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Elimination of Freshman Honors at BHS?

We recently heard a rumor that there is a movement at BHS to eliminate the Freshman Honor programs in math, English, and social studies. Freshman honors in science has already been eliminated. The rumor states that the administration would like to have all freshman in the same class for these core subjects. It is claimed that with "Differentiated Instruction" all students can be challenged in the same room. As parents of high academic children we question the validity of this statement and are deeply concerned that our children will not be challenged! How can teachers with class sizes of 30+ students manage to challenge children at the low end of the academic spectrum as well as those at the high end of the spectrum? We believe it is the academically advanced children that will lose out if this change occurs. Is this rumor true? And how may we stop it from happening?

– Written by stephanie

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45 responses to “Elimination of Freshman Honors at BHS?”

  1. Anonymous

    I hope people keep an eye out to see if there is anything to this rumor. I already think 35 in freshman english is too much. Looking back, I think my advanced english courses had maybe 25-28 kids, and that was plenty (for us and for the teacher). Does anyone out there know the size of english classes at various private schools. I remember being very surprised to learn that many classes at St. Catherines had 35 kids. I wonder if that is still the case…….

  2. Joanne

    This would be a perfect question to ask at one of the Parent Group meetings. Someone from the administration (usually either Jackie or Matt) is always present. I’m curious to know whether the curriculum is the same for honors English and regular English — do the kids read the same books, have the same assignments, etc.? If the honors English program is eliminated, what do the English teachers think would be the pros and cons of this decision?

  3. Anonymous

    Honors and regular do have different book lists, but I am not sure how the assignments vary. Maybe the biggest difference is the goof-off factor. My kids have complained that some of the general ed. courses have several unmotivated kids that waste lots of time disrupting the teacher and those around them. I would also like to hear from the english teachers on this one. Maybe somebody will post (?)

  4. KRN

    The discussion is being advanced in at least three departments right now: English, Math, and Social Science. The district eliminated the 20:1 freshman class sizes when it implemented the 7 period day and these funds will not be restored to reduce class size. BHS eliminated an advanced or honors program in science a few years ago. If this change is implemented, accerated students will not have any advanced courses during their freshman year.

    BHS eliminated its four-year honors program in the social sciences a few years back. This program was often cited by graduates as their best college preparation and academic experience at BHS. As the capstone instructor in this program, I can attest to the value of a strong, integrated, four-year honors program for student retention and success in college.

    Whatever the academic gains may be in this proposed change, they will not be recognized by the honors students themselves.

  5. Anonymous

    My son is a senior and he still says that Firpo’s Freshman History program was his most meaningful high school learning experience.

  6. KRN

    This post came from a thread Seven Period Days by BHS Honor Geometry Teacher Mike Skrable. It may give some more insight as to why the elimination of honors is taking place. It is easier to schedule classes if there are no honors sections.

    “I teach the geometry AS (honors) class at Burlingame. In accordance with the district policy of open access to the honors program, it is available to any student who signs up for it (though students are obviously well-informed about the level of rigor and expectations of the course) and, accordingly, any student who does sign up for it is enrolled in the course the following year. We had about 43 students who had the ability and desire for the course sign up for the class next spring. Because of the cut in overstaffing, we were only able to offer one section of the course. Thus, about eight students who wanted to take an honors level course, had the ability to do so and the room in the schedule to be able to do it were arbitrarily assigned to the regular? CP geometry.

    There simply was no way the district could afford two sections of the course because of the zero overstaffing. Thus, despite the district’s open access policy, some students were denied access to a challenging curriculum solely by the financial ramifications of the seven-period day. While this scenario happened to occur in my geometry AS course, it actually can occur in any honors vs. CP course or AP versus CP course if the enrollment numbers fall in a similar fashion.”

    This is taking place in AP/CP classes right now as AP students cannot gain access to AP classes because the classes are either full or the student’s schedule is blocked becuase of full classes in other areas.

