Among the changes being made for the 2012-2013 school year, many new electives will be available to students. Of these, two new English courses are being introduced; The Story of War: Fiction at the Battlefront and A World Beyond: Fantasy and Heroic Adventure.

“Our war in fiction course is going to be multi-genre, because I’d like to include poetry, movie clubs, and even advertisement,” English curriculum specialist Kathyrn Pabst said. “We’ll be discussing why we go to war, and the effect that war has, and the people who are left behind. Additionally, we’ll be looking at reasons to go to war, so I think the class will be really interesting.”

The wars covered during class will include the American Civil War, World Wars I and II, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Students are warned the literature in this elective includes mature subject matter, and as such the class is only offered for juniors and seniors.

“Our other class is fantasy, during which we’ll be reading The Name of the Wind: The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day One by Patrick Rothfuss, The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Leguin, and The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke” Pabst said. “This is a genre we do not teach in the English class, so this gives the teachers an opportunity to delve into subjects that students actually enjoy.”

Unlike the war in fiction course, the subject matter in the fantasy elective is suitable for all grade levels.

“Both of these electives are driven by our desire to have students reading outside of the English classroom and supporting their own literacy with pieces they will enjoy reading,” Pabst said.

Prerequisites are not required for either course, and each lasts a single semester.