At St. Teresa’s Academy, every student will take foreign language, theology, P.E., world geography, speech and computer. For teachers like world geography teacher Denise Rueschhoff and speech teacher Ann Heid, this can mean teaching over 70 students each semester.  With large class sizes, teachers like Rueschhoff and Heid must teach students with a wide variety of intelligence and interest.

According to academic principal Barbara McCormick, world geography and speech are required classes in Missouri for high school graduation. To avoid scheduling problems, the STA administration grouped the students into one class.

Rueschhoff has taught at STA for 10 years, but she does not have a problem with teaching students all over the grade spectrum.

‘There is too much pressure on the freshmen already,’ Rueschhoff said. ‘The students are new to the STA system and are already going through a big enough adjustment from grade school to high school. Freshmen year is a time to get to know each other, not to be split up.’

‘There is too much pressure on the freshmen already,’ Rueschhoff said. ‘The students are new to the STA system and are already going through a big enough adjustment from grade school to high school. Freshmen year is a time to get to know each other, not to be split up.’

Although many classes, such as math and English, are divided for freshmen, Rueschhoff said a single class is not a problem because the students come from different geography backgrounds.

Freshman Jane Evans agrees that combining students in world geography relieves stress on students.

‘It is easy to see if people have not taken [world geography], but there is no pressure for students to be better than others,’ Evans said.

Freshman Sarah Frey also believes it is obvious who has taken world geography before.

‘You can tell who pays attention because they answer more questions,’ Frey said.

McCormick said that although world geography is not divided by grades, expectations for students remain the same.

‘Regular courses have high to low students, so teachers must teach everyone and differentiate,’ McCormick said.

Similar to world geography, speech is a required course for all sophomores. Heid said she likes having one class for all sophomores because it is great groundwork in speech and students help each other.

‘People think they know more than they really do,’ Heid said. ‘With [split classes], an entry level would be missing.’

According to Heid, one class allows experienced students to critique the inexperienced students’ speeches and act as role models for new speakers.

While some students enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of a joined class, sophomore Emily Holt believes there should be an option for an accelerated speech class.

‘It can be obnoxious to be stuck in a class with slower people or doing stuff you already know,’ Holt said.

Until this year, all freshmen took the same computer class. However last May, students had the opportunity to test into computer II, a more advanced class. According to computer teacher Kathy McCarthy, the regular computer class does intermediate activities with Microsoft Office, while the computer II class does activities requiring more computer skills.

When the administration decided to provide a computer II class, McCarthy said she did not want a divided class, but it ended up being a good thing because the classes reinforce what the students already know and teach them new things.

McCormick said the computer class was divided for the benefit of the students who come from all different computer backgrounds. Emma Dillon, a freshman in computer I, said she does not think there is a big difference between the computer classes and that most students could be in either class.

Although world geography and speech will remain one class next year, McCormick said the administration will continue to find the best way to help students. Even if the classes remain united, the pressure on students will always remain.

‘No matter what the class is, the expectation [for students to succeed] is always there,’ McCormick said.

‘No matter what the class is, the expectation [for students to succeed] is always there,’ McCormick said.