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Editor: 

Berkeley High School has in recent years been plagued by arson attacks, achievement gaps, ephemeral principals and countless other problems. The only thing holding the school together is the fantastic education that it offers to its students.  

Well, it seems that now that's gone too. 

The Berkeley School Board's decision to reduce the schedule to six periods will have a devastating effect on the students' education. Double-period science — a program that is likely to be cut — allows students to take first-year advanced placement classes, has consistently given students an advantage when applying to college, and it offers a great understanding of the sciences.  

The elective program, which provides students with a diversity of skills and includes classes in art, music, and dance, will also suffer.  

Everything that is great about a Berkeley High education will disappear and Berkeley High will become indistinguishable from any other high school in the nation.  

It is obvious that the school board needs to cut back on something — but is taking away what makes Berkeley High unique the answer?  

Gordon Jenkins 

student of Berkeley High school.