Rhode Island parents enraged at school board for removing honors classes in 'equity obsession'

[ipatent]

Rhode Island parents enraged at school board for removing honors classes in 'equity obsession'

Rage broke loose among parents of all political stripes after the honors students were targeted, parents said. The school announced that the days of honors English and social studies were gone. Parents protested, arguing that the move deprived their children of a competitive edge – and in effect – future opportunities such as merit scholarships.

Katie Novak, a consultant who worked with Barrington to adjust their system, believes de-leveling allows for the dismantlement of "ableist structures."

"Too many individuals and schools support oppressive and ableist structures where access to advanced coursework is a privilege that students have to earn," Novak said in an explainer-post about de-leveling. "All students deserve opportunities to access grade-level instruction and become expert learners and this is not possible when we continue to track students in different levels based on antiquated models of school success."
___________

Educational Marxism.

 

[FortuneTeller]

Removing honors classes. What's next?

 

[gwb-trading]

I expect they already removed the AP classes. Can't have any smart students who excel and are truly successful. There must be "equity" across all students -- all of them must be equally ignorant and incapable.

 

[wrbtrader]

Rhode Island parents enraged at school board for removing honors classes in 'equity obsession'

Rage broke loose among parents of all political stripes after the honors students were targeted, parents said. The school announced that the days of honors English and social studies were gone. Parents protested, arguing that the move deprived their children of a competitive edge – and in effect – future opportunities such as merit scholarships.

Katie Novak, a consultant who worked with Barrington to adjust their system, believes de-leveling allows for the dismantlement of "ableist structures."

"Too many individuals and schools support oppressive and ableist structures where access to advanced coursework is a privilege that students have to earn," Novak said in an explainer-post about de-leveling. "All students deserve opportunities to access grade-level instruction and become expert learners and this is not possible when we continue to track students in different levels based on antiquated models of school success."
___________

Educational Marxism.

There are several top private school systems nearby that the outraged parents can transfer their children to for the continuation of preparing them for academics at the university level.

The Pandemic hurt a lot of schools in the wallet and many are still scrambling about what programs to cut (remove) to stay afloat including upper-class school districts like Barrington.

Those parents now need to drive a few extra miles and pay a little more so that their kids can continue with their honors studies/college prep classes but they'll now be in a more competitive environment with those on their level at schools designed for sending high school students into good universities.

Yet, with the income levels of 2 - 3x above the national average, they can easily afford to send their children to a private school than the local Barrington public school district.

• From my own personal experience, it's best for top students to be at schools that are academically competitive.

In fact, reasons like this are why some parents send their children to private schools because they determine their children can not get what they need from the local public school. On the flip side...these outraged Parents should view this as an opportunity assuming they transfer their kids to an academically competitive school.

wrbtrader

 

[gwb-trading]

There are several top private school systems nearby that the outraged parents can transfer their children to for the continuation of preparing them for academics at the university level.

The Pandemic hurt a lot of schools in the wallet and many are still scrambling about what programs to cut (remove) to stay afloat including upper-class school districts like Barrington.

Those parents now need to drive a few extra miles and pay a little more so that their kids can continue with their honors studies/college prep classes but they'll now be in a more competitive environment with those on their level at schools designed for sending high school students into good universities.

• From my own personal experience, it's best for top students to be at schools that are academically competitive.

In fact, reasons like this are why some parents send their children to private schools because they determine their children can not get what they need from the local public school. On the flip side...these outraged Parents should view this as an opportunity assuming they transfer their kids to an academically competitive school.

wrbtrader

So these parents already pay an enormous amount of taxes to fund a local public school system. For that money they expect the local public school system should be providing educational opportunities to their children such as AP and honors courses to make them competitive with graduates from other public schools. Why should parents be paying money to private schools to provide the basic educational courses that public schools are expected to provide?

 

[exGOPer]

So these parents already pay an enormous amount of taxes to fund a local public school system. For that money they expect the local public school system should be providing educational opportunities to their children such as AP and honors courses to make them competitive with graduates from other public schools. Why should parents be paying money to private schools to provide the basic educational courses that public schools are expected to provide?

So do people without kids, these are taxes, not bills that you pay per service. It's simply not how taxation works where everything can be customized for each person's requirement.

 

[gwb-trading]

So do people without kids, these are taxes, not bills that you pay per service. It's simply not how taxation works where everything can be customized for each person's requirement.

Keep in mind the value of your house is directly correlated with the quality of your local schools in the U.S. -- even if you don't have children.

If education does not matter to you... then you can simply purchase a home for a lot less money in an area that does not give a damn about public education.

 

[wrbtrader]

So these parents already pay an enormous amount of taxes to fund a local public school system. For that money they expect the local public school system should be providing educational opportunities to their children such as AP and honors courses to make them competitive with graduates from other public schools. Why should parents be paying money to private schools to provide the basic educational courses that public schools are expected to provide?

First of all, for that type of money...I'm sure they're living in Barrington for other reasons besides the public school systems.

Also, Barrington is a district that's known for parents to shop around when it comes to the education system and sports. It's not uncommon for those living in Barrington to send their kid to a different (nearby) school district for academics or sports...

Something I'm sure the Barrington school district must already be aware of considering it has been occurring since the 80s.

Anyways, honors classes are not the only top classes at Barrington. They also have AP classes in a public school system that some argue are more academically challenging. I wouldn't be surprised if the school board looked at all the advanced academics that are offered and decided the others are just as suitable.

• Another issue not discussed. What's occurring with the teachers in those honors classes...not being paid enough, too many taking early retirement, or what ???

Regardless, look at a map of the nearby school districts and universities to Barrington. They have many opportunities beyond their kids having the ability to walk or bike to school. In fact, it's not uncommon for top academic high school students in Barrington to already be taking college prep classes in the public school system...

Classes that are not under the umbrella of "honors class".

• Personally, I knew someone from that public school district (Barrington). She was an honors student (English, Math, Biology) and she was also moved up a year in her class (12th grade when those her age were in 11th grade).

In addition, she enrolled at a nearby university for other classes that her high school honors math class did not offer (e.g. Differential Equations)...actually had never offered. Back in the day, this was called Dual Enrollment Programs...saves your parents a hell of a lot of money or time.

Thus, if she was in Barrington today and they took away her honors math classes...she would still have access to her other top academic resources that were not only preparing her for college...they were improving her acceptance into a top international university in science.

• Anyways, she graduated at the top of her class from Johns Hopkins University.

My point, these "outraged parents" will not see their child suffer academically although a few disagree. In contrast, they will utilize their other academic resources and be more in line with others on the same top academic level as their kid.

In my opinion, the Barrington school district probably saw a growing problem within their public school district with those that already had access to other academic excellence / academic opportunities.

wrbtrader

 

[ipatent]

The availability of AP and Honors courses is a minimum standard for a good school district. It's bad enough that parents have to yank their kids out of inner city public schools.

 

[wrbtrader]

The availability of AP and Honors courses is a minimum standard for a good school district. It's bad enough that parents have to yank their kids out of inner city public schools.

Barrington is not the inner city although I understand what you're saying.

Regardless, I see a great difference between a good public school and top-tier public school. It's the money and the types of available sports (e.g. Lacross, Hockey, Debate teams)...

• Barrington has both.

Thus, I don't see the "outrage" but if Barrington didn't have the money and was a inner-city school that was dependent upon honors classes to help the top % of academic students to go to a top university when they had no other route beyond their SATs/ACTs scores...

I would then understand the outrage.

wrbtrader