To the editor:

As a former very active school volunteer, I want to express my opinion on moving ninth-graders to the high schools. I also speak as a parent who fought the ninth-grade battle once already.

Regarding the seeming lack of interest, it strikes me there is some political fatigue from the Save our Schools campaign. To bring up another hot button issue now, I believe, is inappropriate.

There is not enough space in this column to state all the reasons I object to moving the ninth-graders. However, I believe this is a critical age. This decision should not be based on high-achieving students having access to AP classes or because everyone else is doing it!

There is a major cultural shift at the high school level. As society has changed, I believe it to be even more significant now. The age and sophistication levels are very different between a ninth-grader and a senior!

I would venture to guess that all the junior high principals support keeping ninth-graders. The ninth-grade year in junior high is a year when teens can really develop leadership skills, gain self-confidence as they move into their teen years, and it is their last chance to really “do it all.” Intensity in high school forces kids to start making choices with activities and classes. At the junior high, they can still participate in sports, band, choir, yearbook, media and ease into more academic pressure.

The disadvantages strongly outweigh the advantages. I have yet to read any detailed rationale for the change.