  7. KRN

    Freshman honors courses provide a stronger academic base for successful completion of subsequent honors or Advanced Placement courses than other alternatives. Freshman honors courses should include a curriculum that is vertically linked to future courses within the same discipline and should complement other honors courses that may be taken in the sophomore, Junior, or Senior year. In short, Advanced Placement instruction begins in the freshman year. This will enable an Honors/AP program to effectively spread out instruction of curriculum and skills over a longer period of time, producing greater retention and student success.

    Parents who are planning for their children to be eligible for admission to University of California caliber schools and above need to be aware that admission requirements go beyond the SAT and G.P.A. While the UC’s mandate a competitive academic program in high school, the UC’s also set benchmarks for academic skills for entering freshmen. These recommended? levels of academic preparation may be found at the following web site.

    High School Preparation for University Work

    The elimination of the Freshman Honors program will limit the ability of each student to complete these goals while in high school.

  8. Joanne

    KRN, you mentioned that BHS eliminated its four-year honors program in the social sciences a few years back. I know that the 9th grade class has been changed. My son had Ms. Riley in 9th grade and thought she was terrific; perhaps he would have thought Mr. Firpo was as well if he had continued to teach his class. Are you familiar with the current 10th and 11th grade history and the way those classes are being taught? Is this part of the old program that you hold in high regard or when Firpo’s class was changed did the entire four year curriculum and approach change? What, in your view, is the main difference between the honors social science classes and the non-honors?

  9. Anonymous

    As a parent of an 8th grader, I am not yet concerned about college preparedness for my child. Call me naive, but my real immediate concern if BHS decides to eliminate honor classes, is how will the teachers keep my bright child excited to go to class, challenged in his work and stimulated, if much of the class time is spent motivating unmotivated kids and teaching middle of the road lessons? I truly question if differential instruction can be successful – especially in classes with lots of kids and in short class time periods. What can be done to prevent this from happening? In the past, BHS has been known for its superior honors/AP classes and I hate for this to change.

  10. KRN

    I have been teaching AP at BHS for the last 13 of my 17 years at the school. I brought the four-year of honors/AP to the program when I introduced AP Government in 1994 and AP Economics in 1996. The four-year honors/AP program featured a vertically integrated curriculum that prepared students to take AP Exams in United States History, American Government and Politics, and Macroeconomics, earning 12 college units of credit.

    If your son enjoyed Ms. Riley’s course, then double his enjoyment, as he would have a year of honors freshman social studies. While I do not teach the class, I know that Ms. Riley was limited in what she could take from Mr. Firpo’s course since the class was reduced from one-year to one-semester. Mr. Firpo’s course was integrated with Honors Freshman English and the two courses collaborated on projects and productions throughout the year.

    The reduction of freshman honors to one-semester has also reduced the level of skill and curriculum mastered and retained by the students. This loss of learning has impacted students in sophomore honors because these students now enter the sophomore year less prepared than under the previous system… The loss of instructional time in the freshman year has forced the sophomore teachers to cram? more skill development into the sophomore course before sending these students on to AP United States History. AP US is a demanding course with a large reading and writing mandate.

    The department is still re-aligning the curriculum from the loss of the four-year program. It is also important to note that it is difficult to compare the old program against the new one unless you have experienced both. A family with a child in both programs would (and has on the voice) be able to tell the difference.

    Finally, what is the difference between honors and non-honors? Honors students are normally ahead of their peers in skill and subject matter mastery. They should have the capacity to handle a larger amount of work, more critical thinking, self-motivated, and have an objective of entering AP courses at the upper levels of high school. This means that these students will be taking college level courses while they are in school. College preparation students are learning at grade level and are preparing for college.

    The elimination of the freshman honors program would remove a parental choice for students to be challenged at their appropriate level and would steal a year of challenging learning from these students. If the school is going to offer AP courses, then the preparation for these courses begins in the freshman year.

  11. Joanne

    You state: “The loss of instructional time in the freshman year has forced the sophomore teachers to cram? more skill development into the sophomore course before sending these students on to AP United States History”….what specifically is the skill that the sophomore teachers are supposed to be developing?

