by Norma Budden

Created on: March 10, 2008

Mandatory courses taught in high school should involve health, mathematics, computer skills, English, science, and physical education.

The more information we have in issues pertaining to health, the better informed we are when it comes to taking care of ourselves. Though a level of keeping ourselves safe takes a common sense approach, we don't know all of the hidden dangers to our health which lurk in the shadows waiting to catch us off guard. Thus, a firm foundation in essential health matters is a must.

Mathematics is essential. If people cannot perform simple math calculations, they will be at a major disadvantage, more so than if they hadn't learned most other subjects. This is not to say they will use all levels of math in every day life but being able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide is a necessity to being productive and efficient, at home as well as the work place. Being educated in algebra is also beneficial because it helps when faced with situations requiring a logical approach.

Lacking computer skills these days is comparable to being unable to relate efficiently to others. Writing letters by hand is, practically, obsolete and the days of using typewriters are long over. Can you even buy a typewriter nowadays? Computers are essential, not only for completing reports, ledgers, and spreadsheets, among other documents. With an Internet connection, they are invaluable for thoroughly researching topics at a much faster rate than visiting libraries or seeking information from encyclopedias.

English will always be one of the most important subjects. It helps us learn to read and grants us the ability to learn the art of writing, if we are interested. We have the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of others' imaginations which can inspire us to develop our own.

We learn to read between the lines of conversations or situations because what's not spoken is, generally, implied. For example, Mary may be talking to John about taking their sick daughter to the hospital. The next time we hear from them they are sitting in the emergency waiting room. Though it's not stated in conversation, it implies they left their house and took some form of transportation to the hospital. To draw this conclusion incorporates the use of logic.

In English, we also learn to recognize voices such as sarcasm. Given the context of what is written or said, we can tell whether or not a person is being directly honest or being honest through use of sarcasm. For example, Bob shaves his

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