Principal from Leon County’s SAIL High School responds to Hanna commentary

Rosanne Wood, the Principal of Leon County’s SAIL High School, submitted a comment to this blog in response to my comments about Rocky Hanna.  I wanted to make sure readers have the best opportunity to see her comment, so I’m posting it here.

From the school’s web site:  “In 1975 SAIL was founded as the School for Applied Individualized Learning, in the belief that all students can learn and succeed when provided a learning environment that meets their needs and interests. SAIL emphasizes individualization, democratic decision making, and application of academics in a humanistic atmosphere. SAIL was the first public alternative school in Florida to be fully accredited for the Southern Association of Colleges and States.”

Here is Principal Wood’s comment:

I was in the Senate hearing and heard what Rocky Hanna said in the minute and a half he was allowed to speak. He clearly supported increasing the requirements for Bright Futures scholarships and for “College and Career Ready Diplomas”. His point was that there are many successful people who did not necessarily excel in math and science and they don’t deserve to be pushed out of high school, which is what the currently proposed legislation does. It is easy to make light of someone’s concerns, however, I suggest walking in the shoes of a high school principal who is trying to help students of ALL abilities succeed.

Since Polk County is mentioned as a “model”, according to the linked article, notice that they have a provision for their most at risk students- which is exactly what Hanna was proposing. –”perhaps out of concern for pushing down the already problematic graduation rates – Polk County has found an interesting middle ground. While Polk requires only three science courses for graduation, the district requires one to be biology and one to be Earth/space science. The district also requires that students have a background in both physics and chemistry. They can satisfy this requirement by taking a physical science course that includes components of both. However, the composite physical science course is not offered for Honors credit, so students who are concerned about impressing college admissions officers with the rigor of their high school course selection are compelled to take a year of Honors Chemistry and a year of Honors Physics. In short, college-bound students end up taking four science courses – one each in biology, chemistry, physics and Earth/space science. Students at high risk for not completing high school can graduate while taking three science courses – one each in biology, Earth/space science and physical science.”