  12. KRN

    You need to take a look at the AP U.S. History text and the AP exam, Students will need to develop strong reading and note taking skill as well as be able to retain a large amount of information. Perform significant cause and effect and compare and contrast analysis on historical events, develop writing skills to perform the Document Based Question Essay onthe exam as well as “Test Wiseness” to read and analyse the multiple choice questions on the AP exam. This is after students have developed a sense of history and critical thinking.

    A look at the AP U.S History text and exam is a good start.

  13. Joanne

    Thanks, KRN. Would it be correct to assume then that the major difference in curriculum between the honors/AP classes and the nonhonors clases are that the latter do not need to “teach to the test”?
    This is not meant to be a criticism of the teachers at BHS or the curriculum — I understand that the AP classes are almost mandated by the admission requirements for the better universities — but it strikes me as a sad state of affairs that we are taking “our best and our brightest” and instead of instilling a love of learning and letting their minds soar and explore connections to history and the world they live in, we are asking them to memorize countless “soon-to-be- forgotten facts” for a test that needs to be taken that may or may not give them college credit and may or may not help them get into the college of their choice.
    Time ran a cover article in December titled “How to Bring Our Schools Out of the 20th Century”. One memorable story in it was recited by a mother, Deborah Stipek, whose daughter was asked to memorize the rivers in South America. Her mother — the dean of Stanford’s School of Education — responded “that’s silly. Tell your teacher that if you need to know anything besides the Amazon, you can look it up on Google.” The article went on to say that many believe that what our students will need in the 21st century is more “portable skills” (critical thinking, making connections) and that, in order to develop those skills, many foreign curriculums are taught “in depth and in careful sequence, as opposed to a succession of forgettable details so often served in U.S. classrooms.” I guess Mrs. Stipek’s daughter won’t be passing any AP tests soon.

  14. Joanne

    A P.S. to the last post: I think Thomas Friedman is one of the best thinkers of our time. I read somewhere — probably in a Time or Newsweek article describing America’s most influential citizens — that Tom said “it’s not that he is brighter than other folks, he is just able to connect the dots in a way others can’t” And connect he does — across academic disciplines and world cultures!

  15. Mac

    When education becomes standardized, cuts are made from the bottom 10%-15% AND the top 10%-15%. Special Education constitutes a majority of the bottom end– the initial cuts began there in September. Now, cutting from the top 10% has started…

  16. Anonymous

    Is this just a rumor or is this a serious consideration for, not just BHS, but the whole district?

  17. KRN

    Joanne,

    You are assuming that in the process of teaching AP that we are not teaching students how to think. I would suggest that you review the standard and content of the AP exams at collegeboard.com before you advance with your argument. I agree that having the freedom to teach anything and everything is a great option, but the subject matter curriculum of the AP courses are the courses that our children will see in college.

  18. Joanne

    Fair enough.

  19. KRN

    The teaching to the test that you mention above is what is happening to our schools as a result of the state mandated tests, not the AP exams. Teaching to the test does begin to happen in AP courses when schools reduce the instructional minutes or overload courses with students who may not be prepared to handle rigorous academic challenges. The shift to the 7 period day and 50-minute periods came at a cost of 22 days of classroom instruction. The movement to Open Enrollment in Honors/AP placed a number of unprepared students into courses that they could not handle.

    Dr. Stipek’s comment also comes from a position of privilege in that Dr. Stipak is already at Stanford thus ensuring her child a spot in a future freshman class. Also, her child may already attend a prestigious private school that does not have to rely upon AP courses for college admission.

