I was happy to read that Coupeville School Superintendent Bill Myhr was meeting with students to “hear every voice.” As a parent of three, I’d like to join my voice with that of the students. I especially agree with Hannah Rodriques who said, “I’m not challenged enough here. Going to Coupeville High School is a waste of my time. I come and sit for six hours.”

Our younger son is leaving Coupeville’s eighth grade class with a twelfth grade plus reading level and outstanding WASL scores and he’s bored senseless. We’re pulling him out of this school district to attend an alternative high school, where his needs will be much better met, and where his gifts and individuality will be celebrated. How do we know? Because we pulled his older brother out of Coupeville High School after his freshman year to attend the same alternative school four years ago. Not much has changed since.

Principal Textor herself once told me that as a small school, “we are just not equipped to meet everyone’s needs.” The students whose needs aren’t being met are often those who’d do great if they’d just be allowed to learn “out of the box,” instead of being forced to be like everyone else.

Coupeville schools seriously need to bring forth a much more creative and challenging way of teaching and learning. How many poster board projects can a kid do in one year? At Coupeville, the answer to that question is “a ridiculously high amount.”

Luanne Raavel

Coupeville