EE Staff Writer
Most students have not had the opportunity to take a course that does not require one specific answer. Students know the basic structure of required courses, which asks them to think about finding the one right answer. However, there is one course that does not require a student to seek a right answer. Instead, it requires that the individual think, ponder, and develop questions.
The course, which, unfortunately, many students do not take because of outstanding core requirements is Philosophy taught by Mrs. Intemann. Last year, on the first day of class there were not enough desks to sit in. By the third day, half of the class dropped the course because of the required written “essays” every Friday. However, the essays were nothing like an English essay but more like a journal where you had to write on various topics that occur in life such as death, love, family, and emotions. Many students believe that this course should be mandatory for seniors or juniors. This course has so much to teach about life and various events in life.
Senior John Broderick says, “Philosophy provides many new outlooks on life which challenges the mind like no other course. I think if students do not take it in their high school years they should definitely take it in college.”
Mrs. Intemann, Philosophy teacher at THS says, “We pigeon hold kids in our education system, forcing them to decide between a right answer and a wrong answer. In philosophy it is not the answer that is important, it is the question.”
Some days students walk out of philosophy class not being able to wrap their brain around everything the instructor was saying because it was something they had never thought about. Some days the discussion in class changed students opinion on a subject entirely. Still, philosophy class might not be for everyone as some students may not be at the maturity level to understand the importance of philosophical ideas such as having or not having a right answer. Having the right answer is not always beneficial, and philosophy class does not give you answers, it simply sparks questions which lead you to ponder your own philosophy.
A student will never know what he or she will get out of this course. It all depends on what kind of a person he or she is at the start and how he or she sees things in the world. While this course has many educational aspects that reach back to centuries ago, it also has sentimental value to teach. Philosophy gets the individual in touch with some sides of him or herself that the individual never knew existed.
While some students might not be ready to take on philosophy class in high school or be ready to face the trials and questions in this class. “I believe that it should be required at some point in their lives,” says Intemann.
I thought this was interesting because I didn’t even know this course was offered at THS or anyone who has taken it. They should promote these kinds of electives more.