By Maya Koeppen ’17

In a society where nearly every teenager has a cellphone glued to his or her hip, the high school graduation requirement of a technology credit can easily be viewed as unnecessary. To satisfy the Maryland State Department of Education requirement, all MCPS students must obtain one technology credit. MCPS offers select state-approved courses consisting of, Foundations of Technology A/B, Principles of Engineering A/B, Introduction to Design A/B and Designing Technology Solutions A/B.
Technology is an integral part of our everyday lives, serving as our primary source of communication and entertainment. As a result the basic skills of using computers and mobile devices have been instilled in us during early childhood. Curriculum of the state-approved courses with the exception of Principles of Engineering which is more hands-on , focus heavily on the history, impact and the role in modern day society of technology. Both can be easily understood through a simple Google search as well in the day-to-day activities of our everyday lives. Not only that but such topics are often highlighted in social studies and science classes. Therefore the greater in-depth aspects of the classes are then only valuable to those who wish to pursue a career in technology or engineering. To many students this information is not as beneficial or interesting as what can be obtained in other elective courses.
Hence its unpopularity among many students, this requirement makes it difficult for students to take more of classes they actually enjoy. Schedules are often packed full with academic classes in such a way that limits students to only a few elective periods that are of their choice. This ability is hindered even further through this requirement, as all of the courses must be taken for an entire school year, forcing students to give up one of their elective periods completely. The credit’s overall lack of flexibility to adjust to student schedules makes it inequitable in nature.
The obvious but baseless counterargument in dismissing the tech credit is a troublesome one; in that if the requirement is abolished, what about other graduation requirements? In addition to the required technology credit students must have earned one fine art credit and one physical education credit upon graduation. These credit requirements are more reasonable in course selection and flexibility in comparison, making them more favorable among students. Courses that meet the fine art credit are numerous in variety; consisting of dance, general music, instrumental music, theater and visual art classes. Physical education courses also offer an extensive number of options to gain the required credit. The wide range of choices given to students allows for more freedom in choosing a class they might enjoy, an aspect in which the technology credit is limited. Also, many of these courses can be adapted by request so that a student can take the class one semester one year and the other semester another year in order to achieve the credit. This flexibility gives students the option of achieving the credit at their own pace.
MCPS should not require anything that obstructs students from having the full ability to get the most out of their high school education. Class schedules during these years are critical and should be maximized in a way that is beneficial to the individual; free of any pointless or unnecessary courses.