Mount Vernon High School has re-introduced a Journalism course for high school students of all grades to start off the 2023-2024 school year. The class, taught by Mrs. Terrell, is worth two credits, and it lasts for one semester during the year.
Although the first nine weeks of semester may seem mundane due to having to review and learn all of the laws concerning the concept of journalism, the class does start to increase in activity during the second half of the semester.
In the second half actual writing takes place based on prompts given by the textbook or Mrs. Terrell herself. Interviewing classmates and members of staff around the school takes place, as well as going around the school with a pass to take photos.
For my class, there was a bit of a rocky start for the first nine weeks due to this class not being taught for over 5 years. There were not as many materials available for Mrs. Terrell to set up online assignments correctly. Due to this, improvising was a common tactic to be able to finish assignments among both Mrs. Terrell and the students.
Despite these bumps, Mrs. Terrell is a kind teacher and was a journalist before she pursued the path of a teacher. So any student can rest assured knowing that she understands journalism and thoroughly enjoys what she is teaching.
I would rate this class an 8/10, due to the initial bumps in the road. But having class discussions, the experience of interacting with classmates and interviewing others outside of class and getting out of my comfort zone was fun. Overall, the class is worth taking. I would recommend this class to anyone who enjoys writing or would like to pursue a career as a reporter or journalist.
