Wisdom at Age 15

I was digging through some boxes of stuff that my mom gave me (old photos, schoolwork, etc.) and came across a letter to the editor in the St. Helena Star that I wrote during my sophomore year in high school. The letter was a response to ongoing criticisms of the MAP (multi-age program), which I was a part of in grades 4-8. Reading this was a big "wow" moment, as it reinforced the fact that my passion for education really did start long before returning to school to get my degree/credential. Not only that, but I still 100% believe in what I was preaching back at age 15! I think the letter really speaks for itself; here's what it said:

"Former MAP student responds to criticism"

Editor: I am responding to the letters written in the previous week's paper. I was a student of the MAP program for five years and I am now a sophomore at St. Helena High School. I began MAP in its first year, my fourth-grade year, and continued in the program through eighth grade. Going into the program I was defiant because it was a change, but not long after did I open my mind and grow not only to accept this new change, but to enjoy and learn from it. Change is something that too many people in this community are unwilling to open their minds to and I believe that is why the opposition of the MAP program still continues, six years later.

Something that always bothered me were judgments about who was in the MAP program. This is what was pointed out in the majority of the letters. Although more of a variety of ethnic groups may exist in the Traditional program, I know from my five years of experience that those varieties in the MAP program interact with each other just as much, if not more than in the traditional program.

As far as the statistic that the MAP program brings in $2,150 per class per year and the traditional brings in only $700, even if true, which is hard to believe, this information should not even be relevant. The choice to be in MAP is there for everyone, whether they commit a high amount of time and money, or none at all.

The point of starting the MAP program was to offer different choices in the public schools. These are differences in teaching style, integrated themes, project-based learning, and focus on community and life skills. These different approaches aren't for some people, though the choice is available for everyone.

As a former MAP student I know that the parents, teachers and students do not think that their program is in any way better than Traditional, and they encourage anyone interested to participate.

If people don't believe in the MAP program they should keep their children out of it and spend their time trying to improve other parts of the school, rather than trying to destroy something that should not disappear.

I am glad that i was given the opportunity to participate in the MAP program. It taught me the skills that have been useful to me throughout my years in the program and in high school, in and out of the classroom.

Katherine Shafer

St. Helena