Sixth grader XT O’Donohue used to attend a public school in Magnolia. She was constantly bored in English class. She does not want other students to have to go through the same boredom that she did, which she said still sometimes happens at UPrep. This is why she wants an advanced English class.
“The content of regular English class might be too easy for some students,” O’Donohue said. “Students that are at a higher level will be open to it, I’m sure.”
Like O’Donohue, 69.8% of the 43 students polled think that UPrep should have advanced English classes. Among them is seventh grader Felix Cali.
“Some people might want to take the learning a little higher and learn more than what’s been taught in normal English class,” Cali said. “English is just as important as math, and math has advanced levels,”
However, not everyone agrees with Cali and O’Donohue. English teacher, Carl Faucher, does not think that UPrep should have advanced English classes.
“I think it creates a competitive atmosphere, which I think is detrimental to education in general. I don’t think classrooms should be competitive. I do not think kids should be competing against one another. I don’t think they should be competing for grades,” Faucher said.
Although only 30.2% of students surveyed agree with Faucher, English department head and teacher Carrie Niebanck agrees with him.
“No, (I don’t think we should have an advanced English class), I think that we should offer ways that kids can take their passions in literacy and find the outlets that we could offer more of,” Niebanck said, “(Advanced English classes do) what’s called tracking. It labels students as that’s the way they’re always going to be. And often you get stuck in the track. That worries me a lot, that a lot of people will get pigeonholed.”
Eighth grader Calla Hulse feels divided about an advanced English class.
“I have mixed feelings about this, because I think that an advanced English class would probably motivate students to try to do English better,” Hulse said. “But I also think that it might exclude some people, and they might feel left out. I don’t think having a higher level English class would affect me too much, besides me wanting to level up,”
Although she does not believe that it is necessary, she’s open to the idea.
“I think it’s something that we’d want to consider,” Hulse said, “Because if students aren’t having a good time in English or it’s too easy, they won’t be motivated.”