Matthew Boddewyn - Tracking

Tracking in the school system is a crucial in furthering those students who show potential to excel above their grade level. To remove tracking would be to stop giving kids the opportunity to pursue what they are good at and love and would significantly hinder learning in the classroom. Those students that are proficient enough to work above their grade level should not be stopped from moving to the next level. It becomes useless not to challenge a student simply because they have learned material too quickly. It also effects students who are not well ahead of their course material. Students who are with peers the same grade level will likely feel less pressured and be able to learn at the same pace as the rest of their class. No one is to blame for any of this as each student is unique and learns at a different pace and for this reason, some students should be 'tracked' and put in higher classes to meet their needs. Tracking is beneficial to students although there are negative connotations that come with higher and lower levels that can deter people from supporting tracking. Many people believe that what track you are put on in kindergarten, for example, can not accurately assess your future potential and a solution is to track kids differently every year and reassess their track each new year. Tracking ultimately does not decide where you will end up for life and only provides a more comfortable learning environment for each child. Tracking is essential to each students individual growth and makes and supports students based on their specific needs.