I'm beginning to think that our HS stresses AP classes WAY too much

[missypie]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I'm going to try to start a dialogue in my district to see if I can start opening some minds about AP exams. I've still got kids in the district for another six years....we'll see if I can bring about even a bit of change by the time my youngest graduates.

[bugmom]

In my S's AP Stat course, they spent the last three weeks or so developing a statistical sampling test of bottled waters (and school tap water) that they conducted during lunch hours and then made presentations.

[Christcorp]

personally, I think for the kids who want to go to the mega colleges, service academies, ivy, etc... that AP and IB should be stressed highly. If all you want is a traditional college or your state "U", you don't even need to take AP/IB. It all depends on your plans for college. If a kid is serious about yale, harvard, princeton, air force academy, Cornell, Stanford, etc... then the extra seriousness behind AP and IB shouldn't be a problem. If they can't handle the stress of AP/IB, then they are probably going to have problems with the mega schools.

I'd like to see the schools be more honest with the students. Don't try and let them believe that AP/IB classes are for everyone. They aren't; nor should they be. When you allow kids into these classes that can't handle the curriculum, you do them a disservice as well as the rest of the class.

[sooky2]

my experience is that AP courses raise the bar for the usual teacher. the inspired teachers are still inspired; and the uninspired, let's not work today teachers are held accountable. also, the "I am using this class to teach you my beliefs and little material" teachers, are stymied.