Teachers Offer Conflicting Views on AP Program's Rapid Growth

mhhhh

Personally i believe that there should be a testriction on the AP coarse. I think that far to many people are joining AP classes to build up reputation when they end up with a B or C on they general classes. The school administration should have a policy stating that only the student that have accomplished a general class with succes would have the oppetunity to be part of that class. Some student take the AP class because they belive that because they will get an honors point on their GPA they would not try as hard as the can in thet class. They tend to slack and not give their 100%

Vincent of NY

You said exactly what I was trying to get across.

If a child is excelling, them let them take the AP courses. I cannot agree with you more. But don't cut the other "regular" classes to make room for the AP courses. In the end the classes such as metals and auto shop are a lot more beneficial then AP US History.

Results Count also

I took AP courses when I was in HS. The way I see it is, if you take it and do well (standardized exam scored from 1-5, 5 being best) then all the best. I don't understand the argument about "average" students diluting the curriculum etc Let's let the scores decide at the end before creating an elitist view point that bars people based on previous history. If given the chance to excel, then why steady at mediocrity just because one is deemed to be "average." I find myself to be a middle runner, but I did well in the courses that had quality teaching in addition to my own perseverance.

What about the average student?

I would first like to state that I am in no way against AP courses in high schools. I took an AP US History course in high school, and completely enjoyed it. I must admit that I am also a huge history buff and frequently read history books for fun.

After taking an AP course I still don't understand why society feels the need to pressure young kids into taking these classes. Let the kids decide.

What about the ~70% of students who are just the average student. The fact of the matter is, most kids aren't going to be computer programmers, or engineers, or accountants. They are going to be plumbers, welders, pipe fitters/layers, police officers, firefighters, and truck drivers.

So please explain to me why the first programs to be cut in schools are welding, woods, metals, and auto shop. I'm not saying we need to lower our standards, if anything we need to increase our standards. But if you are going to prepare the "geniuses" for college, then we need to also prepare the average students who are going straight to work.

Advanced Placement

Advanced, maybe mentally, but did anyone pause and think; Is the student also mature enough to emotionally and physically developed handle the extra stress to perform? Are the parents of these adult-childs ready to cope with and properly raise a person who needs more attention, not less.

The process of growing, maturing, and learning has been accelerated to the point of very little time is left for childhood. Do we really want unstable mini-adults, who feel alienated from their social peers?

Advanced courses need to include adaptive socialization sessions. Name one corporation which hires socially inept and psycologically immature people?

AP courses

I am a retired high school teacher and librarian (actually a circulation desk clerk with a MEd) who knows full well that statistics can be deceiving. I was graduated many moons ago from high school went on to college and spent s even summers getting my MEd. I was always third in my class. In high school physical education was a requirement for all four years and was factored in for one's academic grade. So...

Then on to college--#3 again!

That said, I am very happily retired. My late hubby would have said "tired." I went on to teach English to foreign students for fun and for profit while working at two libraries over the course of 20+ years.

Taking early retirement in 1997, I got bored and went on to work part-time for another seven years.

Numbers do not tell all.

AP Programs

A high school senior was doing some errands for me last school term and told me he was taking an AP history course. I asked what kind, US or world? He didn't know. Next time he did some work for me, he had found out and was happy to report it was US.

I gave him a copy of Cultural Literacy as a graduation present.

AP Program

One shouild always keep in mind that the AP Program is a product, being sold by the College Board, a for-profit business. The pronouncements of the Board, regarding the effectiveness of the program, should always be viewed as an advertisement by the company. It is telling that school boards across the country have be made to believe that such offerings are feathers in their cap. Often the student takes an AP class, such as AP Physics C, without previously taking a survey course in the subject and can't see the forest for the trees.

For class rank is a B+ in AP equal to an A in regular classes

At my sons school several in the top 10-20% of his senior class have never taken an AP course. When the Honor Rolls are released several of the Exceptional and High Honor Roll recipinats are from the mentally challanged classes. They recieved straight A's, but have not done the work of even the kids in the regular track. This affects class rank and eventually scholarship oportunities. AP classes should be weighted to give recognition and oportunity to those taking the harder courses.

I know the harder courses will prepare the student for college, but class rank seems to be one of the measuring sticks used for scholarship oportunities. My son has said to me " Why apply for scholarships my class rankis too low." He is a GT kid who took AP classes and played sports.

This kind of comes down to a question

What is "advanced" supposed to mean in the AP context? Is it designed for the top 10%, or 20%, or 30% , or 40% of all students? What?

There surely is a "recommended" answer. Right?