Give Me Mediocrity or Give Me Death?

In the “Truth Is Stranger than Fiction” department, Patrick Henry High School in San Diego eliminated honors and Advanced Placement classes. All in the name of “equity.”

The administrators who thought this was a good decision clearly missed their English classes the day irony was discussed. Or they missed a whole semester on dystopian fiction. There’s a certain Orwellian feel to this decision. Or maybe Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron” without the weights, masks and buzzing devices…at least for now.

The intent of bringing kids up to a higher standard is noble, but policies that reduced advanced or intense curricula do a disservice to students who desire more academic rigor.

This kind of thinking also accommodates a “soft bigotry of low expectations” and suggests that students who may struggle with some subjects, can’t raise their game in others.

Instead of reducing or eliminating these courses, increase them and encourage students to put the time and effort to excel academically. Schools that demand high standards will produce better students.