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If there is adequate counseling during schedule time, and kids are told the number of hours per night they will be expected to devote to homework & the types of concepts or base knowledge that enrollees are required to have to keep up, then no one really has the right to prevent a HS student from enrolling in an advanced course. The GPA and/or test scores do not always reflect knowledge base. If a kid does end up doing poorly for whatever reason, they will at least be enlightened to the type of study habits expected in college. Sounds like great preparation for these kids either way. If a kid is not allowed to stretch their wings and discover what they are capable of learning, even if the risk is failure, when else in life can they safely take chances? No teacher, parent, or counselor should ever put a kid in a box and tell them what they can and cannot achieve. If you work in a school that does not fully inform kids prior to enrollment about course expectations, then that is the fault of the school.
If there is adequate counseling during schedule time, and kids are told the number of hours per night they will be expected to devote to homework & the types of concepts or base knowledge that enrollees are required to have to keep up, then no one really has the right to prevent a HS student from enrolling in an advanced course. The GPA and/or test scores do not always reflect knowledge base. If a kid does end up doing poorly for whatever reason, they will at least be enlightened to the type of study habits expected in college. Sounds like great preparation for these kids either way. If a kid is not allowed to stretch their wings and discover what they are capable of learning, even if the risk is failure, when else in life can they safely take chances? No teacher, parent, or counselor should ever put a kid in a box and tell them what they can and cannot achieve. If you work in a school that does not fully inform kids prior to enrollment about course expectations, then that is the fault of the school.
As long as they don't water down AP classes then let them in.
But I've read that in many cases they are in order to get more passes.
Saturate education with AP classes and they won't hold the same meaning they once did.
If there is adequate counseling during schedule time, and kids are told the number of hours per night they will be expected to devote to homework & the types of concepts or base knowledge that enrollees are required to have to keep up, then no one really has the right to prevent a HS student from enrolling in an advanced course. The GPA and/or test scores do not always reflect knowledge base. If a kid does end up doing poorly for whatever reason, they will at least be enlightened to the type of study habits expected in college. Sounds like great preparation for these kids either way. If a kid is not allowed to stretch their wings and discover what they are capable of learning, even if the risk is failure, when else in life can they safely take chances? No teacher, parent, or counselor should ever put a kid in a box and tell them what they can and cannot achieve. If you work in a school that does not fully inform kids prior to enrollment about course expectations, then that is the fault of the school.
In a perfect world you are correct, but as long as schools get evaluated on how many students pass AP classes or exams then that can't happen. They have a vested interest in making sure most kids who take the classes can pass.
AP and real college course go at a much faster pace, and involve more information. What happens when you let anyone take the class and now 4/5 of the students are failing because they cannot deal with the pace and work load?
^^^^And then the parents show up screaming bloody murder......
So if a kid in your school gets a D in pre-calc they are allowed to sign up for AP Calc? And which AP Calc are they signing up for?
Oh, and it is interesting how out of touch people are when it comes to scheduling. The vast majority of problems don't come from "slackers" it comes from average or even slightly above average students whose parents are convinced they can succeed in AP because they do not understand the difference in the workload. Juniors and seniors in every school I have worked in, do not pick their schedules in a vacuum. Their parents are the ones pushing for them to get into classes. Frequently pushing for them to get into AP classes they do not qualify for, and then freaking out when they are failing those AP classes the first marking period.
As the parent of kids taking AP and honors classes this is entirely true.
You basically have parents whose kids now hit highschool and they want them getting college credit or a higher GPA etc. and want to shove them in the deep end.
Especially when they are at the soccer game and "Jill's mom starts talking about her daughter taking AP etc."
As long as they don't water down AP classes then let them in.
But I've read that in many cases they are in order to get more passes.
Saturate education with AP classes and they won't hold the same meaning they once did.
I don't get what you're saying. It's still up to the colleges/universities what scores they'll accept. These tests are not pass/fail; you get a number grade, 1-5.
I don't get what you're saying. It's still up to the colleges/universities what scores they'll accept. These tests are not pass/fail; you get a number grade, 1-5.
What I meant was that instead of the rigorous academics to push them to earn 5's they go over enough of just the basics so that more get a 3.
I believe I pointed out that the increase in passing students is at the low end.
So you do have more passing but barely.
A student is not required to take the national AP exam. Are schools rated based on scores on the exam or by enrollment?
It depends on that district. But generally, high schools want to look like they produce as many "college worthy" students as possible. If a whole lot of students are failing AP classes, it starts to appear as if the school is not doing a good job preparing them. That's why so many schools monitor who can take the classes in the first place.
Generally you want to offer as many AP classes as possible AND you want to have those classes filled with students who can pass.
Last edited by Tinawina; 12-03-2013 at 01:15 PM..
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