Equality in English

At Exeter, there is a natural progression from math course to math course and English course to English course. Similarly, each student works through science levels and takes more challenging history and religion classes as the terms go on. The only real difference from department to department is placement. In math and science, students take different levels of classes depending on their own skill level. Some students start in Math 110 and others in 41T, all based on skill level. It is natural and fair for a student with more math experience to be in a higher level, so they can succeed and progress at a pace that is appropriate for them, instead of having to learn more slowly because of students with less experience. This process is logical and cannot as well as should not be questioned.However, students also come to Exeter with hugely different levels of experience in the humanities as well and that should not be ignored. Like math, some students are extremely talented in writing, while others have less practice. Students, upon their arrival, however, get placed in the same English course and remains in the same sequence until at least senior fall.While it can be difficult to accurately assess a student’s abilities in writing, it only seems fair for more experienced writers to be among more experienced writers and those who are stronger in other subjects to be placed in an appropriate level. While this may sound like an insult to students who are not strong writers, it is simply a way for English students with more and less ability to grow more successfully, because they will be working with those of a similar level.This change would not require the revamping of the English department, just a distinction between different ability levels to allow for better writing overall on campus and more fair grading. When an experienced writer is in a class with an inexperienced one, it can be hard for a teacher to assess and grade students with completely different levels.Having different English levels or offering electives for younger Exonians would also give the English department the distinction it deserves. It is simply unfair for some departments to offer many levels of distinction for their students while English must place almost every Exonian in the same course for nearly four years.It also provides students with both the recognition and support they deserve. Students who excel in writing and reading analytics and discussion would be able to grow and develop their writing among peers with significant amounts of experience. Those who are less experienced would be able to work, write and edit among themselves, tackling the different problems that they may face. A student who is most interested in writing, reading and analysis will be allowed to focus more on that in a more challenging and stimulating environment, and students in lower levels will be able to develop better, be compared better and not be overwhelmed in their levels.Students might be placed differently each year, in order to ensure accurate placement. Their teachers for each term could recommend a level which would be decided for the next year.While Exeter hardly needs schedule complications, it does need to be fair and adjust class placement for students. Exeter is made to harbor academically-focused members of our generation, but it falls short in certain areas simply because it does not cater to different types of students.As a community, we encourage students especially gifted in math and science to go above and beyond in order to fulfill great expectations, but we let students focused on the humanities fall by the wayside, pushing each one through the same levels at the same time. To operate a school justly, we must be more open to all students, no matter their place of focus, interest or talent. A class filled with students with similar levels of experience will grow more than one with a mixed bag, which has far more trouble relating, grading and comparing work.