New English Courses

I know that there has been some concern that Shepherd High School will no longer track students in their English classes.  Beginning with the 2010 – 2011 school year, students in 11^th grade students will all take 11^th grade English, and 12^th grade students will take 12^th grade English.  The 11^th grade classes will be an amalgamation of the previously taught American Literature and Junior English, while 12^th grade English takes the best of English Literature and Senior English.

This is not a decision that was made without thought and consideration.  There has been a perception that American Literature and English Literature were classes for the “college prep” students.  The reality is that we now have over 85% of our students going to a college or university.  If we have a college prep class that is taken by 50% of the students, yet 85% of the students are going on to post-secondary training, what happens to the other 35%?

We have also done some statistical analysis of results in the 11^th and 12^th grade English classes relative to the college readiness standards as determined by ACT.  These college readiness standards are nationally accepted standards.  This analysis indicates that there are elements from each 11^th grade class and 12^th grade class that could help our student be best prepared for post secondary success.

This curriculum position is also supported by the National Council of Teachers of English.  Here is the position statement from the National Council of Teachers of English regarding tracking or ability grouping.  The highlighting is mine.  It can be found on their website: http://www.ncte.org/positions/statements/tracking   

Resolution on Tracking

·                                 last edited 2 years, 10 months ago

1991 NCTE Annual Business Meeting in Seattle, Washington

Background

Members of the NCTE Committee on Tracking and Grouping Practices in English Language Arts (K–12), who proposed this resolution, urged that classrooms should be communities of learners in which collaboration occurs among students of many abilities. They warned that when students are placed into tracked/ability-grouped classes, this language collaboration which aids learning may not occur. The committee members pointed out that placing students in tracks or ability groups, especially those based on standardized test scores, can have a negative influence on teachers' expectations of students and students' expectations of themselves. Be it therefore

Resolution

Resolved, that the National Council of Teachers of English support curricula, programs, and practices that avoid tracking, a system which limits students' intellectual, linguistic, and/or social development;

     that NCTE urge educators and other policymakers to re-examine curricula, programs, and practices which require or encourage tracking of students in English language arts;

     that NCTE support teachers in their efforts to retain students in or return students to heterogeneous English language arts placement; and

     that NCTE expand its efforts to educate the public about the effects of tracking.

We are continuing to enhance our offerings without tracking students.  Hopefully, we will be able to offer trimester electives specific to literature and/or writing.  The long-term plan is to have an Advanced Placement Literature course, which is nationally recognized. For more information see the following link http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html.  Regardless, everyone will have a high level of expectation.

I hope that helps some understand the rationale.  I know there will probably always be philosophic differenced to this move, but I believe it is the right direction for our English department.