Cherry Hill High School East student journalist Chloe Ren is calling for public speaking to become a graduation requirement, arguing that communication deserves the same emphasis as other life skills.
Her Nov. 6 Eastside opinion column is a student’s proposal, rather than an announced district policy change. Ren is a senior and a print editor-in-chief of the school newspaper.
Ren wrote that students need practice presenting arguments, sharing information and communicating confidently in settings ranging from job interviews to everyday disagreements. She identified Intro to Public Speaking and Public Speaking as existing East course options and called for broader participation.
Senior Erin Watkins, a debate-team member quoted in the column, said the class helped in other subjects and ordinary conversations. Watkins also wished more students knew it was available.
What the district currently requires
Public speaking is not separately listed among the mandatory courses on Cherry Hill Public Schools’ graduation requirements page, checked Nov. 9.
The district requires at least 120 credits from required courses and electives, along with state assessment and attendance requirements. Its published course list includes English, physical education and health, history, mathematics, science, a world language, visual and performing arts, career and life skills, financial literacy and African American Studies.
The requirements page also explains the financial-aid application or waiver process for covered graduating classes. Students and families can consult the district’s guidance materials for the rules that apply to their graduation year.
Ren’s column focuses on adding communication training to that framework. The argument remains advocacy in the student newspaper; it does not establish that a new requirement has been adopted.
