AP Maths
So apparently our school not only wants not to run AP Calc next year, but they're thinking of not running MCR3U2. And the reasoning behind it is, to put it bluntly, retarded.
They want the people who would otherwise take AP Functions to take the U course in order to increase the U course's averages. Because, of course, averages are EVERYTHING, and what the students themselves want has absolutely no importance. What the hell! They're limiting our knowledge and achievement potential by making us be a part of a program that is of a lower standard. I mean, if you want high averages, you might as well make the whole school take COLLEGE math! People who take AP take it because they WANT the enriched program it offers; they WANT the challenges it provides. The administration is ignoring the real reason why the U averages are low -- that is, people taking the U course who should be taking the M or C course. Make THEM take the lower level course, not the gifties.
I, for one, am going to do two things: 1) complain to Eschle about it (being a gifted teacher, I'm sure he wouldn't be indifferent to something like this, and he has way more influence than any of us), and 2) get my parents to call the school and complain. I suggest EVERYONE do that, because they're way more likely to listen to our parents than they are to listen to us. Also, we should like organize a day where everybody goes to complain to the principal during their lunch, to the point of annoying them. Or make a petition, or something. And go join the facebook group; too lazy to find the link but balh. AGH you can tell I'm really pissed -______-.
February 28th, 2009 - 01:11
Well, we all know Glezakos just plain FAILS at being a principal. The school has been getting worse and worse every year every since Dr. Chan left, because she actually managed the AP classes well. For example, she actually had extra sections for AP Sciences.
Sure, we’ll get easier admission into university because of our own higher averages, but we’re being dumbed down and AP Math is fun.
So either way, why aren’t they moving the stupid people down to M and C levels? Or maybe it’s the teachers who are just blindly signing course selection forms…
Besides the completely idiotic reason about the averages, it’s probably also because of funding, and they should seriously allocate some funds to open up more classes. I mean, what’s more important: a school newspaper or the students?
One more thing is that since AP Calc is going to be cancelled due to “lack of interest” (12 people is MORE than enough though seriously), they think AP Functions is useless. Well, it’s not. It’s much better than not taking any AP Maths at all.
February 28th, 2009 - 01:40
They’re not doing that because they can’t… those people are free to choose the U course as long as they’ve passed the prerequisite. But if those students can’t be forced into a lower course level, it doesn’t make sense that we can be forced into a lower course level.
What admin would do in cancelling the MCR3U2 course is totally senseless. It’s the equivalent of forcing the top U students down into the M/C category so that those courses can get higher averages.
February 28th, 2009 - 01:52
Yeah. 12 people is perfectly fine for a class (like German last semester). Also, even if you DON’T take AP calc, so what! Having taken AP in grade 11 you’ll just score higher in the academic calculus course in grade 12 (and i’m sure the average in that class will be raised way more by 11AP-ers than the 11U class’s average will be by 10 gifties). Universities won’t care about your grade 11 mark as much anwyays (well most won’t), but your 12 maths will be way higher after taking the 11AP. *sigh*
February 28th, 2009 - 01:59
Either way, the teachers know about the student’s mark from grade 10, so they seriously shouldn’t be recommending them to go to a U course if they’re not cut out for it. In the end, it’s all because of this.
Just because we’re smarter doesn’t mean that we should be subject ot being pushed down into a lower level, which is probably the most puzzling part of this whole dilemma. We’re getting decent averages and we have to be the ones to pay for the other students?
As Brar said, AP Math has run its course…
February 28th, 2009 - 22:49
I’m told that typically the minimum might have been 15 people. But instead of having 15 people in a course, NOW we’re seeing classes packed to 30+ students and so many classes being cancelled.
February 28th, 2009 - 21:57
You people need to chill.
February 28th, 2009 - 23:35
It would be great to get some additional statistics to boost this end. Especially finding where classes are being made and cancelled. They should give us more details in solid numbers, e.g. total classes they can have.
BTW any idea why the 12APs cannot run in two separate years? Meaning taking advanced in one and calc the next?
Additional comment: the school hasn’t well informed students…though in the gifties they THINK about everything first, not enough info gets passed to the students.
