Reply to Wilson honors for all - how has it worked?

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[quote=Anonymous]What amazes me is that admin cites a study that says some kids with average or above average IQ are in the lower class and some with average or below average are in the higher level classes.  Because of this, they are basically justifying HFA.

Are you kidding me?

Since when does IQ equate 100% directly to academic achievement?  Show me a good study that says that.  We all know kids with high IQ who are lazy and don’t apply themselves and don’t do well in school.  There are kids with average IQ but extremely motivated, disciplined, hard working and as a result do well in school.

I’m not saying all, but I bet some of those kids in the lowest level class with average or above average IQ are not motivated to do the work, don’t care about school, or have other reasons that prevent them from doing well - neglect, emotional/physical abuse, depression, anxiety, missing school too much, etc..  Many of these factors are more associated with poverty.  No motivation or apathy about school likely can be traced to parent’s values, and we know that poverty is a big factor here.  If parents don’t place a high importance to education and don’t support their children, then that child will likely not do well.

Those with average IQ who are in honors and doing well are likely the motivated, hardworking type.

In my opinion, teachers recommendations are the best because they know the kids and what they can and cannot do in the classroom.  They know how well they can or cannot perform. if admin wants to be more objective, then set parameters such as 4 on parcc and 80% or higher on a developed test for entry to honors class.  These 2 parameters can make up 40% each and teachers recommendations 20%.  You get the point.  It’s not difficult to develop an equation on who gets into honors and who doesn’t that is transparent for all to understand.

What I also find unbelievable is that admin is asserting the content and pace of the honors course will not change, yet they have not addressed at all the following questions:

1. Syllabus of the topics and timeline of what the current honors class covers so it’s transparent and parents can track.  As someone who posted before, ideology and reality is not the same.  A teacher can have the intention of adhering to the syllabus but find it is not working with the wide grade spread and so 
might not be able to realistically stick to her original intent.

2. If the honors course content and pace is the same, what is admin’s solution to addressing kids who cannot keep up and are doing poorly or failing?

3. If the course content and pace is not being adhered to as promised due to a large percentage of kids struggling, what is admin’s solution to meeting the needs of the kids who are not being challenged like they would be if it truly was an honors course content and pace?

I’m sure there are other good questions I’m missing and others chime in if you want.  But I just find it unacceptable and unprofessional that these basic questions have not been already thought out and adrressed by admin with their HFA.  I have also noted that the few on this forum who are advocating HFA for all have not answered the questions either when question #2 above was asked by a previous poster.[/quote]

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