\DOC\WEB\99\04\GARFIELD.TXT link http://www.seattletimes.com GARFIELD: HIGH STANDARDS FOR ALL -> DRIVE OUT SLACKERS? Rigorous time at Garfield High Seattle Times March 7th 1999 p. 1 One of Seattle's most diverse schools wants to offer honors classes only [Classic standards based ed - all will be in top 10% - or else, higher order thinking, death to lecture, rote learning, but no stw] Principal Albert Jones... the revamped courses should emphasize critical thinking and analytical skills rather than memory and repetition.. exploratory, comparitive and interdisciplinary. Less of the direct lecture, rote stuff. plan to offer onlu honors courses to all is unusual..no reason more kids cannot aim for this -- and if it works well, it should literally raise the performance of all the kids.. if we don't do this in every school it will be elitist. if your goal is to insure everyone makes it.. put in support systems then I don't have a problem with it minorities should take more tough classes - one way is to offer nothing but honors, not just track for elite critics say with big gap, solve that first before raising bar higher. Already has reputation for divided school, asian, white in AP track without intense building of stud skills, poor performing students will simply be weeded out students who want vocational work should look elsewhere.. is no longer a comprehensive school proponents say that setting high expectations for all is one of the best forms ofeducation reform -- that all students rich poor black white will do well in strenuous classes if given the opportinity we as a community have to reach down and raise the bar AP rates 22 Garfield 18 Newport 13 Bellevue 12 Eastlake 12 Liberty 10 Auburn 10 Decatur College Board 4-yr College gr seattle 90 Intl school 73 Bellevue 71 Mercer Isl 69 Eastlake 65 Issaquah 65 Garfield 61 Newport 60 Bainbridge Seattle Times Guide to Schools Race vs Seattle avg Native am 1.5 2.5 Af Am 30.8 22.1 Latino 3.6 7.5 Asian 12.1 28.4 White 52.0 39.6 Seattle School Dist 97-98