Milford chronicle., 1957-05-31
New Policy On High
School Diplomas
CONTINUED rom page onel

CONTINUED from page one)
needs. Under the multiple diploma
system children--and sneir parents
frequently sought diploma dis
tinction as opposed to educational
needs. For example, in order to
achieve an academic diploma the
pupil needed TO complete four
years, two years in each of two
foreign languages, one year of al
zebra /, One-half year each of al
zebra ii and solid geometry, one
year of plane geometry, four years
of English, one year of United
States history, one year of civics
and economics, and one year of
either biology, chemistry, or phys
les. In each of these courses the
required minimum grade was rs
per cent. ANY deviation from this
curriculum resulted in the issu-
ance of different or purportedly
lesser" diploma. To some persons
the multiple diplomas were seen as
representing educational stratifica-
ton from academic down to scien-
tific, to business education, to vo-
cational, and finally to general di-
plOma.
Under the new State Board poll
cy the Delaware high school diplo-
ma will not designate the particu-
lar curriculum followed by a grad
uate. High school records and
transcripts supplied to employees
and colleges will, however, still
carry curricular designation. No
change in standards and achieve
ment for graduation is involved.
The responsibility for accepting or
rejecting a student for admission
to college becomes that of the col
lege admissions officers, after re-
view of courses taken and grades
earned.
The multiple diploma system fire.
quently froze a pupil in curricu-
lum that for him was less fruitful
than others available. At least one
designatioa-the scientific-is no
longer realistic for our day in that
it requires oaiy one year of high
school mathematics.
U16er the new system-effective
ip 1860, with local school option
for 1958-each pupil will be chal-
lenged by his guidance counselor,
principal, teacher, and parents to
choose those curriculums best
suited to him and to do well in
them.
DR.. Howard Row, Asst. State Su-
perintendent in Charge of Secon-
dary Education, has indicated that
ne feels very deeply about the
responsibility of the school and
home to challenge each yoHngster
to elect wisely and work hard on
his high school courses. Only half
of those capable of higher educa-
ton ever go to college. Many stu
dents do not apply themselves to
high school work. Some of this lack
of application is the result Of un-
informed social pressure that for
ces the youngster into an infiexi-
BILE school program. l think that
every child in every course should
be expected to do his best and that
every high school Official and par
ent is responsible to paint the chal-
lenge for the pupil"
Under the new system a diploma
will be issued to those who can
and do accomplish satisfactory
high school level work. Those few
pupils who cannot, for good pSy-
Geological reasons, complete high
school work will be issued a GER
tificate of attendance upon COM
pletion of special programs de-
signed for them. Pupils who are
capable but unwilling to complete
high school level work will be re-
tanned in grade and not graduated
until they do qualify.
The new. policy for high school
graduation recommends to high
school principals that no pupil be
certified for college admission who
has less than a rs per cent grade
for high school work. In other
words, it is recommended that no
student, regardless of course
pursued, should be certified for
college unless he earns a grade of
rs per cent or better. Several Del
aware high schools already exceed
this by at last ten points.
The Department of Public Instruc-
ton notes that several Delaware
high schools are now permitting
small groups or individual stu
dents to move ahead in subject
matter. No grade skipping" is en-
couraged, but extra courses are
provided in some of the schools
large enough to present flexible