What's to be Made of This?

Today's Chicago Tribune has a lengthy article concerning a Evanston High School proposal to increase diversity in its most challenging courses by eliminating an elite Freshman Honors course and replacing it with a rigorous non-Honors course.

The debate goes something like this; proponents of Honors courses take the position that if a student has the previous scores and capabilities to handle this course then the Honors course needs to be provided for those high achieving students. Critics charge that minority students are missing out on the most challenging courses in the school. The bottom line often finds largely white students in Honors courses while non-whites are rarely in them.

I for one have often disapproved of Honors courses, tracking and the labeling of courses and students. Here's my argument: no matter the name of a course, it ought to be enriching and challenging for any and all students. Let me put it another way: American History is American History no matter its name. A terrific course in American History should be the primary objective of the course, plain and simple, and should not be designed/based upon by who 'gets in' and who's 'left out.'

As a former teacher I know plenty of my past and present colleagues will disagree with me on this...that's okay. It seems that much of what we do by labeling is simply pigeon-holing students. And let's be honest, once a student comes into ninth grade as an Honors student that's where they will stay for the rest of their high school career. Sadly, those who enter high school in a non-honors path are likely to stay there, despite any success they may have, until they graduate.

Schools, teachers, and students will be best served by having great courses across the board. Nowdays, it's almost as if a course or program of studies has to be designed for each student. That's certainly not feasible. What is feasible and reasonable is to provide a great course and to have parents and teachers work together to help that student succeed.

It's time to get off the tracking train!

Thanks,
Dick