<p>“Wow, that’s cool. Guarantees every kid walking out the door shares something similar:”</p>
<p>Hmm, sounds like another good reason to make Calculus and Organic Chemistry mandatory …</p>
<p>Kids who go to Chicago have to learn how to swim too! Swim tests are held during orientation and if you don’t pass, or choose not to take the swimming test, you must take a course in order to graduate.They do have exceptions for religious reasons, and for lifeguards and certified divers. I guess they already know how to swim!! Chicago also has fitness requirements. You can place out of some or all of the requirements by meeting performance standards on the PE placement tests! Otherwise you have to take between 1 and 3 quarters of PE to graduate. My S finally took his 1 required class last quarter senior year. I threatened serious bodily harm if he failed to graduate because of gym!</p>
<p>At my HS (many years ago) all students had to learn to swim. It seems like an odd thing to require at the college level.</p>
<p>When we moved S into his dorm. all we did was carry his stuff into the suite’s common room. The students were told not to choose a room until all occupants of the suite were present, so there was no possibility of our helping S set things up. They all managed all right without moms and dads acting as majordomos.</p>
<p>A swim test I would not like to take.</p>
<p>But I’m kind of jealous of many of my friends required to take a P.E. class. What a great way to keep in shape :P. </p>
<p>Anyway, this is off topic, I guess…</p>