The article published 4-29-09 is entitled, Many Teachers in Advanced Placement Voice Concern at Its Rapid Growth. Look here for the complete text. With the AP Tests only a few days away this is certainly timely and will surely generate many reader comments on the NYT website. I'm sure it will also appear in Education Week and many other print and online media. The article refers to a study done by the prestigious Thomas B. Fordham Institute and the opening paragraph really says it all:
A survey of more than 1,000 teachers of Advanced Placement courses in American high schools has found that more than half are concerned that the program’s effectiveness is being threatened as districts loosen restrictions on who can take such rigorous courses and as students flock to them to polish their résumés.Having taught AP classes for a few decades I have strong feelings about the equity vs. excellence issues surrounding these classes but I would rather raise a series of questions and ask my readers to provide some data as well as voice their opinions.
Trevor Packer, the Vice President of the College Board, was very pleased by the "questions the report asks" and welcomes the dialog. I'm not so sure, however, that he is pleased by the majority sentiment of AP teachers that the quality of these classes has been compromised by encouraging more and more students to take classes for which they may not be prepared.
My sense is that like most complex issues we need to first determine who is doing what out there. I believe that there is wide disparity among districts regarding entrance into these classes and whether AP tests are required or not. The College Board has attempted to address some of these issues with their new AP Audit process but I wonder how effective that really is.
These questions are being posed to AP Calculus teachers or those familiar with how their district handles these decisions.
1) What stated prerequisites (e.g., in a Program of Studies), if any, are there in your district for entrance into an AP class?
For example:
"Students must earn a grade of B or better in Precalculus and/or be recommended by their teacher."
2) Is the test mandatory for all students in the class? If a student does not take the test do they still receive AP credit for the class? (This is more relevant of course, transcript-wise, for Juniors, Sophs and Freshmen).
3) Who pays the $86 for each AP test?
Note: I'm guessing that parents in most cases pick up the tab but, if a hardship can be documented, the district would pay. I've also read that in some states the cost is covered by the state or district.
Click Read more... for questions regarding your opinions.
Some more questions/thoughts...
4) Do you believe that strict entrance requirements are needed to insure the quality of the course or that enrollment will ultimately be affected by the reputation (quality, expectations and grading standards) of the teacher?
5) Your other thoughts...
Posts
6 comments:
As an Indian who has looked at the AP syllabus, I must say that it is not "rigorous" at all by our standards. We cover pretty much the equvalent to the entire syllabus in about half a semester of 11th grade. Also, we aren't permitted to use calculators and equation tables, and we are expected to get nearly perfect scores (not just 70% to ensure a 5).
AP classes ARE rigorous...by any standards. Students get 5 hours of h/w for each AP course, each day.
I have to agree with the above statement. Learning methods vary from country to county, but AP classes in the United States are indeed rigorous. Think, we are aloud to use calculators, yet, homework often takes several hours to complete each day. We also have projects, papers, etc...
Sorry, but the 5 hours of hw a day per AP class is a load of bull. How do you explain the kids that take 4 or 5 AP classes. So they go to school for 8 hours, do homework for 25? That's some new crazy math you are doing!!
I think AP classes are rigorous, but they don't have that much homework. Stop exaggerating.
I (poster #1) was just comparing the APs to this: http://www.reddit.com/r/math/comments/8bxt9/an_indian_undergraduate_entrance_examination/
Besides, if students do 5 hours of homework a day, why do around 80% of the students get a score lower than 70% on a really simple final exam? I'm sorry, I just don't buy it.
I appreciate all of these comments but I feel we're getting off topic a bit.
I would also be interested in reactions to the article from AP teachers. Specifically, is there a strong sentiment that some AP classes have been compromised by students who get in but do not have the prerequisite knowledge or are not prepared to handle a rigorous course. Further, is there also a feeling that the prevailing attitude towards AP classes is to take them mainly to "pad" one's transcripts...
My own experience is that there are clearly stated prerequisites for AP Calculus in the high schools with which I am familiar. In many cases students simply do not get in unless they have fulfilled the requirements. However, I believe students and parents have the right to appeal these decisions and the student may be enrolled anyway. I'd be interested in other districts' policies.
I also believe that the majority of students who take these classes are NOT doing so because they want the challenge of a more rigorous math course. Rather, they feel they must have some AP courses on their transcript to compete in the admissions process. A few do want the challenge, are motivated and work hard. A few...
To my first poster...
Yes, I believe there may be other more rigorous exams out there in other countries but I'm comparing AP courses to non-AP courses in the US and I feel strongly that AP courses are generally (not always) taught at a higher level. By US standards they are quite rigorous IMO. IB courses are in that category as well.
Post a Comment