Recently, tensions are running high among parents, teachers, and students over the rumors surrounding the potential cut of the Honors level programs at SHS. Parents formed alliances against the rumored proposal, lashing out against supporters. An email was sent out by a concerned family to parents of students regarding the proposed program, rallying support against the cut of honors classes. But what many students and parents misunderstand is very little is actually changing.  With the exception of a few classes, it looks as if the Honors programs are here to stay for the time being.

Most Scituate High School members have heard of the now finalized English transformation that will begin to transition next year. AP Language will now be offered to juniors. For next year, juniors will also be offered the option of taking an Honors English III class, so long as enough students sign up to fill the course. However, next year is merely a transition year, for in the following years Honors English III may no longer be offered, (as a side note, AP Language will be open for both seniors and juniors next year, with separate versions of the class offered to each grade).

“We will offer an Honors English class next year in addition to the AP class for juniors,” said Mr. Lynch, the English Department Chair. “But if, for example, only nine students sign up for it, we will not run it. We do not have the staffing nor the means to run a class that only has nine students in it. But we will always design a program that meets the needs of the students.”

Lynch explained how “the school is trying to offer more opportunities for kids. The students themselves dictate the program of studies. In 2007-2008, only seven students took AP exams in the English department. Last year, there were 77 kids who took the exams,” said Lynch. “So what does that show? That there was a whole bunch of untapped potential here at the High School.”

The only other Honors class that is currently being removed from the curriculum next year is Honors calculus, which, as senior Brendan May pointed out, has not actually run in the past few years. At the school committee meeting Feb. 25, May spoke on behalf of the student’s opinion on the new program with junior Alyssa Pasini.

“The parents think they know what is best for the school, but they are not always right,” said May. “I was there to represent the school on behalf of the student’s viewpoint.”

The way the program stands currently is that “there is really nothing to be changed,” said May. “Parents were complaining because they thought we were cutting all Honors programs, but we are not.”

Looking strictly at next year, Honors history for juniors will continue to run as well as junior Honors English. The cuts of these two classes were the center for parental concerns, but as May put it “the incoming classes will only have more opportunities.”

“The future really is not hazy in regards to the curriculum—as we have specific standards from the state and national assessments that we have to prepare students for,” said Lynch. One thing that is certain is that even greater opportunities may be offered to all incoming classes. These opportunities will allow students to challenge themselves and become more college, career, and life ready. As of now, it appears as if all of the commotion over the change was for nothing.