Are finals really worth it, are they worth the stress, the tears, the sleep deprivation? The answer is no, they are not worth it. I believe that finals are not essential to our academic criteria. Students have been tested regularly on the subjects that they have learned in a semester. This makes it hard for students to go back and remember the information that they already have been tested over. Students spend time cramming every new subject in their brains that causes them to forget the previous subjects they have learned in the past.

Some schools give you the option to opt out of your finals if you have a certain grade in that class and a good attendance record. I personally think that this is a better alternative than taking finals. This is a much needed reward for the students who have worked hard all semester and some of Baldwin High School’s students agree.

“Having the option to opt out of your finals would be less stressful and give you more time to focus on your overall grade and turn assignments in it would just be more beneficial in the long run,” junior Quinna Lund said.

Giving students the opportunity to opt out of finals would make them work harder throughout the semester. Students would be aiming for that certain grade in the class causing students to try harder throughout the semester and not just toward the end. This would also make the attendance records rise up.

BHS teacher Paul Musselman voices his opinion on finals.

“I think finals are beneficial for BHS students because it prepares you for the college final format and allows you to get more experience on finals before college,” Musselman said.

Although I may not agree with BHS’s decision to hand out finals, I think it is important for us students to try our best on them and approve our knowledge on the subjects we have been learning all semester.