March 1st, 2009 - 00:34
Speaking of ‘well informed students’, I’m thinking of writing an editorial for the next issue of The Spyglass. I might quote a few of the comments here, and I will DEFINITELY ask for short blurbs from affected parties.
March 1st, 2009 - 05:17
Really disappointed here.
I expected better of gifties.
Do you guys honestly think that averages is the only reason? And even if, do you think that you know that much better than our administration? Bitch all you’d like about not being able to take the courses that you want, bitch all you want about Ballzakos, but don’t friggin make this public -.-
Let me explain something to you, there is a reason they are doing this, They aren’t idiots down there, they aren’t retarded. Yes, averages are important, they matter in promoting the school, but think about it, cutting an advanced course will only drop averages in the long run, don’t think administration doesn’t know this. There is another reason, find the damn other reason.
Get informed if you want to take action.
Bitching at your teachers, getting your parents to bitch at your teachers isn’t action. Write them an email or something, there are better ways.
This little rant I’m commenting on, even some of the comments, heavily biased. A little bias is expected, but you are simply writing because you want to take the course, understand why they are cutting it first, and it ISN’T just averages, administration has reasonable people.
Alvin would never have trash talked our principal unless it had personally affected him. if it did, then he’s probably a bit emotional as he posts these things. Guys, chill, find out.
I’d also love to see AP math run, but after the school has already cut so many things I would love to do (AP psych in grade 11, TAing in grade 11) and been able to justify these things, I have faith in them. stop thinking about yourselves, stop thinking about how this will affect you, think about the decision administration needs to make, and the implications as a whole that they have to consider.
Also, start questioning yourself a bit, this doesn’t really hurt the academic or applied kids. If averages mean as little as your guys are saying, then it won’t matter if they are below average, they’ll learn more.
You’re not always right. Administration however… unfortunately IS. Until proven wrong.
This comment probably makes no sense… lost its flow =(.
March 1st, 2009 - 16:38
Well, that’s why I said I’d like to find some solid statistics, and get firm facts.
March 1st, 2009 - 17:18
Unfortunately, it is illogical for anyone to completely trust all the decisions made by authoritative figures. Of course “there is a reason they are doing this”… and as for the drop in averages in the long run, I’m not so sure they’re taking that into consideration.
Why? Why is that necessary? Self-interest is in any case a motivating factor. Perhaps the higher-level courses taken at high school are far more valuable to some people than to others.
No one is always right, nor is administration. “Until proven wrong”? We’ll aim for that.
In any case, the first step is to list all the people actually taking MCR3U2 next year (not here, not in public) so we can get a good sense of the real demand for the course.
March 1st, 2009 - 23:17
“Alvin would never have trash talked our principal unless it had personally affected him. if it did, then he’s probably a bit emotional as he posts these things.”
…Right.
Either way, this doesn’t personally affect me since I’m taking MCR3U2 right now.
March 2nd, 2009 - 03:31
I agree with Matt. SOME people are complaining way too much.
March 2nd, 2009 - 03:37
I was just reading the website Frederick had put up about the same topic.. and I was just thinking that your reasons on ‘Why you should oppose it’ aren’t very reasonable.. First of all.. competition isn’t that much of a factor in picking a course. Someone wouldn’t not pick a course just cause it has a lot of smart people in it.. and just cause it does a have a lot of smart people, who cares? Competition isn’t everything.. For many people, they just want to take the course and get a good mark, not caring waht the people around them get..
And that other reason.. your average will be lower compared to the class average? Another thing about competition.. who cares? It’s not like it’s competition when applying to univerisity.. I dont’ think those two reasons will make that much of a difference to the students taking 10 Applied/Academic.. not everyone cares about beating other people in marks
March 2nd, 2009 - 03:54
Oh and just to continue on to the last post I made.. I was just thinking that you shouldn’t suggest trying to make the people who do poorly in 10 Academic take 11C instead of U.. choosing a college math course can definitely limit the amount of career opportunities.. and that can be very damaging to the student’s life ahead of them. There is always time for improvement and those students, if they’re very serious about the math course, will try to improve and do better than they did in Grade 10 (where they probably slacked off).
I just think they should let the students take the courses they want, even if that means taking the AP courses.. they shouldn’t shut down any AP courses at the school
March 2nd, 2009 - 22:39
anyhow this is over now. for now.