Student leveling is something that is used in classrooms all
over the country. It places kids in different groups within the classroom
depending on their academic skills. The Manchester School District is looking
to remove leveling from classrooms. The reason that this is being done is due
to indications that there is a large educational gap between the minorities
that are enrolled at the public schools.
They expect that there will be some outcry over removing the
leveling, especially from parents who have students that are in the advanced
levels. They also feel that some teachers will be against the change as they
are so used to teaching in different levels.
How do you feel about leveling in classrooms? Do you think
it allows the children that have an easier time learning and doing schoolwork
to excel more than they would if there was no leveling? Do you feel that
students that are in the lower groups are being held back from their potential
because they are only learning what the teachers think that they can learn and
will not be challenged enough? Or do you believe that the leveling is a good
way for students to learn at the pace that they require with will ensure better
success on an individual level?
Source: Union Leader
I'm a junior at memorial and I love leveling but no one else in the state does it so I feel that we should be like the rest so colleges don't look at us differently.
ReplyDeleteI'm a junior at memorial and I love leveling but no one else in the state does it so I feel that we should be like the rest so colleges don't look at us differently.
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ReplyDeleteI graduated from Central High in 2007 and I think the leveling works.
ReplyDeleteStudents who do not learn as quickly or easily can get the attention they need in a lower level while advanced students can move into things that challenge them in higher levels. I believe grades will drop overall if the levels are removed. Higher level students are going to get bored with the "generic" information taught, while some lower level students are going to struggle. I would not be surprised if this increased the drop-out rate that is already deplorable in the Manchester school district.
Removing the levels keeps everyone "on the same level", but you're going to be holding back those students who are more intelligent, and losing those who can't keep up.
I think removing the levels would be unfair to both students and teachers, who need the different levels to accommodate their needs. This is very unfair to all of those involved.
I believe leveling should continue if the district is not willing to add the extra teachers that would be needed to make sure that each student is able to achieve at a level indicative of their ability. By continuing leveling, students who are in lower levels will continue to get the attention and guidance that they need without holding other students back and students who are at a higher level will continue to be challenged without leaving other students behind to struggle. The idea that the higher level students will motivate the lower level students, while on paper and in theory, seems to be a noble goal, in reality, will not work. The class will eventually just level itself with the accelerated students achieving and the struggling students failing. The major difference will be that the knowledge that they are not achieving at the same level as some of their peers will be rammed down the throats of the lower level students every day. No one wants to be in a class where they know they are not able to achieve and no one wants to sit through a class where they are bored and not challenged. Getting rid of leveling may save the district some money (which I think is the real motivation) because all class sizes would be evened out, instead of a teacher and 15 students in an advanced placement course and a teacher and 15 students in a remedial course, now you could have 30 students in one class with one teacher. And everyone would suffer. Now, if the district were willing to put two teachers in a classroom and have an aide or two there to help the struggling students and keep the accelerated students challenged, you might be able to do it and do it well, but I don't see that happening. There is leveling everywhere. Division I teams don't play Division III teams for a reason. College teams do not play professional teams for a reason. Orderlies do not operate on patients for a reason. There is nothing wrong with achieving at the level you are capable of. To take away that level and force all to achieve at a randomly chosen level is preposterous at best and negligent at worst.
ReplyDeleteI graduated in 2008 from CHS, and I think it is high time that Manchester wakes up and ends the nightmare that is the social segregating machine called leveling. It was just shy of illegal in my opinion and it needs to go. As for your class size argument... at no time was I enrolled in a required course with less than 28 students. And I roamed all over the board from level 1-3 depending on my level of motivation. The chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Welcome to the new paradigm in social communications, get used to it.
DeleteThese are some great and really insightful answers!
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