Honors Students Raise the Bar in 'Regular' Courses

Dear Extra Credit:

I taught at West Potomac High School from its inception in 1985 until my retirement in June 2004. I previously taught at Groveton High School and at Fort Hunt High School (my alma mater).

I doubt that the discussion concerning Advanced Placement, honors and regular classes is unique to West Potomac High School.

One of the ironies of my teaching experience is that, though I never chose to teach AP courses, I often faced students and parents who thought my "regular" U.S. and Virginia history and government classes were too challenging. I often faced an administration and guidance staff that would let students transfer into another teacher's class, one that was not as demanding.

As you know, there is a great variance within departments about how much work is required to be successful.

I think Ms. Palma [a West Potomac student who objected to the discontinuation of the honors class option] misses the point of a free public education when she says, "Some of us are not ready for college work. We need to have our extracurricular and after-school jobs" [Fairfax Extra, Feb. 9].

Critical thinking skills and the development of those skills in a social studies class are skills that will benefit a student well after high school. The presence of so many honors students in a regular course should raise the bar for all the students. As you and I both know, high standards and expectations bode well for the entire instructional program.

Part of the dilemma for West Potomac might be the lack of stability in the social studies department. Nine of 16 department members left following the school year that ended in 2004. Only two were the result of 30-year retirements.

Neil Robinson

Annandale