To Be Or Not To Be Honors Student?

To increase equity some schools eliminate honors classes? Alarmed parents say it’s a stupid non-fix. How about EXPANDING honors class inclusion as an “incentive for more to grow”? It worked for dumbo me 50 yrs ago…

As the WSJ piece noted: “Supporters [of eliminating honors classes] say uniform classes create rigor for all students but critics say cuts hurt faster learners.” May I humbly suggest both sides might not be seeing the forest from the trees? That is, instead of eliminating honors classes, maybe expand its inclusivity … by mindfully, logically, reasonably … stretching the entry standards to allow more ambitious kids wanting to take a serious shot at them, with the understanding they’ll have to prove themselves worthy which, btw, the so-called geniuses must do to stay in the honors program?

It's basically what happened to me 5 decades ago when my high school counselor noted I had straight “As” as a freshman, but in remedial classes. Incredulous, he asked, “Why aren’t you in the honors program”? I said because my elementary school standardized IQ test results for 8th graders put me near the bottom of the class … the only one with a lower IQ was greaser's toady … guess the principal didn’t think I’m smart enough.” Shaking his head, the counselor asked, “Is it ok if we put you in the honors program & you can always drop out of it if you feel you can’t handle it?” Well, he did & I didn’t. I went on to continue to get straight As in the honors classes & finished 7th in a class of 720 (thanks to ”extra-credits” the 3 yrs of honors classes afforded my GPA). College grades were a repeat buffo performance. Ditto law school (only not so much.) Since then, I’ve wondered how many millions of kids are also wrongly stereotyped & deprived of the chance to show what they can really do via the otherwise worthwhile if not ingenuous HS honors programs.

Davd Soul