Freshmen and Sophomores only…
Dr. Larsen,
The school board in my town has just voted to open our new high school with only freshmen and sophomores attending.
This will be about 350 students. My husband and I feel that it will rob our son of opportunities available in a full high school and are considering sending him to a different town to attend school. My son wants to stay with his friends.
I would like your opinion on this new trend.
Thank you for your help.
Considering
Dear Considering,
The "trend" is new to me.
It probably has to do with either money or some idea from some school of education.
Beware! Your issue seems more direct. That is, what is the opportunity to which you refer. Curriculum in most high schools is four years of math, science, English, and social studies, in various disguises of course.
High schools are in need of reinventing since youth and experiences of the age group have changed dramatically over the past 100 years. The curriculum hasn’t.
So, when your son speaks of his friends, this is a major part of his high school experience. A traditional four year high school can offer a better library, sports, more bells and whistles; but one must ask what additional benefits will be present.
Presumably your son will continue to a community school following the first two year stint. He will go with his class mates. My only preference is for some private schools, frequently parochial, which offer something one might call "spirit." This is the feeling and joy of wanting to be in a particular school.
One such school, in my opinion, is Central Catholic in Lawrence Massachusetts. Graduates want to go back and see their old teachers. Students and teachers seem committed to the learning task.
This is a favorite high school of mine, and I am not even Catholic! The curriculum is not elaborate. The "spirit" is. The location of the school lacks verdant fields and lush gardens, but the power of being part of the student body seems to work well. Of course, there are always exceptions, but this is my view.
Your son will benefit more from the spirit and atmosphere than the layout or building.
Tags: 2 year high school, high schools, new trend, school experience, Two Grade Highschool, two year high schools
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