Citing low enrollment in classes, JC made the decision to cut Introduction to Theatre, Probability and Statistics, and AP Vergil from class options, and offer AP French, AP Art History, and Programming online through the Connections Academy.

The poor economy is the driving force behind the decision. Principal Paul Barker said, “In this economy where we’re trying to tighten expenses, we’re doing what makes sense.”

Vice Principal of Academics Gary Scholl added, “The school has to offer quality courses and still keep tuition as low as possible. The sacrifice for keeping the classes would be parents’ checkbooks.”

The administration cut classes with few students registered, such as AP Vergil, where one student signed up to take the class. However, other classes such as Probability and Statistics were eliminated, even though nine students were enrolled.

Math teacher Robert Torres, who taught Probability and Statistics, said, “It’s disappointing, but I understand [the decision to cut the class]. It’s a class I would have liked to build up because it’s helpful in the business field.”

The online option was adopted for AP French, AP Art History, and Programming because, as Barker said, “It makes no sense to offer AP French to three students, but the online academy is known to the Archdiocese.” He added, “The alternative is to not offer [the classes] at all.”

Scholl said, “These classes did not have sufficient enrollment and in past circumstances we would have just cancelled the class. The idea is rather than just eliminate classes, give students the opportunity to take classes that may not be offered here.”

An alternative to the traditional class room setting is available through Connections. Scholl said, “We try to keep programs alive that are sequential, like foreign languages.”

Connections Academy is accredited by the Middle States, a committee that evaluates schools, and Sister Mary Helen Beirne, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, chaired the Middle States committee in reviewing the Academy. Dr. Pat Hoge, Vice President of Connections, will join the Board of Trustees. Scholl said, “We have confidence that this program will be credited and give students a good experience.”

The online class will cost the school a few hundred dollars per student, as opposed to the thousands it costs to pay a teacher. Scholl said, “These classes offer a broad program in an economic way.” Some classes will also require textbooks to be purchased because, as Sister Beirne said, the classes are meant to be “multifaceted.”

Students will be registered with the online academy, which will provide their work, credit, and grades. They will use their time in school to complete the workload, which includes a live teacher that connects in real time with the student to electronically return graded work and offer assistance. Field trips are also possibilities for students through Connections.

The administration will provide a mentor to meet with students weekly to ensure they are not getting too far ahead or too far behind, ensuring “proper spacing,” according to Scholl, which is essential for those who are taking an AP test. He adds that the mentor will be “someone with experience in the area to answer any questions”

Grading is handled through the Connections Academy, and will show up on transcripts as a credit awarded by Connections. This will be handled the same way that Harford Community College credit or a transfer student’s previous record is handled. It will not affect a student’s QPA, GPA, or class rank.

Connections has submitted its AP designation, which College Board has approved, making the school a reliable institution in its ability to prepare students for AP tests. Scholl said, “AP tests will indicate whether these are rigorous enough for us to support.”

The online school, according to Sister Beirne, does the same thing as a “brick and mortar school.” It is able to offer “broader possibilities for interactions beyond the town the student lives in.”

It also has the ability to eliminate the restrictions posed by small classes. “Three students in school can join with ten others [through the online class] and have a full class. It allows us to engage with people we would never meet, taking us into a global society,” said Sister Beirne.

Connections offers many classes that a school can not feasibly offer because of small staff sizes. “It provides an opportunity for more class options than a school could offer,” said Beirne.

Although classes such as AP US History regularly have classes with fewer than ten students in them, a “core class” like that, according to Barker, would not be cut. He assures that this will not be a trickledown effect: “There won’t be English I online.”

Scholl said, “I don’t ever see online learning replacing the core curriculum.”

There is the chance that certain classes may function more effectively online. Barker said, “Down the road, online courses will likely become a requirement to graduate here because it incorporates different types of education that are necessary in the professional world.” He stresses that the school wishes to “use the tools of today” to help students progress.

However, Scholl said, “Online education should not replace the traditional classroom setting. There is so much to benefit from human interactions of the traditional class setting.”

The reaction to the online classes has proved strong, especially because some fear the absence of a “flesh and blood” teacher. “I’m afraid that without regular classes and a teacher to make sure I’m doing my work on time, I’ll procrastinate and get behind,” said junior Charlotte Hagerman, who plans to take AP French.

“It seems to me it would be boring and most people wouldn’t keep up with their work,” said junior Nicky Hatzidimitriou, who is also taking AP French as a senior.

French teacher Regina Ferry, who previously taught the AP French class, added, “A teacher can react to everything a student presents with an infinite number of suggestions and corrections. I’m concerned that they won’t get enough of the verbal help they need [for the AP test].”

Barker speaks against the concern. “The fear is you diminish the human aspect of education, but if we use resources properly, we’ll be able to serve students in the flesh and blood better because we won’t be stretching out resources,” he said.

Sister Beirne said, “Education is about going beyond what we can imagine today. The online classes can challenge us to think more broadly about all the ways people can learn.”

Barker cautions that these classes will not become a pattern. “It’s not the way of the future for John Carroll. We won’t sell you a $400 course for $12,000 tuition, it’s silly,” he said.