http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/05/07/ap-surges-as-a-tool-for-schools-raising-standards/ Just another eSchool Media site Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:37:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/05/07/ap-surges-as-a-tool-for-schools-raising-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-160382 boder Mon, 07 May 2012 19:16:55 +0000 http://www.eschoolnews.com/?p=99992#comment-160382 Much of the problem is too many administrators who think that dropping kids into AP classes will somehow magically elevate them. In the three decades I've taught AP classes, I have administrators ask why the class (in this case, History AP classes) "has to be so hard?" They are astounded, I say, ASTOUNDED when I reply "Because the test is that hard," which they find incomprehensible (mostly because they've never taught an AP class themselves). I have even had administrators tell me my college prep (non-AP) class is too hard, but that more of those same kids ought to be in the AP section for the "challenge." (Oh, and did I mention I teach at a long-established private school? Just sayin'.) What we have here is an educational manifestation of how George Steinbrenner ran the New York Yankees in the 1980's: take a pitcher who has 12 wins and 9 losses each year, throw 10 million dollars a year at him and expect that somehow he will then magically go 21-9; take a career .268 hitter, give him 12 million dollars a year, then expect him to hit .330. Didn't work for the Yankees in the 80's, won't work for schools now. If the kids aren't ready, put them in somewhat less rigorous (yet challenging) classes to build skills. Even Willie Mays had to play a few games in the minors before becoming a Hall of Famer. Much of the problem is too many administrators who think that dropping kids into AP classes will somehow magically elevate them. In the three decades I’ve taught AP classes, I have administrators ask why the class (in this case, History AP classes) “has to be so hard?” They are astounded, I say, ASTOUNDED when I reply “Because the test is that hard,” which they find incomprehensible (mostly because they’ve never taught an AP class themselves). I have even had administrators tell me my college prep (non-AP) class is too hard, but that more of those same kids ought to be in the AP section for the “challenge.” (Oh, and did I mention I teach at a long-established private school? Just sayin’.) What we have here is an educational manifestation of how George Steinbrenner ran the New York Yankees in the 1980′s: take a pitcher who has 12 wins and 9 losses each year, throw 10 million dollars a year at him and expect that somehow he will then magically go 21-9; take a career .268 hitter, give him 12 million dollars a year, then expect him to hit .330. Didn’t work for the Yankees in the 80′s, won’t work for schools now. If the kids aren’t ready, put them in somewhat less rigorous (yet challenging) classes to build skills. Even Willie Mays had to play a few games in the minors before becoming a Hall of Famer.

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