IB

[Anonymous]

a strong anti-IB posters on dcum. expect hard push back for any posts supporting ib.

[Anonymous]

IB is the educational equivalent of an all-expenses paid resort with a lot of flashy marketing brochures. In terms of actual substance, the IB courses do not cover nearly as much material as the comparable AP courses and in fact require two years to complete in many cases. IB is frequently championed on DCUM by parents of students who have obtained IB diplomas (a very small percentage of the graduating seniors at their schools) and by IB coordinators whose very jobs depend on the school system's continued willingness to spend money on wasteful IB programs. Hopefully, as school budgets are scrutinized more carefully, inefficient and unnecessary ID programs will be eliminated at both the middle and high school level.

[Anonymous]

I thought the IB program was perfect for my daughter, who has exceptional language arts skills, but was not the strongest in math. She did the whole diploma, learned to argue her point, and got a huge scholarship at a prestigious private university. She went for the interview for a merit scholarship, and was asked to discuss literature with other kids her age. She said to me, "I got this," and blew the group away with her ability to listen, respond, analyze, and pull it other areas of study in discussion. I don't usually brag about her, but she felt that her IB experience had really prepared her to speak and analyze and work in groups.

She had to take an AP class for government, and hated it, because it was just spitting back facts.

In IB she wrote, wrote, and wrote some more. Her friends at UVA that also did the program said they had no problem writing papers at the college level, while other kids at UVA struggled.

For my kid, IB was terrific. She got a good bit of college credit through the exams and felt very prepared for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought the IB program was perfect for my daughter, who has exceptional language arts skills, but was not the strongest in math. She did the whole diploma, learned to argue her point, and got a huge scholarship at a prestigious private university. She went for the interview for a merit scholarship, and was asked to discuss literature with other kids her age. She said to me, "I got this," and blew the group away with her ability to listen, respond, analyze, and pull it other areas of study in discussion. I don't usually brag about her, but she felt that her IB experience had really prepared her to speak and analyze and work in groups.

She had to take an AP class for government, and hated it, because it was just spitting back facts.

In IB she wrote, wrote, and wrote some more. Her friends at UVA that also did the program said they had no problem writing papers at the college level, while other kids at UVA struggled.

For my kid, IB was terrific. She got a good bit of college credit through the exams and felt very prepared for college.

Too bad you did not learn to write as well as your daughter, or you would have explained why she turned down a huge scholarship at a "prestigious private university" for UVA. As a taxpayer, I don't think such anecdotes justify the amounts we are spending on an under-enrolled program, particularly knowing that students could acquire all the skills you modestly ascribe to your daughter in AP classes where there are, in fact, many writing assignments and team projects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the IB program was perfect for my daughter, who has exceptional language arts skills, but was not the strongest in math. She did the whole diploma, learned to argue her point, and got a huge scholarship at a prestigious private university. She went for the interview for a merit scholarship, and was asked to discuss literature with other kids her age. She said to me, "I got this," and blew the group away with her ability to listen, respond, analyze, and pull it other areas of study in discussion. I don't usually brag about her, but she felt that her IB experience had really prepared her to speak and analyze and work in groups.

She had to take an AP class for government, and hated it, because it was just spitting back facts.

In IB she wrote, wrote, and wrote some more. Her friends at UVA that also did the program said they had no problem writing papers at the college level, while other kids at UVA struggled.

For my kid, IB was terrific. She got a good bit of college credit through the exams and felt very prepared for college.

Too bad you did not learn to write as well as your daughter, or you would have explained why she turned down a huge scholarship at a "prestigious private university" for UVA. As a taxpayer, I don't think such anecdotes justify the amounts we are spending on an under-enrolled program, particularly knowing that students could acquire all the skills you modestly ascribe to your daughter in AP classes where there are, in fact, many writing assignments and team projects.

too bad it's not your call

[Anonymous]

I teach HL IB English at an International School; I also teach AP English. AP English is significantly more intense, difficult, and content-dense. In the International School world in Europe, students and parents believe (no matter how I explain otherwise) that IB is "better" and "harder", and this is disastrous for the students who take AP English believing it is easier. Plus, students who love literature really miss out by taking IB English rather than AP.