    Colleges rely upon AP courses as a reliable benchmark for student achievement. There are few secondary schools that do not need to offer AP courses and can still get their students into highly competitive universities. Students in public schools and private schools must take AP courses in order to gain entrance to highly competitive universities. Students in elite private schools and home school students may be exempt from AP courses because of the traditional standing of the school or because home schoolers can demonstrate mastery through other means. Since most of America can’t afford an elite private school or home schooling, we are thus mandated to compete in the AP pool if are children are to attend UC level colleges. It is not the colleges who have implemented this level of competition but the students themselves. College admissions is based upon a market function. There are a limited number of schools and a high demand for admission. It is the students who have loaded up on the AP courses to gain higher status for admission and the colleges have welcomed this trend with open arms. The UC system has commented that the students that it receives today are the best prepared that it has seen in decades.

    I’m not against alternatives but I’m a parent and community member of a public school that should provide the best preparation possible for students that will have to apply to college in a highly very competitive environment.

    One last open-ended question. If the elimination of Freshman Honors is the answer what is the question? What is the problem with the current situation?

  20. Mac

    “The reduction of freshman honors to one-semester has also reduced the level of skill and curriculum mastered and retained by the students. This loss of learning has impacted students in sophomore honors because these students now enter the sophomore year less prepared than under the previous system… The loss of instructional time in the freshman year has forced the sophomore teachers to cram? more skill development into the sophomore course before sending these students on to AP United States History. AP US is a demanding course with a large reading and writing mandate.”

    Take heed, this person teaches the class and is a professional. This assessment of the learning/”de”evolution process must be respected and appreciated.

  21. Mac

    Now that Tom the tree is saved for the year, it would be nice to see the community rally to save something else historically valuable– the honor and integrity of a once proud school district.

    Also note the Sequoia school district is offering its teachers a new contract with increased salary and is being upfront by publically annoucing that local tax revenue may dictate future cuts.

  22. Test Scores

    This is just one of many ‘feel good’ fixes that are being positioned at BHS. Parents need to become more aware of the changes that are being presented and how these changes will impact the academic integrity of your child’s education.

    Parents assume that these changes come from the majority of the facuty on the campus but in reality they are coming from a much smaller group carrying an agenda.

  23. Mac

    KRN– Just a shot in the dark to your open-ended question (phrased in Jeopardy-ese)…
    “What is “No Child Left Behind”? (AKA “No Child Gets Ahead”)

  24. Concerned Parent

    In regards to the question posed by Jen: “Is this just a rumor or is this a serious consideration for, not just BHS, but the whole district?” – this decision will only impact BHS. At a meeting at BIS last night, Sam Johnson stated that this is a decision that will be made by the BHS administration. So, it is not yet a done deal, but could be!

  25. Anonymous

    I can’t imagine the PTA folks quietly going along with this……seems odd.

  26. Anonymous

    Have you parents spoken up about this? Called the PTA, Mr. Johnson, the Principal, voiced your opinions, concerns and asked questions before the decision is made?

    Speak up people before you complain that you were not being heard.

    I would ask questions and speak up if it was my children’s school.

  27. Anonymous

    It should be on a PTA agenda, right, or is it not to that point yet, KRN?

  28. KRN

    It most likely will never be on a PTA agenda because the decision-makers don’t believe that this is a parent issue. The PTA folks won’t get a choice to go along with the issue because it will never be presented to them.

    Remember when BHS lost its four-year honors program in social studies. The social science department voted 8-0 to keep the program yet the BHS administration decided to go with the district and eliminated the year long honors program. Parents NEVER got to voice an opinion on this issue. At least 50 BHS alumni wrote in to the school board to save the program as it was an influential part of their high school program.

    The way that freshman honors in math, english and social science is going to get eliminated is by keeping it off the publi radar which means keeping it off ANY agenda.

    How many people thought that they would attend a BIS parents night only to find out that the Freshman Honors program may be eliminated. Would this issue even have been mentioned if it were not for parents asking questions?

    Its time to ask more questions.

  29. a teacher at BHS

    To the original poster, Stephanie, Jen and any other concerned parents: yes, I think there is something you can do.
    1)you can voice your concerns directly to the principal (or other member of BHS administration)
    2)you can attend a Parents Group meeting and express your concerns there.

    KRN’s previous post about the process of how the four-year honors program was eliminated illustrates how important it is to do so now before it is too late.

