Weighing in on a possible fix….
I’ve been thinking about what to do to fix a lot of the tracking problems and I think I’ve isolated a huge part of it. You see, the largest problem, in my opinion, is parental involvement. In an article that cited Jeannie Oakes, they cite this very thing as a huge developmental problem for students in tracked classes. This link is:
Parenting
Now, it’s not the kind of parental involvement that everyone is thinking of, although I think that might be a topic for later consideration. The article cites one of the biggest groups against detracking as middle-class parents of gifted students. I think that through parental involvement in their children’s education, they can see what kind of leaders their children will become side-by-side with struggling students learning. If these gifted students are going to become what society has deemed them able to be, then they are going to have to lead others in the future, even if it is as a freakin’ mcdonald’s manager. If parental units can be active in their students lives, they’ll understand the kind of social bond that takes place in class and realize that, though it can be tough at times, the kind of social structure that evolves in a detracked classroom is good for everyone involved, including the “upper” students.
You make a very strong argument. In my opinion, most of the lessons learned in middle and high schools are not academic but social. It is obviously important to have the skills to continue your education, but communication is critical in all areas of study and all professions. It seems like I am one of the organizers and leaders in all of my group projects. Those positions have aided me in my communication skills, group problem solving, and time management.
I really don’t have much of a position on tracking because I feel like I am in conflict. Part of me rejects the idea, and the other part seems to not know how to let go of the tradition of tracking. I am not familiar with anything besides tracking. It is impossible for complete equality within the system and outside of the tracking system. Equality is a goal we are always trying to achieve.