Universal AP English & History at Wilson next year for 11th grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that they are trying to pull kids up, not bring kids down. Ms. Martin does not need the white parents calling, no matter how supportive you say you are; I think they can handle it. A few years ago Ms. Martin said when people were pushing back on large AP class sizes that it was fine because they didn't need the help at that level, so perhaps she will work to get class sizes down this way, which benefits all kids.

I have a senior and and last year in AP English the kids were reading different books. This year too. It hasn't been one book for the entire class. People need to relax and if your kid later has issues, bring it up.

Please clarify: they were reading different books in the same class? What do you mean?

Yes, there were groups and they each read different books. I think they got to choose, but my kid isn't here and so I can't confirm. He read Homegoing and Dracula and really liked both. I don't know about anything else, but he recommended both to me, which is why I know about those.

Also, I came here to address people worried about the Honors kid thinking he's going to ace the APs, and I'm not sure that's correct either. If anything he may get B's, in effect a lower score. In any event, Wilson ranks, so that kid would not rank above the other students who got A's normally in AP. I think people need to remember that there are LOTS of very bright, very motivated students there who really love the school. The seniors have had good college admissions this year.

I guess I'm fine with it as long as the AP classes are truly rigorous as they should be and the teachers understand not to engage in grade inflation. A "C" level student should get a "C"; and if s/he can't handle it, just go back down the the regular course.

The plan is only one course. Everyone takes AP. Will they all get the extra GPA boost then?

[Anonymous]

It's two--English and History--but your point is taken.

Everyone needs to take a deep breath. Nobody knows how this is going to pan out. Might it lead to watering down of rigor? Maybe. Might it maintain the current standards (after all, there is a curriculum that the AP certifies) but a lot of kids struggle as a result? Yep, that's possible too. But it's also possible that the schools will keep the standards and put in place a lot of supports so that a lot more kids can achieve at a higher level. NONE OF US KNOW YET (despite a lot of folks talking like they do).

It is also worth noting that Wilson has something like 30 AP classes...so, if you are really concerned about the rigor of these two courses lessening, have your kid load up on other ones. They are not going to decide that everyone needs to take AP European History or AP Physics or AP Chemistry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's two--English and History--but your point is taken.

Everyone needs to take a deep breath. Nobody knows how this is going to pan out. Might it lead to watering down of rigor? Maybe. Might it maintain the current standards (after all, there is a curriculum that the AP certifies) but a lot of kids struggle as a result? Yep, that's possible too. But it's also possible that the schools will keep the standards and put in place a lot of supports so that a lot more kids can achieve at a higher level. NONE OF US KNOW YET (despite a lot of folks talking like they do).

It is also worth noting that Wilson has something like 30 AP classes...so, if you are really concerned about the rigor of these two courses lessening, have your kid load up on other ones. They are not going to decide that everyone needs to take AP European History or AP Physics or AP Chemistry.

Wilson knows. After two years of “Honors for All” with that exact group of kids, they know whether they’ve maintained standards and provided supports or watered down the classes to make it work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that they are trying to pull kids up, not bring kids down. Ms. Martin does not need the white parents calling, no matter how supportive you say you are; I think they can handle it. A few years ago Ms. Martin said when people were pushing back on large AP class sizes that it was fine because they didn't need the help at that level, so perhaps she will work to get class sizes down this way, which benefits all kids.

I have a senior and and last year in AP English the kids were reading different books. This year too. It hasn't been one book for the entire class. People need to relax and if your kid later has issues, bring it up.

Please clarify: they were reading different books in the same class? What do you mean?

Yes, there were groups and they each read different books. I think they got to choose, but my kid isn't here and so I can't confirm. He read Homegoing and Dracula and really liked both. I don't know about anything else, but he recommended both to me, which is why I know about those.

Also, I came here to address people worried about the Honors kid thinking he's going to ace the APs, and I'm not sure that's correct either. If anything he may get B's, in effect a lower score. In any event, Wilson ranks, so that kid would not rank above the other students who got A's normally in AP. I think people need to remember that there are LOTS of very bright, very motivated students there who really love the school. The seniors have had good college admissions this year.

I guess I'm fine with it as long as the AP classes are truly rigorous as they should be and the teachers understand not to engage in grade inflation. A "C" level student should get a "C"; and if s/he can't handle it, just go back down the the regular course.

The plan is only one course. Everyone takes AP. Will they all get the extra GPA boost then?

of course!

[Anonymous]

I've been on calls with both my kids counselors this week at Wilson.

First, my sophomore's daughter adviser didn't even know about the decision that AP English and AP US History were required until another parent told her and then she went and found the email. Once again, Wilson is doing a late in the game change without clearly communicating it to the parents let alone the staff who implements it.

