Computer Driven

In an encouraging sign that flies in the face of conventional wisdom, these kids with academic problems do care; they do want a diploma. Whatever else they might reject, they are true believers in the value of that piece of paper. Cecilia Gomez, who wants to be a nurse some day, never dropped out. She took a lot of summer school and algebra has been especially tough, but she knows her way to a better job is through a high school diploma.

There's a natural reaction here that says yes, this is dynamic, this is a take-charge approach to lifting kids out of their self-devised failure holes. The old way hasn't worked for some kids. Different strategies are needed. Applause, please. Applause all round.

Margaret Downing

Eli Martinez wants the facts, and only the facts he needs to pass his tests.

Margaret Downing

Cecilia Gomez is paying attention now and hopes to become a nurse.

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More About

• Terry Grier
• Eli Martinez
• Houston Independent School District
• Software
• Science and Technology

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But it's applause with an asterisk. (An asterisk that is clearly going against the tide.)

More and more colleges offer students entire courses online. Never see a teacher, never leave your house for a class, hey, never leave your room.

But isn't it a little bit disturbing that just as we no longer tolerate compromise in listening to other people's music, we're crafting a last-ditch strategy that relieves students of the distractions of nonessentials — the too-much-information that has to be sorted through, the English teacher who waxes philosophical about his favorite poem, the algebra teacher trying to spread her slightly dorky enthusiasm about cosigns and symbols and a larger game board than what's contained in a book?

It's a just-the-facts approach that saves kids — and, yes, we desperately need a higher graduation rate in HISD and other Texas school districts — but may not prepare them well for that annoyingly messy thing we call life, with all its distractions both tedious and wonderful.

margaret.downing@houstonpress.com