Speak Out

Willow Glen Middle School reason why Willow Glen High School loses students

Where do those "negative" perceptions and "serious" retention problems acknowledged by San Jose Unified School District Trustee Carol Myers originate? Why does our local high school "lose" so many of our local kids? As a parent of a soon-to-be ninth-grader and a local public high school teacher for 30 years, I have seen part of the problem firsthand. Our local feeder "middle school" successfully alienates a significant number of community parents on a regular basis! How, you ask?

First, an oppressive and semi-"fascist" dress code that places conformity of attire above offering a decently integrated curriculum. I am aware of the need for dress standards, but a quick examination of the "official" clothing requirements and the realities of selective enforcement by myopic mid-level administrators show clearly how Willow Glen Middle School's dress standards convey negative perceptions, even before the year begins. Students regularly must sacrifice valuable class time because their "khaki" pants or shorts were purchased at the wrong store or are the "wrong" color khaki!

Second, three of five of our daughter's friends will NOT be attending Willow Glen High School in the fall because of a combination of "by-the-book" administrators with little overt concern for the individual personalities of their "kids" and what appears to be weak curriculum in key subject areas.

My daughter WILL be continuing on to "our" local high school in September, because her mother and I refuse to give up on the school located in our community. Many of her friends will not! What a shame? At least Carol Myers recognizes that a "serious problem" exists. Is the middle "feeder" school part of the problem? I think so! Can it be fixed? I sincerely hope so because, without a caring, sensitive, quality learning environment in Willow Glen, our children lose. I look forward to meeting the administration and teachers of OUR high school in the fall to discuss these realities.

Robert Beebe
Husted Avenue

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