Subject Selection - Is this normal? (1 Viewer)

[ReyesDaRoof]

So it's that time of the year to choose subjects for next year and obviously we have been told that we would be having an information evening. However we have just been told today that sometime during the year the subject teachers would interview us to decide if we were right for the subject. So in short, as the title suggests, is this interview process normal amongst all schools or is this just something my school has thought of? Also are the teachers allowed to decide if a student isn't allowed to do a certain subject?
Thank you.

 

[enoilgam]

So it's that time of the year to choose subjects for next year and obviously we have been told that we would be having an information evening. However we have just been told today that sometime during the year the subject teachers would interview us to decide if we were right for the subject. So in short, as the title suggests, is this interview process normal amongst all schools or this just something my school has thought of? Also are the teachers allowed to decide if a student isn't allowed to do a certain subject? Thank you.

It is pretty common. I'm not sure on what the exact rules are (cem would know), but I dont think schools can force you out of a subject. What they can do is say that the subject is full or runs on a different line etc. Just go with what you think is best and dont let them manipulate you. Unfortunately, one of the most disappointing things about the HSC is how teachers routinely manipulate students into choosing certain subjects and avoiding others. As much as I'd hate to say it, you should be very cautious with what your teachers tell you and should always seek additional advice from others. Now, that isnt to say that all teachers are like this, but as I have seen through myself, friends, family and on BoS, some teachers/schools can be very manipulative and deceptive with this sort of thing.

 

[ReyesDaRoof]

It is pretty common. I'm not sure on what the exact rules are (cem would know), but I dont think schools can force you out of a subject. What they can do is say that the subject is full or runs on a different line etc. Just go with what you think is best and dont let them manipulate you. Unfortunately, one of the most disappointing things about the HSC is how teachers routinely manipulate students into choosing certain subjects and avoiding others. As much as I'd hate to say it, you should be very cautious with what your teachers tell you and should always seek additional advice from others. Now, that isnt to say that all teachers are like this, but as I have seen through myself, friends, family and on BoS, some teachers/schools can be very manipulative and deceptive with this sort of thing.

Thanks heaps for the info. It's sad how some teachers can be a bit disheartening when it comes to choosing subjects. I've had a teacher basically tell me that if i wanted to choose maths next year that it wouldn't be wise to choose visual arts, despite my passion for it.

 

[madharris]

Thanks heaps for the info. It's sad how some teachers can be a bit disheartening when it comes to choosing subjects. I've had a teacher basically tell me that if i wanted to choose maths next year that it wouldn't be wise to choose visual arts, despite my passion for it.

Ewww... never heard a teacher ever say this before!
If you enjoy it then do it, all my friends who did art really enjoyed it as apparently it's a fun, chilled subject!

 

[nkw]

It is pretty common. I'm not sure on what the exact rules are (cem would know), but I dont think schools can force you out of a subject. What they can do is say that the subject is full or runs on a different line etc. Just go with what you think is best and dont let them manipulate you. Unfortunately, one of the most disappointing things about the HSC is how teachers routinely manipulate students into choosing certain subjects and avoiding others. As much as I'd hate to say it, you should be very cautious with what your teachers tell you and should always seek additional advice from others. Now, that isnt to say that all teachers are like this, but as I have seen through myself, friends, family and on BoS, some teachers/schools can be very manipulative and deceptive with this sort of thing.

Lol according to my school they can. If I don't get an A in science this semester then I'm not allowed to do chem. Some schools are absolutely retarded. Apparently Cafs is a better subject choice for me, and if I don't get an A this semester I have to do Cafs, a subject I have no interest in at all. Sorry to hijack your thread I just thought I would point out that some schools are a bit strange like that. So it just depends on your school.

 

[madharris]

Lol according to my school they can. If I don't get an A in science this semester then I'm not allowed to do chem. Some schools are absolutely retarded. Apparently Cafs is a better subject choice for me, and if I don't get an A this semester I have to do Cafs, a subject I have no interest in at all. Sorry to hijack your thread I just thought I would point out that some schools are a bit strange like that. So it just depends on your school.

seriously? that's stupid! Not allowing someone to do a high level of maths is understandable as you need certain skill levels to do maths, however chem?
I can count only about 10/200 students in my year, who actually tried in year 10, meaning almost everyone in my year would have not made it into chem if that were the case. Year 10 is meant to the be the last year where most people believe that they are allowed to stuff up (even though prelims doesn't really matter too much either)! I'm not sure if it's changed heaps since they scrapped the school cert, but there was barely any chem in year 10 science, there was a small topic of basic chemistry but that was it. I failed the chemistry part of that science paper - didn't understand it at all, however I was still allowed to do chem. It ended up being my favourite subject in year 12 and I did extremely well in it. So obviously, year 10 science is not an indicator of how well an individual can do in chemistry... sorry for the rant, not sure if it made sense... i'm tired

I reckon if you don't get an A you should contest (if you really want to do chem)! If you put forward a good argument with good reasons, you should be able to get into it!

 

[nkw]

seriously? that's stupid! Not allowing someone to do a high level of maths is understandable as you need certain skill levels to do maths, however chem?
I can count only about 10/200 students in my year, who actually tried in year 10, meaning almost everyone in my year would have not made it into chem if that were the case. Year 10 is meant to the be the last year where most people believe that they are allowed to stuff up (even though prelims doesn't really matter too much either)! I'm not sure if it's changed heaps since they scrapped the school cert, but there was barely any chem in year 10 science, there was a small topic of basic chemistry but that was it. I failed the chemistry part of that science paper - didn't understand it at all, however I was still allowed to do chem. It ended up being my favourite subject in year 12 and I did extremely well in it. So obviously, year 10 science is not an indicator of how well an individual can do in chemistry... sorry for the rant, not sure if it made sense... i'm tired

I reckon if you don't get an A you should contest (if you really want to do chem)! If you put forward a good argument with good reasons, you should be able to get into it!

That's excactly how I feel! My school is a Catholic school preaching faith and courage yet the principal is the most doubtful and contentious person I've ever met when it comes to small matters like this. Shouldn't it just matter that the student actually wants to pick something that will benefit them and their future and not something to just get them a piece of paper saying they have am atar. I have no interest whatsoever in Cafs and I automatically know that I will become distracted and unmotivated in that course but it still is the best option for me according to my principal . I just don't know who I can really contest it to. My science teacher is a prick , my principal is an idiot, and the BOS said there was nothing they could do for me because it needs to be resolved inside my school. There's no way I'm getting an A in his class, he literally calls on people's intelligence in class when his the one who failed his hsc altogether.