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

[Anonymous]

I was a grader for the AP test.

There’s no standardization of the classes. You can teach anything you’d like. I’m surprised most Americans are so clueless about what goes on in schools.

I’m also not happy about the algebra situation but that’s the reality of American education here, there, and everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a grader for the AP test.

There’s no standardization of the classes. You can teach anything you’d like. I’m surprised most Americans are so clueless about what goes on in schools.

I’m also not happy about the algebra situation but that’s the reality of American education here, there, and everywhere.

can you explain a little better? I thought kids get prepared for the AP test and the test is standardized for all kids, meaning that my kid will take the same test as a kid at W. Whitman in Bethesda or a HS in NY or California. so you cannot dumb down an AP class or kids will do bad when they take the AP test because they are not prepared.

[Anonymous]

I was legit confused by the email. On the one had it says it will "offer" the AP classes to all Juniors (which I believe is consistent with past years - I really do not understand the need to force advanced classes on students when you can basically register for whatever class you want). But then the note also said this:

"Moving to AP for all in both of the core English and Social Studies courses is an adaptive change that will require significant technical changes on the part of our staff. Our students are telling us they want access to equitable educational experiences, including AP classes. It is our job to make AP classes accessible, safe learning environments for all students."

That makes it sound like a modified class which will be given to all juniors. That would be a huge increase in rigor for alot of students - especially with the accelerated 4x4 schedule. I have no doubt that there are plenty of students up to it who might not otherwise self-select into these classes, but I doubt the entire Junior class is ready for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Allowed to take it is not the same as being able to handle an advanced pace. The classes will slow.

OR, consider the fact that MAYBE there is some implicit bias in terms of who gets recommended by teachers. MAYBE the few kids who have not been recommended in the past but who want to take it CAN handle it.

Or, consider the fact that PROBABLY there wasn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"our next step in advancing equity at Wilson is to offer AP U.S. History and AP English Language for all juniors in the 2021-2022 academic year."

Maybe their next step should be employing communications staff capable of writing clear and unambiguous emails.

[Anonymous]

But I thought kids could already opt-in to APs at Wilson at their own volition, so how would it be a change unless it is AP for All?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was legit confused by the email. On the one had it says it will "offer" the AP classes to all Juniors (which I believe is consistent with past years - I really do not understand the need to force advanced classes on students when you can basically register for whatever class you want). But then the note also said this:

"Moving to AP for all in both of the core English and Social Studies courses is an adaptive change that will require significant technical changes on the part of our staff. Our students are telling us they want access to equitable educational experiences, including AP classes. It is our job to make AP classes accessible, safe learning environments for all students."

That makes it sound like a modified class which will be given to all juniors. That would be a huge increase in rigor for alot of students - especially with the accelerated 4x4 schedule. I have no doubt that there are plenty of students up to it who might not otherwise self-select into these classes, but I doubt the entire Junior class is ready for it.

More likely to be a decrease in rigor overall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a grader for the AP test.

There’s no standardization of the classes. You can teach anything you’d like. I’m surprised most Americans are so clueless about what goes on in schools.

I’m also not happy about the algebra situation but that’s the reality of American education here, there, and everywhere.

can you explain a little better? I thought kids get prepared for the AP test and the test is standardized for all kids, meaning that my kid will take the same test as a kid at W. Whitman in Bethesda or a HS in NY or California. so you cannot dumb down an AP class or kids will do bad when they take the AP test because they are not prepared.

The test is standardized. The classes are not. Wilson can dumb down the class as much as they want. It doesn't mean anyone will pass the AP exams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was legit confused by the email. On the one had it says it will "offer" the AP classes to all Juniors (which I believe is consistent with past years - I really do not understand the need to force advanced classes on students when you can basically register for whatever class you want). But then the note also said this:

"Moving to AP for all in both of the core English and Social Studies courses is an adaptive change that will require significant technical changes on the part of our staff. Our students are telling us they want access to equitable educational experiences, including AP classes. It is our job to make AP classes accessible, safe learning environments for all students."

That makes it sound like a modified class which will be given to all juniors. That would be a huge increase in rigor for alot of students - especially with the accelerated 4x4 schedule. I have no doubt that there are plenty of students up to it who might not otherwise self-select into these classes, but I doubt the entire Junior class is ready for it.

This sounds like some gibberish Ferebee would write. What’s “safe” mean???

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand Americans’ preference for AP. IB is better than AP. It’s much more rigorous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand Americans’ preference for AP. IB is better than AP. It’s much more rigorous.

It’s just hard to find IB schools while AP was created and pushed by an American testing company.

[Anonymous]

Anybody can go onto Wilson's website right now and look to see what the 2021-2022 course catalog includes. It includes both English III and AP English Language (two options for Juniors) and English IV and AP English Literature (two options for Seniors). There are also two US History options (AP and non AP). So there continue to be choices. The difference is now that you don't need a recommendation from a teacher.

My guess is that there will not be a groundswell into these classes but there may have been some kids were discouraged who wanted to take these classes. It may be that these kids are not the kids of the types of parents that post on this website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. Also means you’ll have some people in the class who don’t want to be there. A mix of interested and non-interested students is not as good for students and teachers alike.

Wrong. Read the email from the school. Students who WANT to take it will have access to it, they will not be forced to take it.

I have an email called "AP US History & AP English Language for All Juniors..."

Is there another one? Because it is not clear *at all* from this email whether students will have the option not to take it.

Look at the course catalog- there are still two options for Juniors for both history and English.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a grader for the AP test.

There’s no standardization of the classes. You can teach anything you’d like. I’m surprised most Americans are so clueless about what goes on in schools.

I’m also not happy about the algebra situation but that’s the reality of American education here, there, and everywhere.

can you explain a little better? I thought kids get prepared for the AP test and the test is standardized for all kids, meaning that my kid will take the same test as a kid at W. Whitman in Bethesda or a HS in NY or California. so you cannot dumb down an AP class or kids will do bad when they take the AP test because they are not prepared.

You are correct- the College Board has a set curriculum and administers the AP test. Everyone takes the same test (there may be slight variations--i.e., there may be 5 or 6 essay topics and each kid might get two of them). Teachers can follow the curriculum pretty closely (there are generally a set of "Units" for each AP class--you can look these up on the College Board website) though they don't have to use any specific text book. Having said that, a student doesn't have to take an AP class to take an AP test.

Like anything else, some schools do a better job of preparing kids for the tests and some teachers do a better job than others but Wilson is not going to "dumb down" its AP classes.

[Anonymous]

For all of you pointing to the course catalog, last year this same cohort had a choice between History and AP World History for the Sophmore year. Until the school made a policy decision to get rig of AP world history and enroll everyone in Honors World History. After students had already done their course selections. The existence of a course in the Wilson course catalog really doesn’t mean much.