    It’s mystifying that the elimination of freshman honors is even being considered. The ONE and ONLY impact is that it would force students who would take honors classes to now have to take CP (‘regular’) classes. I imagine that the parents of advanced students are justifiably very concerned and upset. There isn’t even a cost savings to this plan as it costs the same to teach a class of 35 in an honors class as it would to teach the same 35 in a CP class.

    The claim that ‘differentiated instruction’ will challenge all skill levels is very deeply flawed because there is only one teacher in the class! Any instruction time the teacher is focusing on the lower skill level is shortchanging the higher skill kids. Likewise, class time spent focusing on the higher skill kids isn’t optimally meeting the needs of the lower skill kids.

    Remember BHS doesn’t exist to serve the teachers or administration. It’s purpose is to meet the needs as best as possible of YOUR children at any skill level.

  30. Anonymous

    Would this possibly result in honors teachers being let go? Is that a potential ‘cost benefit?’ I think it’s bad enough the the current honors english courses are so full, but I can’t imagine 35 kids of all different levels in the CP class.

    But, it probably makes scheduling of incoming freshman easier for admin, as there is one less choice involved and less parent intervention. Still it seems like a move in the wrong direction to me. I remember Johnson saying that the reason BHS couldn’t retain it’s freshman history program was that it was the only school in the district that had the program (aligned with honors english). This move would make it the only school without honors english(?) seems very strange.

  31. KRN

    This is not a cost saving measure. No teachers will be fired. It is a move based upon preference and educational theory. Its an experiment and our children are the mice.

    If differentiated teaching is to work, a single classroom will have a single teacher instructing students at the honors, middle, and lower levels all at the same time. I only named three levels, there are far more than three levels of student ability in a single classroom.

    As a parent, I find it disturbing that my local high school is planning on taking away an educational choice (that should be made by parents) because a few individuals believe they know what is best for my child.

    This move and a few others are following the pop culture of education. Its the flavor of the week, an idea from the book of the month club. The Whole Language movement comes to mind in reflecting upon a popular education program the was readily adopted by many schools, improperly implemented and ended up damaging many students. The program dismissed leaving many students with poor reading and writing skills.

    Jen, can you elaborate on the following comment:

    “Johnson saying that the reason BHS couldn’t retain it’s freshman history program was that it was the only school in the district that had the program (aligned with honors english) “

  32. Mac

    You can try to communitcate with the current administration, but your concerns might be met with “Um hmm”, “Mmmm, I see”, and other communicative gestures indicative of an active listener taking your concerns to heart, but reality may differ.

  33. Mac

    All I’m saying is voice your opinion loud and strong to this administration; be aware that a head nod and a wink doesn’t mean you’ve changed their thinking or persuaded them one way or the other. My experience is that input is received, but the administration has a set agenda and it might (literally) take an act of Congress to change their course.

  34. Anonymous

    RE: the history program for freshman at BHS.

    There used to be a fabulous honor’s history program for freshman at BHS. It was unique in that the english and history dept. aligned their materials so that kids got a double dose of history. The literature in English dealt and was aligned with the material they were taught in history. My son was fortunate to have the last year of this. It is still the class he felt he learned the most from.

    I had just come into the school when there was talk of eliminating the program because according to Johnson and Biggar, it was the only school in the district with that program, and also it was not normed to the new state curriculum standards and tests (which is another issue all together).

    I think beginning the following year, the system for history changed entirely, and my daughter who came two years after my son, has the “new” course that is only a half year and is not aligned with english.

    If the logic of the district is to make sure all schools are normed, then this potential change in english baffles me. Does it mean that BHS will be the only school without freshman honors english? Is this an experiment and if so, is BHS the tester school?

    I think that the feeder schools need to be made aware of this potential change as it may affect those who want to attend Burlingame High.

    Honestly, if I had learned that BHS was even contemplating not offering a higher level english course for my kids who had come out of a very strong English program at the middle school level, I would have tried to switch them to another school in the district, or gone private. I’m sure I’m not alone.

