Our school board is in the current process of deciding the credits for graduation requirements. The first school board meeting will happen on Feb 27th, and the next meeting will happen on March 13.
Swimming is one of the mandatory credits being decided on, with the resolution if passed that’s its no longer a mandatory requirement. With such a long-standing credit being reversed, theres definitely thoughts and opinions rolling about, so here’s some thoughts from our coaches:
When asked Coach Evilsizer on her overall thoughts on swimming no longer being a mandatory credit, she responded, “Overall I would say I’m disappointed, and thats mostly because all of the statistics and the data point to the fact is a very important skill, and that historically our district has had it as a requirement, which was one of the things that kinda of set us apart from other districts around the metro area because nobody else has that. So, yeah, I feel like it’s a huge loss. Obviously I think our kids are gonna be worse off without it.”
When asked if she thinks the decision to make swimming no longer a mandatory credit would harm or benefit students, Evilsizer replied, “Honestly, I think it causes more harm than it does benefit, and thats because most of our students now are not going to have the opportunity to learn skills that can literally save their life or save someone else life, like they’ve previously been able to do here.”
When asked Coach Szczukowskv if removing swimming as a mandatory requirement harms or benefits students, he stated, “Well in the long run it definitely harms the students because it could have a direct effect on saving lives because those 25 or some odd kids that have learned how to swim now could hopefully save themselves in a drowning situation and the people that have enjoyed swimming, which is by in large majority of them, now have this as a recreational sport to do for the rest of their lives.”
When asked if swimming should be kept as a mandatory credit, Szczukowsk responded,
“Just because of the benefits, kids enjoy it, and it’s great cardiovascular exercise, great outlet for stress relief.”
