By Diana Hadley
The First Amendment Symposium included some good news beyond the usual celebration of student accomplishments for Indiana’s journalism programs.
Trish Whitcomb Sipes, special projects advisor for Indiana State Superintendent Glenda Ritz, welcomed the group on behalf of the superintendent and explained that last year’s symposium provided information about academic challenges for student journalists that prompted the Indiana Department of Education to improve the situation.
A complete transcript of the welcome is available in the links below, but the part that may interest you most says credits for weighted classes and honors diplomas are “a matter of local control.”
DOE will post a clear explanation soon, but in the meantime your local school board can grant weight or academic honors credit to journalism classes.
She suggested that each school make an informed polite request of the local school board to give weight or academic honors to journalism classes.
Munster, Carmel, Floyd Central and Bishop Chatard have already granted weight to journalism classes.
Tracy Luke, publications adviser at Bishop Chatard, has shared a proposal that was accepted for weighted grades that also is available on our website in PDF or InDesign form.
The Hoosier State Press Association also encourages the state’s newspaper publishers to promote weighted grades and honors diploma credit for journalism. (That proposal is also available on the website)
As soon as DOE posts additional information I will post it.
In the meantime feel welcome to contact me for additional information.
Bishop Chatard Honors Proposal
Also see Samantha Strong’s student blog by clicking here.
