While Sam Barlow High School incorporates two more world languages and other fine arts activities into their elective program that is lacking here, both systems allow students to pursue their passions and to satisfy life’s many needs.
Although Barlow principal Dave Lovelin graduated from the home of the Gophers in 1996, he is proud to say that the home of the Bruins organizes themselves differently in terms of elective classes. At Barlow, there is a program called Career Technological Education (CTE) for which they comprise their classes under the subcategories of foods, metals, business and computers.
“Our teaching staff [at Barlow] is the same amount as it is [at Gresham], but because we value certain classes, we make note to keep them. Not that we haven’t had to cut classes that we didn’t want to cut, which sounds like the situation over here,” Lovelin said.
However, Barlow has had to make some cuts to their elective programs. They cut their pottery class, while administrators here were forced to cut the business classes.
Bryan Moua, a senior at Barlow, is in Culinary 3-4 and enjoys the possibilities of success it offers for his future. On the other hand, the class does have some down sides.
“The classes are really cramped when you’re in Intro to Food and Culinary 1-2 because of all of the lowerclassmen there to get an easy A,” Moua said. “Not enough students are serious enough to take the class.”
Moua finds Culinary 3-4 a way to get variety and fun in his life.
“The class is great because you [get to meet new people], and there are only about 12 students in my class. Maybe about four to five seniors. Plus, I love cooking. It’s something I enjoy,” Moua said.
On the other side of the spectrum, there is Vince Barry, a junior here that attends Advanced Auto 1 for both fifth period and sixth period everyday, as it is one of the only classes that has the layout of the previous block schedule of 83 minutes due to the fact that it is also in combination with Advanced Auto 2.
“We have about 20 students in our class, which is nice, but one thing I dislike about it is its few amount of tools and [how the tools] are never organized because of the students’ [irresponsibility],” Barry said.
While the low supply is a negative aspect to the class, what is learned in the end is a saving grace.
“[Auto teacher Mike] Ruff tells you all of the secrets of the trade and the things you need to watch out for with cars. It is a great class to have because, let’s face it, once you [get out of high school] and graduate, working on your own vehicle is so much better than someone else working on it,” Barry said.
Life lessons that might be valuable as a future college student are taught at both high schools, even though the electives vary. As a district, elective classes bring a variety of opportunities for their students such as getting their hands on the pieces of an engine or learning to make something other than Top Ramen on their own.