It’s reassuring, in this time of scandal, when our campus is embroiled in the gossip, humiliation and outrage of the recent acts of theft and cheating, that I can be reminded of how distinctive and critically important having a community of trust is at Harvard-Westlake by simply entering my math class.

In my second period Statistics and Discreet Math class taught by Rob Levin, perhaps better known for his role as school chief financial officer, all the hallmarks of traditional education are thrown out. Our tests are largely take-home exams, untimed and done whenever we feel appropriate. Collaboration between students is allowed so long as neither one has started the test yet and the solutions are even sent to us to make sure we are able to review the concepts correctly after the test – when the problems are the freshest in our head. We abide by a few simple rules: The test must be taken in one sitting and, of course, one cannot look at the solutions prior to completing and turning in the test.

Indeed, it is a revolutionary approach and one that carries enormous potential for wrongdoing and offenses similar to those that have plagued our school as of late. However, as our class has found, enormous potential for reinforcing key concepts and easing the strain and stress on students that comes with examinations lies in these impractical methods. Certainly it’s a risky system, but sometimes it’s the bravery to implement such schemes that inspires brilliance.

And while I can’t say with absolute certainty that these rules are abided by, our class recently met with Head of Upper School Harry Salamandra and Father J. Young to attempt to spread the gospel of Levin and to do our part in attempting to not only try and change the way we take tests at Harvard-Westlake for the students’ benefit, but also to help reinstitute a semblance of the feelings of trust that make Harvard-Westlake such a special place to learn and to grow.

Perhaps our school is not yet ready. Maybe we simply have too much temptation in this system (my class thought so – we voted to no longer have Mr. Levin send us solutions to the tests). But we’ll never know unless we try offering an alternative to our current system. I urge our school to find the courage to try and place trust in the hands of its students as it has done so many times in the past.