All high school students must fulfill certain course requirements throughout their four years of high school. This varies from the four years of required English credits (20 credits, five credits per year), or the three required years of Math, Science, and History (15 credits by the end of high school). Additionally, certain elective requirements such as Visual and Performing Arts and 21st Century Life and Career are needed to graduate. While many electives offered at Bernards High School fulfill these category requirements, Journalism courses (Intro to Journalism, Journalism I, Journalism II and Honors Publications,) are currently not listed under any of these categories, despite skills taught in the class fulfilling category requirements.

21st Century Life and Career electives are electives that have a variety of components. Many of these components apply to the Journalism course. For instance, 21st Century Life and Career include courses with “Effective Written and Oral Communication,”  “Leadership,” and “Information and Media Literacy.” Additionally, under the New Jersey Government education standards, section 9.3 (Career & Technical Education), Content Area: 21st Century Life and Careers, “Journalism & Broadcasting (AR‐JB)” is listed as an applicable course.  Due to the current way the course is presented, it is not obvious how the course meets the state requirements, however, a revision of the course curriculum could make it eligible to meet the 21st Century Life and Career requirements.

According to the NJDOE Standards Office, presuming the Journalism course “prepares students for success in post-secondary degree programs, careers, and civic life” and does not fulfill the requirements for other subject areas such as an English requirement, it could be used to satisfy the requirements for 21st century life and careers. The course must also meet or exceed the expectations of Standard 9.

“Journalism has always been my first choice, but since it doesn’t receive credits, it has always made it really hard to get in,” said Editor-In-Chief Ari Rosen, “this year I almost didn’t get journalism because it was the same period as a photo class that I needed because I was missing credits.”

Students who want to commit to Journalism and its multi-year courses are forced to choose between the class and courses that fill the state graduation requirements, whereas, if the course counted towards the 21st Career and Life, there would be no need to choose between the two. Not only are students learning about technology through Journalism I and II as they are required to contribute to the layout and design of the newspaper, but they are also in a position of leadership as editors. Additionally, all levels of journalism are required to provide original photographs or art for each of their articles.

In the surrounding area, schools such as Summit High School and Warren Hills High School, list Journalism under 21st Century Life and Career. Warren Hills is a school within our district that offers the credits in their Journalism I, II, and III Courses. Summit offers the credit during their Journalism III program. Schools such as Summit and Warren Hills have helped in realizing that this program can be eligible for receiving 21st Century Life and Career. The course descriptions have also helped understand what the Bernards Journalism course already has and the changes that should be made in order to make the program eligible to meet the requirements.

“Each year, the Program of Studies is evaluated by supervisors and BHS administration to determine possible revisions and changes to programming,” said director of guidance Dr. Walker. “All courses, including the Journalism sequence, are currently being reviewed. Any changes will be noted in the revision to the Program of Studies, which will be available this winter for the course selection process.”

While taking the Journalism course currently does not fulfill any state graduation requirements, the school is working towards a change that could be seen by next year.

“I am currently researching, at both the county and state level, how we can amend our journalism curriculum to include the standard specifications of a course that meets the 21st Century Life and Careers graduation requirements,” said English supervisor Ms. Barna.

Ms. Barna has been researching the requirements needed in order for the course to be considered a 21st Century Life and Career course. She must also consider the guidance received from the county level and the state level requirements. Much of the journalism program already includes the requirements necessary for the 21st Century Life and Career field, however, it is still being evaluated what should be added in order to ensure this course is eligible. As of now, there are plans for one of the courses to be rewritten to highlight as well as add the aspects of the class that adhere to standard 9 and the 21st Century Life and Career credits.

“This is a really exciting opportunity,” said Ms. Barna, “It’s a really nice way to encourage continued participation in the program without having any conflicting requirement that is keeping students from not taking the class.”

The Journalism Course at Bernards High School has the potential to count towards the 21st Century Life and Career course credits. Students would not be deterred from taking this class due to the pressure of completing graduation requirements. This change would also encourage students to commit to an award winning program that helps them follow what they are passionate about.

This story was originally published on The Crimson on October 15, 2024.