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Board Hears School Plans Students' Class Load Could Grow More Rigorous

Posted on: Tuesday, 13 September 2005, 03:01 CDT

Richmond County school board members were receptive to a plan to increase the academic rigor for all high school students, but a few concerns were raised.

The mere exposure to more rigorous classes will produce brighter pupils, board member Barbara Pulliam said.

Superintendent Charles Larke's plan would require all high school students to take college prep courses.

The new plan would also require students in the college prep track to take at least three technical education classes.

Board member Jim--my Atkins said it's important to get parents involved and hear what they think about the plan.

"If this is going to be successful, we're going to have to have parents buy into it," Mr. Atkins said.

When Pamela Hawes, a mother of two children in the school system, read about the plan in The Augusta Chronicle earlier this week, she threw the newspaper down, she said.

"I just don't think it's fair," Mrs. Hawes said. "If those kids are struggling with basic math, then how in the world are they going to do well in algebra?"

She has a son in high school and a niece who will be a freshman next school year.

Mrs. Hawes said many pupils have a hard time with classes as they are, and increasing the rigor will only make it that much more difficult for them.

If the bar is raised in high school, board member John Seitz said, the bar must also be raised in earlier grades so that pupils will be prepared for high school.

Board members expressed support for the plan but had similar concerns.

"We can't just raise the bar and not have something in place for students who aren't successful," Dr. Larke said.

By "raising the bar," graduation rates, test scores and students' success after high school could be improved, he said.

Other than the issue of toughening requirements for earlier grade levels, Mr. Seitz praised the plan.

"I think this is probably one of the most encouraging movements I've seen come across this desk in a while," he said. "I'm waiting for the cheerleaders to come out and say how great it is."

The plan was presented to the board as a draft and wasn't voted on, but the plan could be in place for next year's freshman class.

Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851

or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.

Source: Augusta Chronicle, The

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