  35. Falcon

    The following posts are from 2004. These are the comments of Burlingame public. Has anything gotten better?

    “I have a son who is currently in college and a daughter who just finished her freshman year at BHS. In the past, all freshmen took one year of history. The honors was Modern World Culture. I’m not sure what the college prep was called. Honors sophomores took one semester of Western Civ and one semester of the AP US History. College Prep sophomores took one semester of Western Civ and one semester of Health.
    The Freshman honors history class was taught with freshman honors english. The books they read and writing assignments were made and graded by both teachers. My son wrote dozens of essays for English and History as a freshman. I can also recall 4 large projects. The two courses together were quite rigorous. My daughter, who took honors history and English, wrote one English essay this year and one history essay. She had one project in history and two in English. I have employed a tutor for the summer to teach her how to write essays. She worked hard this year, but I think she was short changed.”

    “The problem with Mr. Biggar has nothing to do with his age or even his experience, or lack thereof. He emanates a certain aloofness, as well as a certain need to appear “in control” when, in fact, he’s very much not in control.

    Case in point: I happened to witness a fire drill on campus recently. Mr. Biggar was outside, visible, and ostensibly participating in the activity; his actual leadership skills were very much AWOL, though. There was little semblance of control or organization.

    In this day and age, disaster drills are something that need to be taken very seriously, perhaps more so than anything else that ensues on school campuses. If this incident is any indication of Mr. Biggar’s “care” for our children and/or his ability to manage, I would suggest that everyone who is involved with BHS open their eyes.”

  36. Mac

    I think Mr. Biggar probably has higher aspirations than being principal of Burlingame High School. BHS is likely a stepping stone for him, and certain policies may not be put in place for the benefit of BHS students, but are likely implemented with his resume in mind. Serving as a dutiful soldier will merit praise from those in power and ensure a high-ranking administrative position elsewhere. I heard a rumor he didn’t even address the students at the “Welcome Back to School” assembly… does anyone know if there is any truth to this?

  37. KRN

    It seems that the private schools have been paying attention to what is going on in the SMUHSD. Private schools are begining to contact top teachers in the SMUHSD to make the switch over to private instuction. The private schools can offer competitive compensation without all of the hassles of the current political environment.

  38. Anonymous

    Healthy competition and alternative options are good for everybody. But, don’t think that private schools lack a political environment. (by “current” I’m assuming you mean negative). It’s not apples v. oranges, it’s more like Fuji v. Red Delicious.

  39. KRN

    That is true but when the dust settles, the good teachers may be working in the private schools and the public schools are left with the repalcements.

  40. Anonymous

    I understand your viewpoint, though I do not think that replacements = bad.

    Sometimes a person unhappy with their current position, not good or bad, (teacher or executive) doesn’t perform at their highest level, and a change is liberating and exhilerating. A good or bad unhappy teacher at one school may become at star in a new environment.

    The teacher that leaves our District and goes to a private school, or any other school for that matter, could indeed be the “replacement” at their new school. Even teachers at private schools move on.

    I do believe in retention and low turnover, however, and hope all works out.

  41. KRN

    I would love to agree excect that all teachers are not interchangable. Often times education programs are developed based upon the expertise and passion of an individual and when that person leaves, so does the program. Teachers are not factory workers.

    It might also be ineresting to see the job market for a district that (1) is possibly facing a strike and (2) has a recent track record of laying off teachers one month after hiring them. I’m not sure what type of teacher quality the district is going to attract given these two negative issues.

  42. Mac

    Sez me…
    Sam Johnson and his cronies are hired guns enlisted to do the dirty work for a school board with an agenda. He’s no more a leader than a contrived scapegoat who’ll probably move away to someplace like Palm Springs or Florida in a couple years (whenever he’s dismissed, resigns, or retires, whichever comes first) and never be heard from again. He’s what basketball coaches refer to as a “role-player” and his role is to be the “fall guy”, take the brunt of this firestorm, hold the public at bay for a couple more years, then leave. Many people hired under Mr. Johnson also serve in this same capacity to some degree.

