Tracking: Why Schools Need to Take Another Route

First off, let me start out by saying that the majority of my opinions and views are solely based on what I have experienced, ie: the school district I grew up in and the home environment that I was surrounded by.

This article was very interesting, because this is a topic that has been popping up in some of my conversations that I have been having lately. I didn't know what the correct term was for "tracking", I never knew it to be tracking. What I did know were A,B, and C, level classes but even then, school's accross the country have drifted away from using those terms. Which in my opinion is a good thing. My opinion on tracking is 50/50. And by reading Oakes' article I now know more information about tracking, which betters my understand of it.

My parents have always wanted me to do my best. My parents and myself know what my best work is. And it was always clear to me and them when I wasn't trying my best. I was pushed and told to always put my best work out there, but it wasn't in an "in your face" manner. As i got older, i knew that i had to do my homework and papers, without being reminded by my mom and dad. I learned how to be a "good student" on my own. Along with excellent encouragement from my wonderful parents.

Now that I have stated that, I will tell you that throughout high school I was in Honors and College Prep classes. I wasn't a brain, however I wasn't a slacker, low life either. I went into the classes that me and my parents felt were a best fit for me. Chariho used to go by the A,B, and C levels years before I went there. However, 2 years before I started my freshmen year they changed those classes to Honors and College Prep. I think this is a good thing. When I used to hear the other terms being used, the thought that came to my mind was if you were in a C or B level class, you weren't smart, or good enough. If that makes any sense at all. When you hear Honors and Collge Prep, I don't feel as though you are necessarly being grouped. If this blog is sounding confusing or not making much sense, i think i'll be able to better explain myself in class.

With this article however, there were some things that I completely dissagreed with. Oakes states that students in higher level English classes were "expected to learn vocabulary that would eventually boost their scores on college entrance exams." She was implying that ONLY those students in those higher level classes were being taught those words. I can for a fact, state that this is not the case. I took Honors English because that if my strong suit, and yes i did learn the "SAT Vocab words". HOWEVER, so did the students in the College Prep classes, in fact they learned the exact same words as me and used the same tools and packets as i did. So i disagree that with her statement that the students in those "lower level" classes aren't getting the same "education" as those in the higher level. AND why does she need to call the College Prep class a "lower level" class. It's on the same level as a B class, and these students are being PREPARED FOR COLLEGE.

I also disagree with her statement that the high ability classes have "better instructors". I can again say that this is FALSE. The teachers that I had for my English and Science Honors courses ALSO taught College Prep classes, as well as the classes below those. And those instructors taught the same material and used the same tools and required the same from each student.

The one thing that I can say however is that yes, in the College Prep courses, teachers do take a little bit more time on each chapter, subject, topic, etc. And I think this is a good thing. If a group of students needs a little bit of extra time or doesn't move at the same pace as others, then they should be allowed to be in a classroom that allows it. I mean if they are doing the same work as an Honors student just in a College Prep class, with other students who need the same thing, how is that bad? If all of these students in both Honors and College Prep classes are striving for the same goal, how can you argue that? How can you tell someone who is committed to a goal and doing well in school; how can you tell them that they now need to be placed in a classroom with people who are way ahead of them or WAY behind them. Schooling is to improve peoples skills and knowledge, we all want the same thing (most of us) and for those of us who are committed, we should be allowed to learn in the way the fits and works for us best.

P.S: Once again, if this is extremely confusing, just ask me in class to expand on my thoughts; I feel that i will be able to explain myself better without rambling on. : )