Carlos Martinez ‘26

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To increase student engagement within the English Department, the English teachers of Strake Jesuit decided to shift the non-AP senior curriculum to an elective system for the next school year, moving away from the standard English 4 class that had been offered in the past.

For a couple of years now, the English department has been brewing a big and exciting change in the options available to seniors who are interested in variety and exploration within their English studies. 

“The elective system will allow upperclassmen to study literature and English in a more personally tailored way, which will lead to more student engagement,” Mrs. Clinton, English Department Chair, said.

There are thirteen electives in the works, seeking to encompass a wide range of student interest. These courses range from “Finding Poetry in Your Spotify Playlist” to “The Narrative Ancestry of Star Wars” to “Film and Literature.” Course content and teacher assignments will soon be finalized in preparation for the coming year. This long list of varied courses will surely give upperclassmen many options to explore interests that matter to them.

“I am taking electives to give me more options to see what I like,” Trent Hubbard ‘25 said. “I get to decide what I enjoy instead of a strict curriculum. Ultimately, I will be more engaged because I had the choice and it’s more specific to my interests.”

Overall, this new and exciting shift will allow seniors to explore different avenues in the English department. This new program advances cura personalis, a core Jesuit value that prioritizes the development of all aspects of the person.