District Sixth Graders Debate Leveling

The proposal to combine Level 3 and Level 4 English/language arts, science and social studies classes started a heated debate in one of SOMS teacher Angela Forero's sixth grade language arts classes on Wednesday. A sixth grader had started circulating a petition against deleveling—or doing away with the district practice of grouping students in classes according to their perceived academic ability, which currently starts in the seventh grade.

"I think that there should be leveling," said one sixth grader. "Kids who are ahead will be slowed down."

Forero, a member of the task force that researched possible changes to the district's leveling policies over the past year and part of the middle school subcommittee that recommended collapsing levels in the seventh grade, observed that "there's a system in place that favors those who have resources."

"This year (without levels) has worked. Next year will too," Forero told the sixth graders.

"I think there should be leveling because it's not fair to the people who worked hard," argued one student.

"It (leveling) is a great way of challenging students," said another.

Only one student in the class of roughly 25 students was vocal in support of deleveling. Some students who have been slotted for Level 3 next year did not vocalize support for the proposal to delevel.

"The class may be too hard, and we may not get as good a grade," said one student.

Jared Kofsky is a 12-year-old student in the SO/M district.