We are fortunate to have good schools in our county. Our community is a very important asset to our schools.

 

Parents and family are supportive of their children and students. Family support is core for good students to be great. Parents volunteer in many ways in our schools. Teachers in our schools are interested in student success. LANL, the primary employer, depends on a strong, successful school system to attract talented employees. A significant amount of school funding is provided by LANL. Those funds provide our schools opportunity other school systems lack. We are fortunate to be here, in our county, with all the advantages available. 

 

Yes our schools are good. I stop short however from calling our schools great. To be great, the school must prepare most if not all our students to be successful after graduation. Unfortunately, a significant number of students are left out, left behind, unable to reach their potential or even understand what that potential may be.

 

Why do I believe this? Afterall, the metrics used nationwide to measure success for schools indicate our school to be in the top tier in the country. To the extent those metrics can be used to compare school systems across the nation, I will agree we appear on the right track. Except those metrics do little more than measure what students learn against a standard set of questions and expectations. At their worst, the importance of the metrics dictates what is taught, how it is taught, and sets a common denominator. 

 

How can our schools become great? Here is my high level view of how our children move through the high school. It identifies those areas which I think need attention.

 

Education tracking – why? Education tracking places students with common overall academic achievement in the same group of peers. The students in each track, for the most part, attend academic classes only with students in their track. There are other methods to educate. I am not going to argue about tracking. It is how I observe our schools operate. It’s a given condition so how can we make it work? 

 

We think of students on either one of two tracks: the AP track or the trades track. The AP track emphasis is college bound students, science, math, difficult studies and exceptionally motivated students. This track is important to our highly educated community. It should be important. Our school system focuses much effort on this track. I support this effort wholeheartedly. 

 

What about the trades track? Simply put, a trades track does not exist. The automotive shop is wonderful but alone is not a trades track. New focus on trades is necessary. Building this component into our schools is important. Many students will benefit.

 

After AP and Trade tracks, what students remain?  The majority of students, I think. You pick a number. I think 70 percent of our students. The students in the middle. Not interested in science or math or just not exceptional in those areas. These student may not learn effectively in a traditional classroom setting. Nor do these students find passion in the trade skills. These are ‘in-between track students’ or ‘middle students’ – call them what you will. 

 

These middle students drift through the High School. Finding some interest here and there. Generally unfocused. Parents are frustrated. Grades can be high and low and all over the map without good explanation. They may find passion in a few specific classes, sport, band, choir, theater, a club, or an out of school activity. Parents seek help but it’s a slow process taking as much as one or two years to see progress.  Some of the time, these students are unhappy about attending school and may feel generally bored at school. Well, do you blame them? There is not a place at school for them. Our school district needs to recognize this block of students and begin a major effort to enable their success.

 

Middle school is a difficult time for many children. It’s a leap from elementary school in terms of responsibility and expectation. Emotionally and developmentally, middle school is a mine field. For many students middle school is unfortunately two years lost. We need imaginative and creative ideas to reinvigorate middle school. No easy answers here. We should focus attention as knowledgable educators and an involved community, listen to each other, and try things. 

 

In summary:

 

* Continue success for AP track students.

* Build a Trades track program.

* Recognize the needs of the ‘middle students’. Put classes and support programs in place for this group of students.

* Reinvigorate middle school with focus to prepare students for high school success.

 

Send your thoughts to me at WilliamHargravesForSchoolBoard@gmail.com.