To the editor:
As a proud new graduate of Beverly High School, I am appalled by the path the administration is presently leading the school down. A few months ago, we discovered that a new schedule has been developed for the high school that, among other things, is designed to increase time spent in the classroom by cutting out study halls and improve learning overall by increasing the amount of time spent in each individual class.
Unfortunately, over the past weeks and months, students and teachers have discovered that this new schedule will not improve learning at BHS at all, and in many ways will be detrimental to it. Due to this schedule's setup, courses must have at least 24 students enrolled in them in order for them to run. If that number is not reached, the class will be cut. For this reason, quality electives such as international relations and economics, courses that will prepare students for college and beyond, have been replaced with fluff courses like "The Art of Math." We, as a community, should be encouraging students to take challenging electives, not taking away the opportunity. Also, AP courses are actually losing, by some estimates, about a third of their classroom time. I question making changes to the schedule that cause quality classes to be cut and that seem to punish students with the highest standards.
In addition, the administration has failed to communicate these changes to faculty and students. These cuts came as a major surprise to everyone in the school community.
I transferred from St. John's Prep to BHS after my sophomore year because I knew Beverly High would give me what I needed to succeed, and it did; come September, I will be attending Brandeis University. Sadly, if BHS continues down this path to mediocrity, I fear it will not be able to serve future students in the same way it served me.
Brad Burns
Beverly
No Limits for Disabled Hunters at Mich. Base
Victim Identified in Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Radioactive Bluefin Tuna Crossed the Pacific
90 Guns Seized, Dozens Arrested in Oakland
Raw Video: Hail Storm Batters Oklahoma City
6-Year-Old Going to National Spelling Bee
California's Foie Gras Ban About to Begin
Video Essay: Funky Winkerbean Comic Turns 40
Hurricane Andrew Remembered, 20 Years Later
Judge's Ruling Halts Tenn. Mosque Construction
Romney in Las Vegas on Texas Primary Day
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Even Fla. Police Shocked by Face-Mauling Attack
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
