After reading The Daily World article published on July 26, I’m left thinking about the two students I saw earlier in the day as I ran some errands. These two students are emblematic of the students who take Apex classes.

The first student I ran into took an English class. She is a talented writer. She didn’t require much in the way of support. Her desire to be in an Apex classroom was that she found her safe place. She was comfortable in the room, and her talents were able to shine. The writing she completed was poignant, honest and well crafted.

The other student took a math class. She is involved in numerous school activities. A safe place wasn’t her need. She struggles with math concepts. She sat with friends who helped each other with their studies, each using their strengths to assist. Additionally, I provided support to round out her learning. It wasn’t easy for her, but she learned the material and completed the class. She took ownership over her learning.

I’m hoping these two students and their families did not read the article. How easily a few words in an article can diminish and dismiss their successes, not only theirs, but the other students who completed almost 500 classes in my room this year. Students with a variety of ability levels came into my Apex classroom and took ownership over their learning. Tell any of the students who took English classes that they didn’t write papers. Tell those students who took math courses that their curriculum wasn’t challenging.

Apex offers a variety of OSPI approved high school courses, including Honors and AP classes. Students can be leveled into more demanding coursework. It is an AHS course selection issue. It’s not an Apex issue if students are not routed into challenging enough courses. Apex has been an instrumental partner is raising AHS’ graduation rates. Students clamor to take Apex classes because they like the environment that Tedd White and I set; they like that it isn’t a traditional lecture/listen classroom; they like that they have the control in a system that continues to place controls over them; and they like that there are supports available when they need them.

Never have I heard a student say he/she wanted to take an Apex class because it is easy. I have heard students say it can be faster, but only faster because they control their own pace.

Some of the almost 500 classes completed this year in my Apex classroom were by students with medical, pregnancy, Running Start, and a variety of other conflicts and issues. Apex has never been just a recovery program. It is not a lesser environment, but instead an alternative learning environment to a traditional classroom, just as the new program the district is proposing.

I hope not too many students and their families were hurt by the careless, misleading information that was provided to and printed by The Daily World. Their successes should be celebrated.

Mark Borgens

Apex Teacher, Aberdeen High School