For many students at Cresskill High School, their favorite aspects of their schedules are their elective courses. Ranging from robotics to Race in America, Cresskill offers a variety of interesting classes that diverge from the set curriculum, and each year, new courses are offered so that students can continue to explore subjects beyond those of the common core. Next year, for instance, after much trial and error, there will be the option of a creative writing course for ninth through twelfth grade students.

Creative writing has been an existing course at Cresskill for some time, however in a relatively uncertain manner. An advanced course was first taught by Mr. Roth a few years ago, and then Mr. Orfini picked it up in a trimester course after a relatively long hiatus. This class, however, only lasted for one year, as a result of conflicts with the trimester schedule.

Now that the class is being introduced once again, the large question is whether or not it will last. While Ms. Peters, who will be teaching the course, has been teaching general and advanced placement English classes for years and certainly has the knowledge and experience to create an effective curriculum, it is possible that the class will be removed from the elective options in the future simply because of low student interest. This particular creative writing course was actually meant to be offered in the current 2017-18 school year, but was not able to run because there was not enough enrollment. This could happen in the years to come; part of it depends on the reactions to the class of the students that participate in it in 2019, but also on the overall high school student body of next year. If this particular group of students is generally more interested in STEM and other classes in that area, it will be difficult to keep enrollment up.

However, many do have high hopes for the course, and recognize its importance in a school curriculum. Senior Julianna Scofield, for example, noted that “[creative writing] will teach students to write in a different way than they normally would in English class” which is crucial in helping students to truly enjoy writing, as it allows for a “creative outlet for students” as opposed to the relatively strict regulations imposed on writing in other courses. Senior Minji Kim agreed, and “[hopes that the class] lasts because it’s a great idea for kids to do some writing that’s more fun…and explore what they can write…and get kids to care about writing without forcing them to.”

Hopefully, other students feel the same way as Julianna and Minji, and this promising course becomes a recurring one at Cresskill High School.