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Daily Digest Archive for January 19, 2005
Q: (Initially posted January 10, 2005) FROM STUDENT
MEMBER ALEXIS K. IN GERMANY
I have four AP classes - AP Bio, AP Chem, AP US History, and
AP Composition.
The last three are taught by demanding teachers and I am learning
a lot. My
Biology teacher is awful. She has dumbed the class, homework,
and
expectations down to the level that helps the slowest students
in the class.
In my school anyone can sign up for AP classes even if they
aren't ready.
This means that out of fifty five chapters we need to cover,
we have only
completed six. Today we learned a bio song for fifth graders
and our
homework was to collect a few recycle packages to use to build
a model. This
is the only bio teacher and there isn't another class to change
into as an
option. I love biology, too and wouldn't care if I had a lot
of work and had
to study hard. This situation makes me so mad. I am being cheated
out of
learning.
My question is about what to do about the test at the end of
the year. I
have taken only one AP before. I earned the highest rating.
I know how much work must be done so that a high rating can
be earned and I don't mind doing
the work. The three AP's I'm taking with tough teachers will
prepare me to
have a chance at a high rating so I will take those tests. But
I don't want
to take the bio test because I will not be prepared to take
it. My low score
will look like I didn't care, didn't study, didn't learn the
material, etc.
No one will look at the score and think, "She must have
had a teacher who
should have been teaching fifth graders and not an AP course."
It will be
assumed I was the one with the problem. Also, I will not be
prepared to take
the SAT2 Bio exam because I won't be prepared for that either.
Double also,
I will not be as prepared to take the next level in college
even though I
could have been. Can you see why I am angry about this?
So, do I avoid taking the AP bio test? How about not taking
the SAT2? I am
not asking you to tell me what to do but I do need insight so
I can make up
my mind. |
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A: FROM MENTOR JO ELLEN HINCK
IN MO
Alexis -
You definitely seem to be an ambitious student - not only
from this
question but the many others you have posted in the past.
Not many
students wish for more difficult/challenging coursework! My
suggestion
would be to talk with your teacher in a calm manner. Perhaps
you can
explain you don't feel you are being challenged enough and
would like an
extra project (these are great for your personal development
and
transcripts - shows initiative and independence) - you may
want to have a
few suggestions/topics ready for her that interest you. Every
teacher
develops their own coursework and deserve a level of respect
- make sure
you show her that - it may help your cause more than putting
her on the
defensive. As far as preparing yourself for AP bio test or
SAT2 - you may
have to do it the old fashioned way - on your own. I went
to a high school
that didn't even offer AP courses so I had to prepare on my
own time. Your
lucky to be in a situation that is preparing you for college.
Throughout
your educational and professional career you will encounter
situations
that aren't ideal. You will have to turn negatives into positives
- looks
like your current situation is a good opportunity to develop
some of these
characteristics.
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