Rio Rancho High School Registrar Draft Letter

Lots to do today. First, I need to compose a letter supporting my daughter's disdain for the elective class schedule she was assigned. She was very disappointed by the fact that she didn't get a single foreign language. For a year now, she has been thinking of majoring in Linguistics. She thought that studying a foreign language might help her to decide if that is indeed her path. I want to articulate, that I too think that its unfair for lots of reasons. Last year, she let the computer choose her electives and she chose to take Robotics. She ended up with Dance and Study Hall for her other elective(s) and it was just okay.

She has been assigned Dance again, but I can tell she isn't interested in another term of Dance. She just isn't the Dance type if you ask me. She is basically a hard-core academic girl. If there was ever anyone to diagram a sentence I would pick my daughter over anyone else. She understands English and has been a reader since 3rd grade. She used to say that books were her friends. She was so taken by Mark Twain when she read Tom Sawyer she built a raft out of cardboard box and used to sleep in it during the 4th grade. I used to worry that she was overly absorbed with this story. Everytime it rained, I would think that my 4th grader was probably in an arroyo with the "raft" she constructed.

I don't know if other parents have these same types of concerns for their children. I just know how passionate Taylor has been about books and reading. My heart aches when I see that she is not being fufilled in her academic study. She is always willing to accept what we choose to give her. She does not have high expectations for her classroom experience. The Rio Rancho mid-high is quite crowded and she can tell that many of her teachers are simply tired. She accepts this condition because she is unconditionally empathetic and respectful of the human condition. She understands that there are many students far worse off then herself. She can always disappear into a book afterall. She therefore fails to challenge her teachers in academic discourse. Part of the educational process is to challenge and debate in order to gain deeper meaning. For my child, this isn't happening and I can tell you that I'm somewhat disappointed because this needs to happen so that she is able to grow at the higher levels of Bloom's Taxonomy.

When Taylor read some of the advice given to me regarding this topic on my facebook page she laughed. One of my friends recommended that her letter outline a new elective schedule where she would attend her chosen courses period. Additionally, it warned the Vice Principal to be prepared to throw her out of these classes.

Taylor's response to this was, your friend is recommending I become mutiness? She laughed about it. Taylor does not whole heartedly laugh alot. She is a serious girl. I'm not sure what exactly her letter will say, but I can tell you that she was upset. That she is disappointed. I think that you should try to give her a foreign language course, and if you cannot then you should provide her with an explanation.

Now, I know that as a parent and a licensed teacher myself, I could prepare a more academic discussion outlining the reasons why I think that you should reconsider. That, there are many things wrong with our educational system and some of the messages that are conveyed here should be addressed namely:

• Tay has helped Rio Rancho schools meet NCLB requirements since fifth grade when we relocated to this district. The way to pay her back for this is by giving her electives she doesn't want, so she can become demotivated because people who perform well and exceed requirements are not rewarded for their efforts in anyway. Additionally, they should be further conditioned to think that they are not deserving. This is a reality for many youth and we must present reality.
• US schools and culture has a long history of assimilation. An Asian language would be culturally relevent to me and my children. It shouldn't be allowed for this reason.
• We want to make sure that kids that have the ability and emotional academic stamina to study hard core subjects are well-rounded so we give them dance and other creative outlets for their own benefit. Nevermind the fact, that the United States is ranked behind other industrial nations in academics. The one size fits all model had better work at all costs.

I can only hope that these reasons are not pertinent, but there is a side of me that is concerned. Should I be? Is there any chance that you are infact demotivating my child? Does this have to do with assimilation? Are we progressing toward a "one model fits all" methodology that doesn't necessarily serve the needs of academically capable students? Again, I would like you to reconsider my daughter's elective schedule. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,