I totally understand your frustration. Much of what you are saying is true, unfortunately. As principal of the Early College at SCC, I would like to invite you to my office in A 224 anytime to talk. If you could tell me who exactly is making comments like those you mentioned in your post, I would happily confront them. We are pretty strict here, but we don't know what goes on in the college classes unless someone tells us. If you see any other inappropriate behavior, I would like to know that also. These kids have been given a gift, and for the most part they appreciate it. I would hate for a few "bad apples" to ruin it for the whole bunch since this opportunity means so much to their families. Almost all of our students are first generation college students and many of them do not yet understand exactly what is expected of them in the program. We certainly want to reach down to where they are and bring them up to where they need to be. The adult students in their classes have been so helpful with that, often encouraging them and even chastising them when they are flip about their classes. Nevertheless, they are 14 and 15 years old, and they do mess up. I would like to clarify that the funding for my students comes in large part from the Bill Gates Foundation and no early college student can displace an adult student from their classes. Also, there is no data to indicate that Early Colleges have caused any increase in tuition or shortage in services for other college students. So please rest assured that the program is to help people like yourself get an education--just at an earlier age, while they have more support to do it.