Students now have the opportunity to take Sociology and Sports History classes at South Hadley High School. These new classes give students the ability to expand their knowledge of history and also explore their interests deeper.

Social Studies Chairman Timothy Balut said that his sports history classes “are going okay, but feel a little generic.” However, he still says that he feels “like the students are involved in the material.”

Balut said he wants the students to learn how to be better students, the value of hard work and of course information about sports. Balut’s reasoning behind creating this new class is for students to have the chance he never had to learn more about their passion for sports in the classroom. Due to the fact that his students are passionate about the class, they are getting more work done and motivating Balut to do more in the class.

Special education teacher Luke Archambault and history teacher Leslie Goelz are tackling the new sociology courses. Archambault teaches the new alternative course that “gives all students a chance to work at their own levels.” The class is very interactive and discussion based leaving students with newfound curiosity.

Archambault teaches the class because he loves the interaction with his students and the study of sociology is “fascinating” to him.

Goelz teaches honors and college prep level sociology classes. She says “because of the nature of sociology the class itself becomes a little society.” Goelz says she hopes that students feel like they can express themselves because of a sense of community in her classroom.

All three teachers agreed that the classes are going well so far and their students are interested and excited about the topics. They have found that creating a curriculum has been difficult since there is no set lesson plan from previous years.

Goelz says that “not knowing the bigger picture, where to go, and how to get there” are what she struggles with the most. Both Balut and Archambault claim to have similar difficulties.

The teachers also say they have difficulties covering all the things that they want to cover. However, Goelz says, “These new classes diversify the courses offered and complete the social studies content beyond the usual history classes.”

Hoagland may be reached at [email protected]

Skovera-Ippolito may be reached at [email protected]