EDITOR:
I attended the Douglas County School Board meeting for the presentation of SpringBoard. In my opinion, as a former English teacher for 38 years, SpringBoard is a "canned" program touted as "vertical instruction" which requires all English teachers to follow a specific plan. There is only one novel covered per year. Outside reading is up to the individual student. Only short excerpts are presented from literature sources. Grammar is offered scantly with no apparent design or meaning. The teacher would have to supplement to be effective. SpringBoard is consumable. Due to the current fiscal budget, consumables are highly discouraged. There may be other, less expensive programs, which the present teachers could adapt for the vertical instruction.
Many English teachers, both past and present, were in attendance with negative responses to the program. Students offered examples of their unfavorable experiences with SpringBoard. A PowerPoint that was given by the administration in support of the program was filled with acronyms and statistics targeting AP and college-bound students. It was very esoteric. A handout with results of a vote taken was a misrepresentation. It was from a panel of carefully selected people. It was not representative of the English teachers in the district. Of the many English teachers in attendance, only one teacher (who also is a trainer for SpringBoard) was in favor of the program.
I urge parents and teachers to support the majority of English teachers who desire to research and find if a better program is available.
Kathie Hudson
Gardnerville
