Pathways have been in use at Millikan since 2001, with the first two being QUEST and PEACE. Since then, students were able to expect the same core class teachers based on their pathways. For example, most COMPASS freshmen have Mrs. Mize for English, or most PEACE sophomores have Mr. Marchael for Math.
The only time students would have classes with students and teachers from different pathways would be in an elective or language class. But this year, many students taking chemistry received a surprise on their schedule: an unexpected chemistry teacher and a class with people in other pathways.
Most sophomores at Millikan are required to take chemistry, with the exception of SEGA students who take Physics instead. This school year, sophomores do not have pathway-specific chemistry courses. Instead, all students are being mixed together and divided among the five chemistry teachers on campus, into “global classrooms”.
“This is the first year and they’re trying it out with chemistry,” Mr. Summy says regarding mixing pathways into one classroom. Last year Mr. Summy taught mostly SEGA students and this year he says he has an even number of students from each pathway.
COMPASS sophomore, Maddie Cliborn
who currently has Mx. Higbee, a teacher who previously taught exclusively PEACE classes, says, “I was more excited because some of my best friends are in other pathways so I was able to have a class with them.”
But why just chemistry? “It’s just chemistry, [because] the rigor of it is embedded in the course. [Chemistry courses] are not specifically for any pathways,” says Mr. Allen, the previously assigned QUEST chemistry teacher.
Reis Barrera, a PEACE sophomore currently in Mr. Allen’s class says, “I was surprised at first and also excited because it offered me more opportunities to meet more people.”
After contacting administration, the Corydon was given little information on the reason why global classrooms are being implemented other than how it will benefit students.
“If it ends up going well, then it might go to other parts of science as well as other subjects depending on how things end up,” Mr. Summy says. This year’s chemistry students may be the start of a new era at Millikan, with less pathway separation and more interaction between students who before, may have never met.
