Two Very Different Arguments for More Honors Options

Dear Extra Credit:

I am tempted to stop reading your column because every time I do, it makes my blood boil. I am tired of all the whining by students and parents about the lack of higher-level courses.

Please encourage them to lobby their school boards or pay for courses that go beyond the basic education.

My children will be taking these "less challenging" classes throughout high school. Funny thing is that these classes are very challenging to a child who has an IQ of 110 and an auditory processing deficit.

My experience has shown that most teachers are more than willing to teach those who get it quickly rather than make the effort to reach every student.

I am not interested in my children and others in similar situations being made to feel that they are less than worthy of a teacher's effort or not up to the challenge. These children are challenged every day, and most make the most of these challenges.

Let us have more AP/honors/IB classes so that high achievers do not interfere with my children's education.

Kathrn Fay

Reston

Thank you for this refreshingly different perspective. Until I received your e-mail, the messages to this column all assumed that the regular courses were pits of bad behavior and rudimentary content. I would love to hear from others with evidence that this is not the case.

Dear Extra Credit:

Fairfax County does its students a disservice by not offering honors classes in all high school core courses.