    I understand that the school board wants to create a new infrastructure, and while I’d like to drive a Porsche, I can only afford an Honda. I’m not going to starve my wife and kids so I can get what I want. That’s what a relationship is about– you take care of the people who take care of you… you don’t take advantage of them. Unfortunately, the situation this school board is creating will cause a permanent disablity for the community, resulting in many experienced (and popular) teachers leaving. By accepting less for more, teachers would not only be hurting themselves, but also setting an unacceptable precedent. Future applicants would be foolish to not drive a couple of miles away and apply in a neighboring district– the neighboring districts will get the cream of the crop and SMUHSD will get what’s left over. That’s very different from the way things have been over the past twenty years or so. SMUHSD has always been able to attract the best and the brightest, but the new package that will be offered to prospective hires will not be as lucrative and SMUHSD will not have the ability to compete with surrounding districts.

  43. KRN

    Mike Skrable will not be returning to BHS next year. Mr. Skrable has accepted a position teaching advanced mathmatics at Carlmont High School.

  44. KRN

    There is still a very strong movement to eliminate the freshman (and maybe sophomore) Honors programs in English, Social Science, and Math.

    These decisions are not made with public or parental input. This issue is sitting on the “back burner” and will be implemented when the public is not looking.

    Burlingame lost its Four Year Honors program in the Social Sciences because the issue was not in the public eye.

    The following item is from the Hillsdale High School Site Council. This is the movement for the entire district as there is a strong desire by some administrators to eliminate the Freshman Honors Programs.

    “AS/CP Integration
    With the integration/detracking of levels in the 9/10 English and Social Sciences, one issue is the feasibility of keeping classes balanced in AS and CP numbers per period (to provide opportunities for teachers to also divide levels in certain lessons/units). The council discussed the positive aspects of detracking and differentiating these core classes to create more meaningful opportunities for our students. Although the interest is there to begin the process of detracking, a timeline needs to be decided to discuss the details of planning curriculum development and the needed department funds to support this meeting time. Principal Shiu suggested a possible informational meeting with freshmen parents regarding 10th grade detracking to gain input. In the last set of minimum days, all involved teachers will meet to create a plan toward implementation.”

    Link
    http://www.hillsdalehigh.com/site_council/sc_minutes070423

  45. Anonymous

    Here we go again!

    Despite the wishes (and votes!) of individual departments, the site administration of Burlingame High School has continued to push to eliminate or “water down” honors level courses for freshman. The administration would like to replace the Honors courses with homogeneous courses using differential instruction. This means that students reading at the 3rd grade and 12th grade level will have the same textbook and assignments.

    When presented to parents and teachers of honors students, it is agreed that differential instruction in a homogeneous classroom is not the best method of instruction for advanced students.

    Most recently, the BHS math department voted unanimously to retrain its Freshman Honors Geometry course as well as add a course in Honors Algebra 3-4. The department was told that these courses would not be offered and that the Honors sections would be replaced with homogeneous courses using differential instruction.

    Last year, a movement to eliminate the Freshman Honors program in English and Social Science at BHS was thwarted when a group of parents became aware of the movement and called for an immediate meeting with the site administration. The honors courses were spared, but only for a year to pacify the group.

    The English Social Science, and Math Departments have met and decided to continue with Honors instruction. If the departments have made a decision, then why is there a continued the push to de-track?

    The current sophomore Honors course in social science is about to be watered down? as the SMUHSD leadership has mandated that it will not purchase an Honors level text for the course as it has in the past.

    The rationale of the district is that an advanced textbook with a higher standard of reading would be a gatekeeper? to the honors course as it would reduce the opportunity for all students to enter the course. Isn’t the objective of an honors course to stimulate the higher levels of learning?

    The teachers of the sophomore Honors course have been told that they will have to use a lower level reading text to instruct the honors course.

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