Curran Reilly ’13 and Megan Kicullen’13
This year, the Upper School Science Department removed Earth and Life from EA’s curriculum. Previously, freshmen were placed in Earth and Life or Biology, according to either academic standing in Math and Science in eighth grade or entrance exam results.
Mr. Rosenburg, Chair of the Science Department, said, “We [the Science Department] made this decision due to the pressure of other schools.” Episcopal is one of the few schools that offers something other than Biology for freshmen, which caused many Earth and Life alumni to feel disadvantaged. For freshmen who were not originally placed in Biology, taking an AP science class senior year required taking a science course during the summer. Sarah Perkins, V Form Dean, agrees with this decision, saying “It is the responsibility of our school to consider parity with peer schools as well as student opportunities in their senior years.”
This new Upper School Science system will allow all students to take AP sciences senior year, rather than just those who were placed into Biology. While this decision is beneficial to the current freshman class, the current sophomores, juniors, and seniors, wish this decision was made long ago. Carter Gantt ‘13 is “happy that they finally made the decision to change” but is frustrated because she “didn’t have the opportunity to take Biology freshman year, and will now have to double up senior year if [she] wants to take an AP.” Similarly, Jack Florio ‘13 wishes that all freshmen were originally placed in Biology, since those who take Chemistry as juniors often feel behind.
The Science Department is also sad to see Earth and Life cut from the program. Ms. Trimble says, “Earth and Life was fun to teach, and offered a buffer year for students to mature and ease their way into high school science.”
Previously, regular track Episcopal students would have taken Earth and Life, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Students now can take Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and an AP science course.