Redwood High School Back to School Night
I never cease to be amazed by Redwood High School in Larkspur, and the quality of the teachers there. Last night was Back to School Night, and we visited my daughter’s classrooms to see short presentations by the teachers.
It is amazing, and if you are fortunate enough to live in Corte Madera, Larkspur, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Ross, Tiburon, or Belvedere, your children go there. The enthusiasm of the teachers is incredible. Their competency is also amazing. And their dedication is remarkable.
Access to the teachers is terrific. One even provided his home telephone number, in addition to email. They’re there routinely early in the morning, at office hours, and always respond to email. My daughter’s Advanced Algebra teacher even has special office hours every Thursday from 5pm to 6:30, because tests are on Friday!
Most of them strive to incorporate innovative techniques. The AP Economics teacher created a trading pit for commodities in class the other day, gave everyone money, and had them conduct actual trading sessions. My daughter loved it, but more importantly, now understands options trading.
The English teacher was so good my wife and I both wish we could take the class, at least for his lectures on “The Catcher in the Rye,” a book he noted he has read himself 30 times, aloud!
And success rates? The AP Statistics teacher noted that only two of the students who took his class in the last two years did NOT pass the AP test, making them eligible to receive college credit. Lots of students graduate with enough AP credit to qualify as a sophomore when they enter college!
No wonder homes in the Redwood district command a premium. Marin is blessed with a number of excellent private high school options as well, but truly, when the public high school is this good, it makes you wonder if it is really necessary to spend college tuition type money now on high school.
