Top Comments: Jefferson's 6th Grade

This week, Redondo Beach Patch commenters sounded off on a variety of topics ranging from the future of sixth grade at to whether to medicate a child for ADHD. Here's a sample; feel free to join in the discussions!

The biggest education-related story of the week, apart from graduation, was the school board's impending decision on whether to keep the sixth grade at Jefferson Elementary School.

"The story says what the district wants, and what the parents want, but not a word about what the students want. I have a daughter finishing fifth grade at Lincoln, and she's looking forward to being in symphonic band, taking languages, and meeting new people at Adams next year. Another year of the elementary model would bring her none of those things. Of course the parents want to keep children close by, in familiar surroundings, for another year--that's a natural impulse, I feel it too—but ask the kids what they want from their schooling." —Penny Richards

"Our family really wants to keep 6th grade at Jefferson. We want there to be the option to remain at elementary and we plan on keeping our kids there if they continue the program. The District says it is not a financial reason, so not sure what is it then? Just easier to plan?Just that they want all schools to be K-5 so they can plan better? That seems like a weak reason. If you have parents that want to keep it, and enough kids and the funding to keep the teachers, why change it? They would only shift funding to Parras as they might have to add teachers there right? All businesses in recent years have had many challenges and had to shift resources around. It is not that difficult to plan if the district knows that there are a big group of parents that have committed to the program and want to keep their students in 6th grade at Jefferson. We also have two awesome teachers have been a big reason to stay and learn in a smaller team setting. In regards to other schools not "fighting" for 6th, maybe they didn't think they had an option or were not informed? Whatever the reason, it is not a reason to kill Jefferson's program. This does not impact other schools and they would be free to do school of choice to go to Jefferson if they want!! Sorry the rationale and explanation from the district to close it is just not there." —Melonee Patterson

The school board ultimately decided to eliminate Jefferson's sixth grade class after the 2011-2012 school year. Many people weren't necessarily happy about this.

"Do folks realize that PV, El Segundo and Manhattan Beach all have K-5 elems ? Are those well off kids careening down this presumed path of abject teen behavior ? Raise your kids right and they will be kind, respectful college bound individuals." —Jason Holmes

"This pretty much sums it up, in my opinion... 'the real answer as to where a sixth grader belongs depends on the particular sixth grader.'

"All we wanted was to continue to have that option, as we did in years past. Now we don't and we will move on." —Lori-Ann Harbridge

"I personally attended Jefferson in the 6th grade, and I can tell you that it was an awesome experience. The teachers they had, at least when I attended, were very good at their jobs, and from what I've heard of Parras' 6th grade from old high school friends, Parras did not offer nearly as good a learning experience. From taking 6th at Jefferson, i managed to be successful through 2 years of calculus in high school, which I credit mainly to the learning habits developed under Mrs. Yoneka (sp?), my 6th grade math teacher. In almost all my AP classes, Jefferson had a plurality of students compared to other schools, with many of those students being my classmates in 6th grade.

"I feel sorry for the kids who won't have the opportunities I had, and I wish them all the best at Parras. I can only hope this doesn't become a slippery slope of eliminating programs that have been proven effective just for the sake of semantics…" —Josh Obear

In this week's column, Jennifer Luchesi Long discusses the pros and cons of medicating children to treat Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. One grandmother weighed in:

"This article was so helpful to me. I raised my grandson with ADHD, it took me over two years to decide on medication. His life improved considerably when I realized he needed help. He was able to focus, get along with his peers and become a successful young man. There are times that I questioned the choice of medicating, but in the long run I have been thankful for having made that choice." —Beth Luttrell