The Math teachers at our school who teach both IB and AP also agree that AP is more rigorous.

IB is the Emperor's new clothes of education, and the philosophical component sounds great, but is largely worthless and is executed at the expense of subject matter content, in my opinion. My own son did the AP Diploma; I strongly discouraged him from doing IB. I am a bit sad to see some very intelligent kids who love literature in my HL IB classes this year, as opposed to my AP class, because I know they would get so much more out of AP.

IB was developed for the International School world and that is where I am teaching; I don't even see how it is fully implemented/applicable to schools in America. And yet, even in overseas International Schools, I think AP is vastly superior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I teach HL IB English at an International School; I also teach AP English. AP English is significantly more intense, difficult, and content-dense. In the International School world in Europe, students and parents believe (no matter how I explain otherwise) that IB is "better" and "harder", and this is disastrous for the students who take AP English believing it is easier. Plus, students who love literature really miss out by taking IB English rather than AP.

The Math teachers at our school who teach both IB and AP also agree that AP is more rigorous.

IB is the Emperor's new clothes of education, and the philosophical component sounds great, but is largely worthless and is executed at the expense of subject matter content, in my opinion. My own son did the AP Diploma; I strongly discouraged him from doing IB. I am a bit sad to see some very intelligent kids who love literature in my HL IB classes this year, as opposed to my AP class, because I know they would get so much more out of AP.

IB was developed for the International School world and that is where I am teaching; I don't even see how it is fully implemented/applicable to schools in America. And yet, even in overseas International Schools, I think AP is vastly superior.

So, are you a teacher in Europe? And the European schools teach APs?

[Anonymous]

I teach at a large International School in Europe. International Schools serve the children of US diplomats, and also the children of parents who are stationed at foreign branches of US companies, in addition to the children of diplomats of other countries, plus some "locals". So, yes, the AP program is essential to the American students whose parents are stationed in Europe for a few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I teach at a large International School in Europe. International Schools serve the children of US diplomats, and also the children of parents who are stationed at foreign branches of US companies, in addition to the children of diplomats of other countries, plus some "locals". So, yes, the AP program is essential to the American students whose parents are stationed in Europe for a few years.

Also, I'm American and taught in the US before we moved overseas. I've taught AP and IB in both the US and here in Europe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I teach HL IB English at an International School; I also teach AP English. AP English is significantly more intense, difficult, and content-dense. In the International School world in Europe, students and parents believe (no matter how I explain otherwise) that IB is "better" and "harder", and this is disastrous for the students who take AP English believing it is easier. Plus, students who love literature really miss out by taking IB English rather than AP.

The Math teachers at our school who teach both IB and AP also agree that AP is more rigorous.

IB is the Emperor's new clothes of education, and the philosophical component sounds great, but is largely worthless and is executed at the expense of subject matter content, in my opinion. My own son did the AP Diploma; I strongly discouraged him from doing IB. I am a bit sad to see some very intelligent kids who love literature in my HL IB classes this year, as opposed to my AP class, because I know they would get so much more out of AP.

IB was developed for the International School world and that is where I am teaching; I don't even see how it is fully implemented/applicable to schools in America. And yet, even in overseas International Schools, I think AP is vastly superior.

Thank you for sharing your perspective (assuming this was not just a cut-and-paste of the teacher's comment from another website). This is very consistent with what we see and public schools in Northern Virginia, where IB is of primary interest to white parents who like it because it is has "international" in the title. Meanwhile, the Asian parents who pay the most attention to the education of their children gravitate towards the AP schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach HL IB English at an International School; I also teach AP English. AP English is significantly more intense, difficult, and content-dense. In the International School world in Europe, students and parents believe (no matter how I explain otherwise) that IB is "better" and "harder", and this is disastrous for the students who take AP English believing it is easier. Plus, students who love literature really miss out by taking IB English rather than AP.

The Math teachers at our school who teach both IB and AP also agree that AP is more rigorous.

IB is the Emperor's new clothes of education, and the philosophical component sounds great, but is largely worthless and is executed at the expense of subject matter content, in my opinion. My own son did the AP Diploma; I strongly discouraged him from doing IB. I am a bit sad to see some very intelligent kids who love literature in my HL IB classes this year, as opposed to my AP class, because I know they would get so much more out of AP.

