My family and I have moved into a town near Boston. My child had asked for German I and Chemistry. They did not let him have Chemistry for some reason, and German was not available. So; they put him in Italian, which isn’t much of a challenge to him since he already speaks Spanish. Instead of chemistry; they put him in an intro to science.
Now; he wasted a whole year in an intro to science which he could have used to get rid of the prerequisites for AP Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. He is really wasting his time with Italian since he really loves German.
He talked to a person who supposedly helps with classes. She said it’s too bad since it doesn’t matter what classes he had been put in; mistake or not. He can only either waste time in college trying to get rid of those (like he should have in high school); or take courses online (which will just overload him with work and take time)
Should I go to the school board and complain? What can they do? Any laws? Loopholes?
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You seam to have been given a lot of misinformation. I’d suggest having a meeting with the guidance counsel, if that doesn’t’ work, sit down with the head guidance counsel, then the principal, then the school board. You want to know which classes are actually run each semester and not just which classes are advertised. There are usually great discrepancies between the two. Also, make sure that you son has taken the prerequisites for the classes he wants. For example, intro to science, and biology might be a prerequisite to chemistry. Each school has different prerequisites that need to be taken.
For the language, if German is unavailable try another language. German II, might not really be available either. In your meeting with the counselors or principal find out the reason why your son couldn’t take German II. Was it unavailable or was there another reason. Maybe it didn’t fit in his schedule. If you son doesn’t like Italian, try something else. Do they offer Chinese or Japanese, those would be great learning experiences for your son. If not, talk to the counselor about offering more languages.
Have YOU talked to his guidance counselor? that would be my first step. That person will give you the answers you are looking for. Then you would talk to the Principle, then the superintendent of schools.
I don’t know much about Boston educational system, but in most states, in most schools they have pretty much free reign to teach what they want.
I work in a university and it is extremely hard to accommodate the needs most the students have, let alone the needs of just one student.
Did they not let him take chemistry or do they not have chemistry? And if they do have chemistry was there enough room for him. As I work in the science department of my school I know for a fact that science classes are a lot harder to get into because in labs it is not just a matter of space (which is usually packed to the brim) but also equipment, only so many people can work at a microscope at once.
You say you just moved to the the town. That means your son was not at that school last year. Maybe the kids who are in the classes he wanted requested them in advance.
I can understand your frustration with the idea that he can’t get the classes he would like, but that is not the schools faults. You could talk to the school board, but unless you are married to the mayor they are not going to change the policy for just one student.