Should we embrace academic tracking?

In Ollie Taylors story chapter it brought up a great point about opportunities to learn. It says “grouping at all instructional levels is that students in low ability groups are exposed to substantially less material and to lower quality instruction than are students in middle or high ability groups.” This holds kids back in an enormous way. The low ability level students are given less information so through out there schooling they are always behind! There is no catching up, because they were never even exposed to some material. A student can only retain something they are taught. If a student never gets to experience all the lessons or it is dumbed down, in a 3rd grade science class how will they do in 4th grade science. I will tell you, not well! I have heard in one of my classes about students who don’t necessarily go to the low ability level classes but are in the high ability classes they just receive extra assistance. It’s called bridging or something like that. They also do this instead of holding some children back; they give extra assistance during summer or on weekends so that the student can catch up or learn new material. I think this is a great thing. This shows the students that with a little help and extra effort they can achieve the same amount of knowledge as all the other kids. I believe this gives a student more of belongingness to school and classes. I know if I was in a group that every one knew was lower level I feel ashamed and honestly I wouldn’t try just as an excuse to be in there. So I think this gives the students reason and willingness to try and achieve in school.

Although on the other hand I definitely can see the other side of the situation about the fact that if we include everyone it makes the advanced students not able to reach their full potential. And for this I say that including all students in learning, all the same material, in the same way is extremely beneficial for a student’s social, emotional, psychological, and knowledgeable wellbeing. Just as the low ability students are able to receive extra help on the side I think that a high ability student should be involved in groups or clubs such as math or debate team or even tutoring. I think this will give the higher ability students the challenge and benefits they need to achieve to their highest potential.

In my classroom I hope I give each student the same opportunities and apply a broad enough learning style so that all abilities are able to accomplish and learn to the best of their ability. If their were low and or high ability students on the complete opposite end in my class I hope I have the time and drive to offer such activities or help sessions different days of the week to help both groups accomplish the material in a challenging yet beneficial way. Maybe provide an extra low ability tutoring type session one or two days a week. While on the other days or days offering to start an extra club that will involve students to higher level think and really challenge their minds.