High school course too tough for you? That’s good.

CAT Tracks Editor's Note:

Cue the eye roll, please!

According to Jay:

"...you will discover that the students who struggle in AP classes are not discouraged by the difficulty of the material when they are taught by encouraging teachers. AP to them is like going one-on-one against LeBron James. They don’t score much, but they improve and are proud to have a tough challenge."

Bears repeating:

"...when they are taught by encouraging teachers."

Hmmm...

Where have I heard that before?

Oh, yeah...

Sounds a lot like the old George W. Bush mantra about "the soft bigotry of low expectations."

Whatever.

So, teachers, as you return to the classroom today...

Stand and Deliver!

POSTSCRIPT:

I don't have anything against AP classes.

High expectations for student achievement? Offering students encouragement to learn? Who would argue with that?

Certainly not I.

What I object to...

...is the constant refrain that most teachers don't already do that.

Enough, already...

...with the lament that poor, sweet, hungry-to-learn students are languishing away in public schools because of disinterested teachers.

Teachers are not the problem...

...and they, more than anyone, would like to be part of the solution.

Unfortunately, there is no "silver bullet" in education. The reasons for low achievement vary from state to state, city to city, and school to school.

Teachers cannot work miracles, all they can do is try, and they do...