Feichter tries to combat senioritis by emphasizing preparation for the Advanced Placement tests, which are in early May, and stressing the benefits of doing well on the tests. Once the AP tests are over, he teaches the Illinois constitution.
Students have to pass the constitution test to graduate.
Jim Sweeney, an AP English teacher at Niles North High School in Skokie, takes a different approach. His students work on long-term projects the second semester and present the projects to the class from the time the AP test is given until the end of the year. They've completed a ton of work earlier in the year. The last month is more leisurely and relaxed. But I do tend to agree that for many kids we could eliminate the second semester of the senior year.