Ninth-grade failures begin much earlier
The debate rages on: How do we ensure that ninth-graders are successful? The current debate centers on what kind of program is needed, or is a program needed? Most ninth-graders transition successfully to high school, but for those who don't, something needs to be done. The essential question is why wait until the ninth grade to address the problem? For Guilford County schools to experience current ninth-grade failure rates and discipline problems, isn't it logical that the best use of resources would be to tackle the problem in earlier grades?
The problem is not with middle school staffs or ninth-graders themselves. The problem lies with the paradigms and strategies of the middle school concept. The solution is not to fundamentally change high school for everyone, but to see that everyone who goes to high school has the tools they need to experience success. Expectations of attendance, behavior and effort required in high school must be nurtured during middle school.
I fail to understand why so many "experts" cannot see what to me appears to be common sense. Are we so enamored with special programs and projects that we fail to see the forest for the trees?
Joe Franks
Greensboro
The writer is a career teacher of more than 20 years in Greensboro.
Comments (2)
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I agree with the writer. Forget the special project. Without parental involvement at home, all the special projects in the world can't work.
Posted on March 4, 2005 8:10 AM
Thank you Mr. Franks,
I believe that our "experts" need the 'forest' pointed out to them a little more often.
A movement towards the BASICS is much needed in Guilford County. "World-Class" plans are just creating more 'trees.'
Our dilemma is that our School Board hired and idolizes a "World-Class" superintendent. I strongly believe that we need a superintendent with a common sense approach, one that believes that math, science, reading and writing are more important than clogging or puppetry.
I have a ninth grader. She hasn't needed any special "mothering" to make the transition to high school--no 'isolated' environment, no 'team' of teachers--that is for middle school. If these kids have the BASICS, they will do fine. It's the kids struggling to read, write and do basic math that feel like they want to yell for their mommy.
The BASICS start in kindergarten, NOT in ninth-grade academies or "World-Class" high school programs like the one's being forced on the kids in High Point.
Posted on March 4, 2005 9:54 AM