World History Honor
Language Arts Honor
Physics Honor
数学待定
一开始根本没有觉得她上honor会是一个需要讨论的问题。
后来counselor开始找同学谈话。她的last name排在最后，而下周一见counselor结束后就选课就要结束了，这事闹得。而她因为朋友的一些话语，对物理快班的学习有点举棋不定。
Emma，那个straight A的学生，也曾经表达过这样的愿望。我跟她母亲联系了一下，问Emma选课定了没有。她回了我说，选三门，放弃World History Honor，因为counselor建议只上2门honors。我觉得counselor和家长之间是有一定的利益冲突的。因为counselor要求的就是要稳定，不想一大堆孩子都选了快板，但是GPA反而很低。
我举棋不定，问了问王波。她说，还是要尊重孩子的意见。她们家Nicole是所有的都选Honors，还参加了私校的入选，但是最终因为没有体育特长而没有进去。
我跟聪说了这个情况。她说，"I am not as smart as them.”我说，谁是them？她说，就是那些毫不犹豫就选四门honors课的孩子。
我问，“为什么你会觉得你没有她们聪明？”
她说，“她们学什么都能考高分。”
我说，“高分就代表聪明吗？”
她说，“作为学生，难道不是吗？”
我很想知道一些过来学生的反馈，于是发微信给原来和她在一起的YOCJ的女生，今年十年纪。她跟May回话后，说她当时是选了四门honors课，物理课不容易，应该是所有的honor课程中最难的。因为中学的science课并没有给学生上高中的快班打下很好的基础。所以高中的时候一下子就觉得非常struggle。其实整个高中都是跟小学和出众脱节的。在高中之前，每个孩子都在童话世界中。一进入高中，直入现实。没有老师会手把手地教你，没有老师会告诉你答案是什么，你会碰上好的老师，会给你一定的引导，你会碰上很糟糕的老师，连个教案都没有，就是让你自己去阅读，也没有习题可以做，然后考试就直接给你一个下马威。
高中到底会教孩子什么呢？教会他们学会如何解决问题，教会他们怎么在不尽人意的环境中取得一定的成绩，达到自己的目的，教会他们自己在能够独立思考的同时，也能够互相帮助，同辈的，甚至帮助比自己年轻的孩子们。
在我们学区的微信群中，看到了这样的分享，是一位妈妈问了她自己的孩子和孩子的朋友，对现在学区的课程安排的一些评价。
“As a student who has taken physics, chemistry, and biology at Montgomery High School, I can confirm that it is quite necessary to learn physics prior to chemistry, and chemistry prior to biology. Concepts learned in physics serve as the basis for chemistry - students gain a deep understanding regarding the concept of energy in physics, which is vital to understanding chemical reactions. Likewise, the concepts learned in chemistry serve as the basis for biology - understanding the various biological processes requires a deep understanding of chemical concepts such as the breaking/formation of chemical bonds, intramolecular and intermolecular forces, and others as well. The way Montgomery High School teaches the sciences right now actually facilitates an easier learning process for students, and to change the order now would detrimentally impact a student's experience in the science program. It would be very counter-intuitive to teach the sciences in any other order. Furthermore, the curriculum certainly has changed from the time you went to high school to now - while understanding physics concepts may not have been as important for you in high school, I can say without a doubt that today, in Montgomery High School, it is essential for students to have a good grasp of physics concepts before taking a chemistry course.”
Student 2 "Many students including myself took Physics Honors without tutoring or summer courses and did fine in the class. I understand that Honors and AP classes are difficult, but that is exactly why CP Physics and General Physics are offered to rising freshmen. There is also a very strong reasoning behind the order in which Montgomery STEM subjects are taught. As a person who has taken/is taking courses in all of the STEM subjects in question, I believe that Physics Honors provides a strong foundation by which students can learn subsequent subjects like Chemistry and Biology (Chemistry utilizes applied Physics and Biology utilizes applied Chemistry). If students were given the discretion to skip to either of these subjects, their grades and comprehension of the subjects would degrade immensely. If you have a problem with the teachers, I believe it would be best to discuss any issues or concerns one on one with said teacher in order to learn what particular areas the student may improve in, rather than exclusively blaming the order of the STEM curriculum itself."
后来又看到下面的一段：
转一个美国家长的观点，供大家思考 “Both my sons took honors physics, really worked hard, and did ok, but not super well. Neither of them are STEM students. However, this course took them out of their comfort zone, and made them work their butts off. I believe that there are other levels of physics offered that are less intense, so there are other options. I am not quite sure what is trying to be achieved by changing this course, or removing it. Sometimes you have good teachers, sometimes you dont. Sometimes you have good managers at work, sometimes you dont. Good for kids to have to figure stuff out on their own, when everything is not perfect.... just sayin.”
我看了深受启发，发了微信给那个分享的群友。她非常热情，聊了两三句后，就把她的电话号码给了我，让我立刻打过去。我们居然聊了半个小时以上，而且很多观点都非常相近。我很感叹。我们都同意把决定权完全交给孩子是不可取的，因为她们在这个时候需要的恰恰是一双能够引领她们的双手。我想让她至少去try一下物理快班，如果有困难，我们也可以先找tutor，如果再不行，我们也可以转去一般物理班。那位妈妈说，如果现在上的是数学快班，并且成绩能够在90分以上，应该没有问题。不想让她自己做出错误的决定，更不想让她失去一个成长的机会。
那个妈妈很热情，还说，如果有机会，可以一起吃饭细谈。真是收获。
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