![Hosting the SCLA Casptone Mentor Dinner outside allowed for more attendees on September 27, 2021 at Silver Creek. This event would’ve usually been held inside. According to Lauren Kohn, a SCLA 12 teacher, “If we have a higher number of people, as long as we can host the event outside, then that seems to be keeping every[one] safe”.](https://schsnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/sxMAIGbSYGodZkqmrvTi5YWcJ1ssWA08ApkeMLpp-900x675.jpeg)
Integrated World Studies is a one-of-a-kind 9th grade class that combines World Literature and World History at Silver Creek High School. In the class, there is a combination of both Honors and Non-Honors students who connect the history learned to literature read in class. The class is taught by two teachers Justelle Grandsaert (World History) and Kaelyn Vargo (World Literature).
When it comes to the class, many have thoughts on whether or not it should be for all grades and all students.
Integrated 9 teacher Kaelyn Vargo has been teaching the class for nine years.
“It makes sense to offer the option for students, especially in the 9th and 10th grade, when the curriculum aligns so well,” Vargo said. “It also reaches those learners who enjoy learning in the integrated sense.”
Integrated learning provides students with the ability to make connections from what they learn to the real world.
Along with the many pros, there are always cons.
Long-time Integrated 9 teacher Justelle Grandsaert understands the complications with not having upper-level integrated classes and disagrees with having all grades having Integrated. “It’s because of scheduling difficulties and the physical space of creating it,” Grandsaert said.
More Advanced Placement (AP) classes are offered sophomore and junior level such as AP US History and AP English Literature, while freshman can only take AP Human Geography.
Even beyond the classroom, students enjoy the class. Current Integrated 9 student Bess Connolly is in agreement with making Integrated for all grades.
“You're learning about history, but you're also improving your writing as you learn,” Connolly said. In the class, students have assignments that not only teach them about history, but also how to write. “For example, the Russian Revolution unit, you're learning about that along with the events, but as you're writing about it, you're improving your writing.”
But with all who enjoy the class, there are always the few who don’t.
Sophomore Staszek Darschewski took Integrated 9 last year, and while he knows that Integrated is a part of the curriculum, he would not take it again.
“The only thing is it really restricted me in learning history, because in Integrated we didn’t learn about human geography,” Darschewski said. “For me personally, I think it should be for all grades, but I wouldn’t take it.”
With the Integrated 9 curriculum, they try to have an equal mix of English and History, but it may be at the cost of more learning in certain parts of the curriculum.
Others may have liked the class, while some may not have liked it. But some never got the chance.
Freshman Micol Voorhees takes AP Human Geography, also known as APHUG. “[APHUG] helped me push myself and get me ready for harder classes in the future,” Voorhees said. But with one opportunity taken, others may be lost. “It would have been fun to be in Integrated, so maybe I would have regretted [not taking it].”
Despite the logistical difficulties, the opportunity to speak to this learning style is important and should be recognized at all levels.
