High School Plans Class on Surfing

[flyingtiger1013]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20050909/D8CGO4A80.html

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - An Australian high school hopes to stop beach-loving students from bailing out of class by making surfing an approved subject.

Byron Bay High School will offer surfing as part of a recreation course that from next year will count toward a high school certificate in New South Wales state.

"You've got students who are at risk of dropping out of school and the school has developed this course as a way to provide a pathway for these students into future employment and keep them connected to education," state Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt said.

But Federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson said surfing as a subject made a mockery of the education system.

"That we're now apparently offering it as a HSC (high school certificate) subject in New South Wales is an absolute disgrace," Nelson said.

Byron Bay has 16 surfing students this year but the state school board has only agreed to allow the subject to count toward a student's HSC from next year.

Ben Harp: Do you think that taxpayers would like it Utah, if they knew that they were paying a federal agent to surf and pick up girls?

Johnny Utah: Babes.

Ben Harp: I beg your pardon?

Johnny Utah: The correct term is Babes, sir.