IB was developed for the International School world and that is where I am teaching; I don't even see how it is fully implemented/applicable to schools in America. And yet, even in overseas International Schools, I think AP is vastly superior.

Thank you for sharing your perspective (assuming this was not just a cut-and-paste of the teacher's comment from another website). This is very consistent with what we see and public schools in Northern Virginia, where IB is of primary interest to white parents who like it because it is has "international" in the title. Meanwhile, the Asian parents who pay the most attention to the education of their children gravitate towards the AP schools.

I assure you that it isn't a cut-and-paste of anything. I'm very frustrated this week about the attitude of the students at my school toward the AP program. If Jeff wants to confirm that I'm posting from Europe, that's fine with me.

[Anonymous]

FCPS just announced its 2016 national merit semifinalists. There are 231 from the AP high schools (about two thirds of the number of high schools in the county), and only six from the IB high schools (about one third of the number of high schools in the county).

When is FCPS finally going to wake up and acknowledge that IB has not been a success in the county?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach HL IB English at an International School; I also teach AP English. AP English is significantly more intense, difficult, and content-dense. In the International School world in Europe, students and parents believe (no matter how I explain otherwise) that IB is "better" and "harder", and this is disastrous for the students who take AP English believing it is easier. Plus, students who love literature really miss out by taking IB English rather than AP.

The Math teachers at our school who teach both IB and AP also agree that AP is more rigorous.

IB is the Emperor's new clothes of education, and the philosophical component sounds great, but is largely worthless and is executed at the expense of subject matter content, in my opinion. My own son did the AP Diploma; I strongly discouraged him from doing IB. I am a bit sad to see some very intelligent kids who love literature in my HL IB classes this year, as opposed to my AP class, because I know they would get so much more out of AP.

IB was developed for the International School world and that is where I am teaching; I don't even see how it is fully implemented/applicable to schools in America. And yet, even in overseas International Schools, I think AP is vastly superior.

Thank you for sharing your perspective (assuming this was not just a cut-and-paste of the teacher's comment from another website). This is very consistent with what we see and public schools in Northern Virginia, where IB is of primary interest to white parents who like it because it is has "international" in the title. Meanwhile, the Asian parents who pay the most attention to the education of their children gravitate towards the AP schools.

I assure you that it isn't a cut-and-paste of anything. I'm very frustrated this week about the attitude of the students at my school toward the AP program. If Jeff wants to confirm that I'm posting from Europe, that's fine with me.

Can you elaborate on this AP Diploma that your son did? Is it the AP Capstone program, or something else? First I hear of an AP Diploma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS just announced its 2016 national merit semifinalists. There are 231 from the AP high schools (about two thirds of the number of high schools in the county), and only six from the IB high schools (about one third of the number of high schools in the county).

When is FCPS finally going to wake up and acknowledge that IB has not been a success in the county?

Probably a bit after you realize that 1) SAT scores have nothing to do with AP/IB but are a reflection first and foremost of a student's SES status, and that 2) FCPS placed IB programs specifically in low SES schools. Hence the NMSF deck was rigged by that choice. But if you want to feel that you have proven positively that IB schools are complete junk that should be shuttered go right ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS just announced its 2016 national merit semifinalists. There are 231 from the AP high schools (about two thirds of the number of high schools in the county), and only six from the IB high schools (about one third of the number of high schools in the county).

When is FCPS finally going to wake up and acknowledge that IB has not been a success in the county?

Probably a bit after you realize that 1) SAT scores have nothing to do with AP/IB but are a reflection first and foremost of a student's SES status, and that 2) FCPS placed IB programs specifically in low SES schools. Hence the NMSF deck was rigged by that choice. But if you want to feel that you have proven positively that IB schools are complete junk that should be shuttered go right ahead.

To the contrary, it appears that the honors and AP courses help the students to achieve high PSAT and SAT scores. Moreover, IB was placed in the low income schools many years ago. If it were going to attract more intelligent and motivated students, it surely would have done so by now. It has not, so all your observation reinforces is how ill-advised FCPS was to saddle those schools with IB.