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General News: School Honors Program Prompts Questions
March 11, 2008
Cornwall schools superintendent Timothy Rehm re-assured parents at a board of education meeting Monday night that plans have not been solidified for changing the honors program for seventh- and eighth-graders.
Parents had gotten word that the school district would be presenting “a five-year plan to get rid of the honors program” now available for high-achieving seventh- and eighth-grade students. A handful of parents showed up at the meeting, representing what one mother, Christine McDonald, described, as “many parents who are passionate about the seventh- and eighth-grade honors program.”
A year ago, middle school principal Diana Musich tried to eliminate the honors social studies and English program and introduce the concept of differentiated learning, with educators teaching to different ability levels in the same classroom. Parents objected and met with school officials, who stepped back, saying any changes needed more study.
This year’s school district proposed budget includes a proposal for two enrichment teachers for high-achieving students, one of them at the middle school. District officials were mum about plans for those teachers until Monday evening, when they were questioned on the plan.
That’s when superintendent Rehm explained that the proposed enrichment program would be offered to fifth- and sixth-graders only, leaving open what to do with the upper grades. He also said that he would work with administrators, staff, and parents “to put this thing into a model that is going to be in the best interest of our kids.”
The parents’ group wants to ensure that the honors program continues until an alternative has been “firmly established and proven in the classroom,” according to a letter they recently sent to school administrators.
Comments:
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hellooo-ooo, can you say, "Pygmalion"? What these parents really want, in my guess, is to assure that disruptive, disrespectful, trash-talking miscreants are kept far away from their babies. Too bad *all* the students can't be held to such standards. Ms. Musich is right on the money.
posted by kate benson on 03/11/08 at 10:43 PM
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Well, since I have one student in HS honors, and one student who is one of those "disrespectful, trash-talking miscreants ", I'd say separate them if at all possible. For the amount of taxes we are paying here, if you've got a high-achiever, they should be given every opportunity to achieve. And if you've got a low-achiever, no amount of high-achievers forced to sit in the classroom next to them is going to make the slightest bit of difference.
posted by boothby171 on 03/12/08 at 7:59 AM
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As a parent of a child in honor classes, I firmly believe that takin this away would not be beneficial. This kids have worked hard and should continut to be allowed to achieve their goals. I dont understand this world If a kid achieves its a problem and if they dont there is a problem. I guess the message that is being sent is who cares. The school district and community need to work together to achieve higher education levels and role models to show the children what they can do in life instead of putting out mix messages. Then they wonder why kids are just roaming around town and getting in trouble. I once would like to read something positive about our kids and there future.
posted by john123 on 03/12/08 at 4:06 PM
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