(I'm a parent of two boys, one of whom finished at Mpls. South last year and the other will be a senior there this fall.)
First of all, you're not forced to apply. You can do nothing and will be assigned to the school that serves your area. Second, if you choose to apply, as Mark Snyder said, there's nothing stopping you from switching during your high school years or afterwards to something else. Third, kids and their parents are making career choices in high school and always have. Some choose to take college prep classes, others don't.
Also, if you'd think about it from the student's perspective for a minute, you might see it differently. They can a) do nothing and go where they're told or b) apply to a program, go through all the hoops much like doing a mini college application and if they meet the qualifications, get into that program. They get to make some choices. When I was going into high school, I didn't get to choose anything. I had to go where they sent me.
So what's so bad about that?
Jim Young Seward
From: "Michael Atherton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2003 11:06:13 -0500 Subject: [Mpls] Warning for Parents - SLCs Maybe Harmful to Children
Someone asked me a question offline about Small Learning Communities. At the time I hadn't done much reading
or given them much thought, but now I have and I think
that parents with children in the MPS had better do the same.
As a starter, assume that your children are entering
9th grade next year and look at the SLC application form on
line and think about the choices you and your children are going to have to make.
http://www.mpls.k12.mn.us/schools/school_guide/application.pdf
There are a number of dangers involved in the Districts'
implementation of SLCs, none the least of which are
accusations of tracking and racial segregation, but take a look at the application and form your own opinion,
then answer the question asked of me, "Are SLCs forcing
children to make career choices?"
Michael Atherton Prospect Park
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