Editor,
I have been reading your columns about whether to put high-ability and general students together.
My knowledge is very elementary of the reasons for and against doing away with the high-ability classes. All I have to relate is a personal experience.
In the third grade, I made Cs in my math class. But one day our teacher gave us a difficult problem to take home and solve. I came alive! I was the only one to solve it. I had been bored but now became interested, and the teacher gave me special problems to solve.
Later, I made all As and did excellent in algebra, trig, geometry and all other courses.
I was a grad with honors in college, where I majored in math. I went on to get a JD from the University of Texas and an LLM from the London School of Economics in International Law.
My point: Some very good students might well be excluded by a segregated system. All students need the best.
Clyde Crockett, Carmel