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As of the 2008-09 school year, Whitney High school no longer offers AP English Literature. The school will only offer the standard level English for its seniors. The talk among most seniors is that this change was made to protect seniors who are not interested in pushing themselves by taking the hardest level classes available. By getting rid of AP, Whitney has essentially leveled the playing field but at the expense of not pushing the communities most talented students with the most difficult coursework.
Additionally, recent controversy has been stirring among the seniors about "Panel Interviews." During these "interviews," seniors must defend their college lists before a panel of faculty members, generally consisting of one counselor, a principal, and two teachers. During these panel interviews the Principal Hager and Mrs. Logan (counselor) have told numerous students that they should not apply to the most elite private schools and the counselors and principals are unwilling to write the counselor recommendations on behalf of the seniors because they do not want to sully the reputation of Whitney with the best colleges in the nation. Students often emerge from the panel interviews in tears.
I understand the need to advise a student to have a well rounded and safe school list. I also understand that students can be too ambitious. But what I cannot understand is how a school who prides itself on sending 100% of its graduating seniors to 4 year colleges can so blatantly disregard and deride the ambitions of their students. Most of these seniors have spent six years at Whitney, believing that their high school careers will culminate with applications to and acceptances from elite colleges. Most students, probably thanks to their educations, believed in at least trying, even if their chances of being accepted were slim. How can Whitney educate its students for 6 years only to tell them that they can't, shouldn't, or will not be made able to apply to their dream school?
Whitney's reputation was built years ago by better, more caring faculty and staff. If the school continues its current course, it will surely find itself behind other public schools.