Second, last year we were told that APs were not a good way to teach and Wilson was eliminating AP World History to solve systemic racism at Wilson. Now, we are being told - APs for all.

Third, my daughter was already taking 4 other APs - she's now going to be loaded down with all hardcore classes. It really bites for the STEM kids.

Four, I already heard from multiple teachers during parent-teacher conferences that this year's juniors were really struggling with APs due to the 4 x 4 schedule...so we are adding more? English and Social Studies teachers both advised my daughter against taking them as she is taking so many other ones.

Fifth, whoever said that Wilson was doing distance learning well must have a freshman. My kid has reported that they are learning 1/3 to 1/4 of the content that they do in a normal year. They also are worried that it will continue with the 4 x 4 schedule.

Sigh.

[Anonymous]

This is the first time I've heard it alleged that AP classes represent systemic racism. This is some weird stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's two--English and History--but your point is taken.

Everyone needs to take a deep breath. Nobody knows how this is going to pan out. Might it lead to watering down of rigor? Maybe. Might it maintain the current standards (after all, there is a curriculum that the AP certifies) but a lot of kids struggle as a result? Yep, that's possible too. But it's also possible that the schools will keep the standards and put in place a lot of supports so that a lot more kids can achieve at a higher level. NONE OF US KNOW YET (despite a lot of folks talking like they do).

It is also worth noting that Wilson has something like 30 AP classes...so, if you are really concerned about the rigor of these two courses lessening, have your kid load up on other ones. They are not going to decide that everyone needs to take AP European History or AP Physics or AP Chemistry.

The probability of effective extra supports is low.

[Anonymous]

Is it even fair to require kids to take a college-level course (which is what an AP class IS) when some of them won't choose to go to college?

[Anonymous]

Will all be required to take the AP exam?

[Anonymous]

Wilson is simply trying to make itself appear competitive on that Jay Mathews’ “AP Challenge Index.”

Total waste of time.

[Anonymous]

Are students currently required to take the AP exam in core or all AP classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the first time I've heard it alleged that AP classes represent systemic racism. This is some weird stuff.

There are arguments that the world history curriculum is very heavily white and eurocentric. That is an argument specific to world history.

[Anonymous]

I am an infrequent poster because I find these forums so toxic but I want to follow up on an earlier poster...for those who seem convinced (without evidence from what I can tell) that this is going to destroy the education of your "advanced" children, what is the solution? Status quo? If so, do you recognize the damage of a two-track system where kids are essentially segregated by race? If you do realize that the status quo is problematic, what is the solution? And if your solution is "fixing the elementary schools"...are you willing to sacrifice several cohorts of BIPOC children until whatever elementary school "fixes" work through the system? If you have a different solution, what is it? Because I don't know what the solution is but I'm willing to see how this plays out (I'm the parent of an "advanced" child) in the hopes that we can start to chip away the systemic racism built over generations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an infrequent poster because I find these forums so toxic but I want to follow up on an earlier poster...for those who seem convinced (without evidence from what I can tell) that this is going to destroy the education of your "advanced" children, what is the solution? Status quo? If so, do you recognize the damage of a two-track system where kids are essentially segregated by race? If you do realize that the status quo is problematic, what is the solution? And if your solution is "fixing the elementary schools"...are you willing to sacrifice several cohorts of BIPOC children until whatever elementary school "fixes" work through the system? If you have a different solution, what is it? Because I don't know what the solution is but I'm willing to see how this plays out (I'm the parent of an "advanced" child) in the hopes that we can start to chip away the systemic racism built over generations.

Good post, infrequent poster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an infrequent poster because I find these forums so toxic but I want to follow up on an earlier poster...for those who seem convinced (without evidence from what I can tell) that this is going to destroy the education of your "advanced" children, what is the solution? Status quo? If so, do you recognize the damage of a two-track system where kids are essentially segregated by race? If you do realize that the status quo is problematic, what is the solution? And if your solution is "fixing the elementary schools"...are you willing to sacrifice several cohorts of BIPOC children until whatever elementary school "fixes" work through the system? If you have a different solution, what is it? Because I don't know what the solution is but I'm willing to see how this plays out (I'm the parent of an "advanced" child) in the hopes that we can start to chip away the systemic racism built over generations.

I don't see a problem at all with allowing anyone who wants to take an AP class to take an AP class. That's how it was at my school and it worked well. The kids that wanted to be there or at least wanted to try were willing to put in the work. If it didn't work out, no problem, they'd drop down to honors or standard for the next course in the sequence. What I do have a problem with is eliminating the standard and honors courses and putting them all in one class. I'm sure a ton of kids don't feel they are ready for AP and that is totally fine. It seems completely counterintuitive.