Loch Raven High To Cut Child Development Program

Seniors who graduate from Loch Raven High School this year will be the last students at the school who have the opportunity to complete a course of study in child development.

The program, which schools spokesman Charles Herndon called "long-standing", will no longer be offered by the school during the 2013-2014 school year, Herndon confirmed to Patch.

"It has to do with staffing choices and the choices of students at the school—what students are interested in and what opportunties we can make available to them," Herndon said. 

"There was a growing foreign languages, internship programs and technology," Herndon said. "As a result [Loch Raven High School principal] Bonnie [Lambert] is looking toward increasing opportunities as far as business classes and foreign languages."

The child development program at Loch Raven was a three-year course of study focused on preparing students to become teachers. Kids would become involved during their sophomore year and carry study through to their senior year, when they would serve as interns in area schools.

In the process, students helped run a toddler program based at the school for kids in the community.

Herndon said that Lambert held a meeting with parents, students, participants in the program, which includes a preschool program, last week.

"She's been very upfront throughout this process," Herndon said. "The students have indicated some growing interest in some other areas as well and it's really a matter of moving staff and trying to meet the educational needs of the students and what they’re indicating."

Herndon said that while the program as it currently exists will no longer be offered at Loch Raven High School, the school is looking for ways to continue providing some instruction to students with an interest in child development.

"She’s hoping to be able to offer some instruction related to child development but it’s going to look different than it does now," he said.

What do you think of the cut to the child development program at Loch Raven High School? Tell us in the comments.

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