Tracy Press

A seventh-grader argues for students to be grouped by ability, not age.

EDITOR,

Education should not be organized by age, but by a person’s intellect. Teachers spend too much time trying to move below-average students to grade level and don’t care that other students are bored because of the super-easy curriculum. It is a waste of time to sit around listening to lectures about things you already know.

Last year’s seventh-graders in Tracy couldn’t skip a math grade but only joined an advanced math group. I am lucky this year to be able to do eighth-grade math as a seventh-grader. The eighth-graders should also have the opportunity to skip a math level, too. The district should make a test for each math grade. Students who pass the test should be able to move on to the next level. This approach should apply to subjects other than math.

— Lucy Cui, 12, Tracy

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written by What's your hurry? , April 09, 2008

Hey kid, good job on the math skills, but here is some free advice. School is a lot more fun than work. The more time you get to spend there, the better. Slow down and enjoy it, instead of being in such a hurry to get out.

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written by sleepy , April 10, 2008

Hey Lucy, what you want exists already. It's called Tracy Learning Center. A charter school at the Clover Campus on Holly & Beverly.