Most ninth-graders do well in high school
We are referring to the article published on Feb. 23 [not posted], "Parents say academy is not needed."
We are ninth-graders at Grimsley High School and strongly disagree with the idea for the Ninth-Grade Academy. Creating a sheltered environment for the incoming ninth-graders would only cripple them more when they enter the 10th grade. By being put into team-like groups, the freshmen will be singled out even more than we were when we entered high school.
The article states that 17 percent of freshmen are failing this year. Most of the students who are failing are the ones who have never cared about their grades. If the whole freshman class is put into teams, the school would be holding back the 83 percent of students who are excelling in school and are excited to be in a real high school environment.
In middle school, we had absolutely no freedom. Now that we have entered high school, we have to travel around the whole campus and are a lot more independent. By putting the ninth-graders into teams, the administration would not only be crippling them, but taking away their independence and stunting their academic growth.
Emily Harden
Mary Aaroe
Greensboro
Comments (1)
To report abuse of the comment feature on this site, please use the feedback form at the bottom of any page.
These sound like very bright, articulate students. They should be listened to.
Posted on March 3, 2005 8:10 AM