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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Interesting reaction to some facts...

I assure you I was not disingenuous.  I made no statement that IB is 'better' than AP.  I pointedly made a comment that 'it is not for everyone'.  I tried to inform people about the difference between the idea of AP and IB classes and the IB Diploma Program.  It is a statement of fact that AP doesn't structure a curriculum towards achieving a particular AP diploma - no judgement here.   I like the idea that FCPS offers both - so students and parents can decide which of the programs is appropriate for them.  I did not disparage Madison or any other school.  I don't defend the long windedness of an IB Coordinator at a graduation ceremony.  Marshall has an IB program and a very successful Academy program as well as a strong sense of pride that extends to all students.

I'm fascinated by the lack of intellectual rigor in assessing schools and the emotional reactions that are elicited by references to particular schools or even to simple data.  But I'm just a simple dad who thought he could share some insight and inform a conversation that wasn't helping anyone for lack of factual information.  Guess that didn't work out so well....[/quote]

Perhaps you should indeed stick with facts next time.  Starting off with an assertion that the IB "workload" has "no equivalent in the AP world" set the wrong tone, as clearly there are AP students who work as hard, if not harder, than Marshall students in the IB program.

I am also skeptical that the sense of pride in the school extends equally to all students, when both IB students and parents go to pains, as you did, to suggest the IB students are a class apart (i.e., a "school within a school").

at the risk of engaging with a 'troll' - allow me to defend my statements.  I provided more facts in one post than had been shared in the previous 6 pages of uninformed assertions about IB (and AP and Marshall HS).  The IB Diploma Program requires additional coursework and service and language study than the FCPS diploma.  AP program is a series of courses - not a Diploma Program.  This seems to be a contentious point - it should not be.  It does not suggest that AP students don't work 'as hard' or are not going to be 'as successful' - it is merely a difference between the structure of the two programs - a fundamental difference - not 'better' or 'worse' - got it??

You can be skeptical.  I don't know what your methodology was for determining that "both IB students and parents go to pains, as you did" - not here... I appear to be the only IB parent to "go to the pain" of providing facts about IB to this forum.  My characterization of 'a school within a school' was, I thought, factual in describing the distinction between IB courses (which I clearly noted are open to all and taken by hundreds of students) and the Academy at Marshall (also a successful 'school within a school').  But you know  that 'IB students are a class apart'...   You can also be skeptical about school pride - but tells us how much time you have spent at the GCM sports events, choir, theater, club gatherings, spirit events, graduations?

If you are "all for intellectual rigor, perhaps you could provide some information rather than simplistic assertions.  We would all benefit from your sharing real information rather than invective and judgement.

btw, please provide data to support your assertion;  "where so many students are pupil placing out of their base schools to avoid IB."[/quote]

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