Reply to What's the typical HS practice for taking APs?

Forum Index » College and University Discussion

Reply to "What's the typical HS practice for taking APs? "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I do not believe for one second the courses offered to 14 year old high school freshmen are true college level courses.[/quote]

Of course they aren’t. But at many high schools, like my own kids’ mcps high school, it is a way of taking the highest level/modt rigorous courses. So frankly I don’t care if my kids repeat many of these classes in college, in fact I’d encourage them to repeat some if them like ap econ which is in no way equivalent to my first micro and macro classes in college— but I do want them ro be taking the most rigorous classes in their hs when appropriate for them from a learning and peer enagement stabdpoint. [/quote]

But are they learning if it is really just teaching to a test? It may be different in your school, but many have a formulaic curriculum to teach facts, not analysis.  It’s very old school.  Facts can be looked up.  True scholars are analytical. I get it if that’s the best the school offers, but why are we buying into this being good education?  It’s big business for the CB, not good education.[/quote]

I agree with you - but at my kids’ mcps HS it is the “deepest” class offered (kids aren’t encouraged to be more analyticsl in the honors/on level versions of these classes). [/quote]

I totally get it that it’s usually the best option.  It just bums me out that we think this is a good education.  I feel like kids miss so much and waste so much time memorizing irrelevant facts that they can look up quickly on a phone if they ever need them. I think education should involve deeper thought, but it’s where we are.[/quote]

I agree. Now that my son is in HS and I see the kind of work he's doing... it is pure memorization and no real deep thinking. All easy As.. just a matter of how much time you put into it. I can see why he might not be prepared to do well in college. We've decided we're not going to fall into the trap of racking up AP courses. Instead, he'll aim for straight As in honors and a reasonable amount of APs and focus
on his interests outside the classroom. We'll see where this takes him in terms of college admissions, and he is aiming for the top schools. [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics