Alsea School

I just read in the Corvallis Gazette Times yesterday morning that the Alsea School Board is not going to support the move for gradeless classrooms. The principal, Jason Larson is interested in making sure that children are given the opportunity to learn at the level of their ability. A great move, in my opinion. Children have the right to learn at a level at which they are challenged. I suspect that those who oppose this move have children who would remain in the lower levels. I've been impressed with Jason Larson and what he is trying to do. I understand that he sends young people to college early and he is trying to make a difference here in Alsea.

Gifted children often have to remain in classrooms where the subject matter is not challenging and where it is review. This is a tremendous waste of time. The main priority should be to learn at the level at which you are capable of learning. All children should have the right to learn at the level of their ability in each subject. If a young person reads on the 7th grade level, they should be in the 7th grade reading program and if this same young person is computing math on a 5th grade level, they should be learning in the 5th grade classroom for math.

In my opinion, there are three levels of learning, all of which are important. Review of concepts is always important. You should also be exposed to learning new concepts that are advanced and beyond the level of ability. The last is to have the opportunity to learn at the level of your ability. All three are important but in most classrooms, review is what happens for most of the day for gifted learners. How sad! Jason Larson was trying to change this.

The community of Alsea does not like change. They have fought long and hard to make sure that the Federal School lunch program does not get a foot hold here in Alsea. The Alsea School is one of three or four school districts in Oregon without a federal school lunch program. It is my understanding that at one time Corvallis offered to truck lunches to Alsea. It is my understanding in talking to people that over half the children would qualify. It is my understanding that a nice Deputy Sheriff who lives here offered to bring milk every day to the school and that was rejected. I've heard different reasons for this resistance. One that they cannot afford the program, even though a grant application would take care of upgrading the equipment. Another that parents who do not take care of their children should not be given the help.

I guess the fact that children need nourishing food for their brains in order to learn doesn't matter here in Alsea. I guess it has also been judged that they also do not have the right to learn at their own level of ability.

I guess that a gifted child sitting in the second grade who reads on the seventh grade level must sit bored while the teacher talks about second grade words. What's going to happen down the road to the bright young student who is eager to learn? Unless there is a parent to encourage or a mentor, this child will learn that learning isn't rewarded or important.

The school here in Alsea is one of a few schools with the amazing blessing given by the Clemens Foundation that gives a college scholarship to all graduating students. These students have the opportunity to all go on to college but 100% of the students do not continue their education. Maybe not having the proper nourishment for their brain as they try to learn in the classroom and not having the opportunity to learn at the level they are capable has something to do with it.

When you try so hard to suppress talent, the results are not always positive. Sometimes, it comes out in negative behavior and acting out. Too bad this energy couldn't be challenged in the classroom. There are many homeschooling families in this area. One alternative.

The school band and orchestra program has been discarded here too. Not enough funds. The important things just don't seem to be important here in Alsea.

Alsea is a proud community and the people here do not want to hear anything but praise for what happens but if there is something that needs to be fixed, it should be fixed. I've never understood the reasoning behind the justification that it's okay for a child to sit in a classroom hungry or a bright child sitting in a classroom where they aren't challenged.

Yes, there are hot lunches at $2.00 to $2.50 but not all children can afford this.

Periodically since I've moved here 5 1/2 years ago, I've come forward with an outline for programs I wanted to start but it's all been discouraged and rejected. I can imagine the pain of rejection the gifted child feels in the classroom when they are interested in going forward with a project and it is not respected or regarded as important. Since I don't enjoy conflict, I have stopped but I feel sad for these kids--the bright ones who have amazing talent without an outlet.