Lexington (MA) High School Senate

LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-FACULTY SENATE

2000-2001

Moderator Marcus Catsouphes, Assistant Moderator Michael Fiveash, Secretary Tingting Peng

Agenda

For the April 26, 2001 meeting:

1. Announcements

2. Committee Reports

3. Course Recommendation Bill

4. New Business

Minutes

From the April 12, 2001 meeting:

Minutes approved.

Agenda approved.

Announcements

Bernstein: The LHS Math Team won the State Championships.

Collins: Maybe we should rotate the seating arrangement.

Moon: Elections Committee is receiving nomination forms.

Catsouphes: When are elections?

Moon: Have not figured that out.

Enders: Are the rumors about Mr. Lanoue leaving true?

Catsouphes: Yes, all true.

Lessin: It's Senator Ludwig's birthday today.

Committee Reports

Ris: Climate restarted the poster campaign for the Lunch- Music series. CRUD has also been moved to May 1.

Bogart: We will email the faculty to notify them of the change in date.

S. Girondel: Social Action met and discussed community service.

Kessler: Oversight checked the outdoor eating areas and found them to be in good condition.

Saldana: Communications met and plan on making Senate Day posters.

CRUD Discussion

Bogart: Move to close discussion. [Motion passes]

Course Recommendation Bill

Burson: Which point were we on?

Kieft: We are now on section I.

Kessler: I wonder about the feasibility of section I.

Kafrissen: All department heads know who the overrides are. They can flag the overrides. Kids who were recommended should have priority, particularly for those courses with only one section or have limited enrollment.

[Section I passes]

Kieft: There are two changes to the Rationale.

Kafrissen: I'm a little uncomfortable because it focuses on Honors courses.

Kieft: In general, this bill avoids pinpointing Honors classes. Rationale 8 was included because most of the discussion in Senate and around school focuses on overriding into Honors classes. That's just one section.

K. Girondel: Over the last 15 years, we've done away with so many levels. It is difficult for many kids since LHS has become less welcoming for kids not high up on the intellectual ladder. It's too bad we have this inflation. I think 8 belongs in the Rationale.

Dhanani: Why were level 3 classes eliminated?

K. Girondel: There was a movement away from leveling all together. It's been a national trend.

Kafrissen: Other reasons for reducing classes: lack of enrollment, and a state mandate that says we can't teach classes unless they led to higher-level classes. Level 3 classes were designed primarily for students who weren't going on to a four-year college.

Burson: Move to change "Honors" to "Higher level" and "level one" to "lower level" in Section 8. We need to make this apply to the whole school.

Bernstein: Most of this bill is aimed at all levels in general. I don't think it's ridiculous to devote one section to Honors classes.

Dhanani: I find "higher" and "lower level" terms ambiguous.

Inouye: There are other points in the bill that deal with lower levels.

Catsouphes: What is gained by putting in "Honors" or " level one"?

Collins: Call to Question. [Motion passes]

[Senator Burson's amendment passes 18-16]

Lessin: LHS has a reputation where everyone goes to Harvard.

Dhanani: Some people move here just for the school.

Kafrissen: We may have good schools, but that doesn't guarantee good students. The students in Senate don't represent all groups at this school. We need to get things in perspective.

Moon: A good school is not one that gets you into an Ivy. There are other kids who don't go to Ivies that are good students.

Bogart: Ditto ditto.

Bernstein: I think in a forum where we're talking about all levels, we shouldn't stay away from Honors.

Hemond: I am concerned about the exceptions to the bill.

Saldana: Move to add new Section G: If a student chooses to revert his decision of raising a course's level after the new school year has begun, that student may not choose to raise the level of another course that same year.

Enders: It's like we're trying to put little stumbling blocks. In the end, we're still going to have to deal with the exceptions.

Ris: I feel like the bill was originally intended to empower teachers and not to restrict students.