Writer’s Block Demolition Site

Nashuatelegraph.com asked each a few candidates for a local educational position to answer five questions focusing on issues having to do with school board activity and educational philosophy. Obviously, this is a very pertinent topic for me and my role as a future educator. What concerned me the most regarding tracking was Question 4:

“Leveling, or grouping students by ability, is a practice that is used in the middle schools and high schools. Recently, a state department of education review team raised concerns about the high percentage of special education students placed in the lower level classes. What is your philosophy regarding homogeneous or heterogeneous grouping?”

Different candidates, obviously enough, posed different answers:

Robert Hallowell: “The state review cited many concerns about the implementation of special education programs. The concern around leveling was that no specific criteria could be found for why special education students were placed in lower level classes, not that the leveling was necessarily incorrect. I believe that grouping students, by skill level and/or how they learn (auditory, visual, etc.) is both appropriate and effective. A teacher can explain a concept more readily to students that are learning at the same pace. The key, however, is to track student’s progress annually, to set equal increases in expectations for each level and to allow students to move between levels based on their performance. Heterogeneous classes in some areas (humanities and electives for example) are useful for social awareness and encouraging dialogue between students.”

Well, Mr. Hallowell, how wonderful for our social awareness! Shall, we, then, create a social awareness class where heterogeneous grouping is most “useful”? Surely that sort of grouping isn’t “appropriate and effective” in core subjects, so what sort of class does support heterogeneous grouping? I think, Mr. Hallowell, that there are more uses for mixed grouping than you’re aware of.

Another candidate made a similarly murky answer.

Rick Dowd: “ I think the question first begs a definition of these two groupings so that the public may understand the question. Homogeneous grouping groups students of similar educational capability together for learning and heterogeneous grouping mixes students of all levels in the same classroom. This is a very controversial subject and people on both sides of the question have articles and data to try and prove their point. We have recently moved to a Middle School concept here in Nashua which has once again raises the question here in this District. Should Middle Schools be more like elementary schools with regards to grouping, which are heterogeneously grouped? Or should they be more like the current high school configuration where there are levels by capability? Currently there is more or less a homogeneous grouping at the Middle Schools but we have just recently made the shift and full implementation of the Middle School concept has not been completed. We will have to hear from both sides of the question and in the end, each board member will have to decide which direction they wish to go in. I await that debate.”

Dear candidates, could you please answer the question? Mr. Dowd certainly puts his finger on it: we need to address the issue, grow some backbone, and make changes. Please, candidates, show me some progress!

Full article here.