Forum Reader Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> IDon'tKnow Wrote:
> > ... I think the
> > PTA president would have been better off just
> > telling people to write to the school board
> that
> > they do not approve of any of the scenarios.
>
> --
>
http://www.foxmillpta.com/pdfs/06-07/Minutes_S_Lak
> es_High_School.pdf
> "Minutes from the Meeting on South Lakes High
> School, Tuesday March 20
> (taken by Rona Ackerman)
>
> These notes are long. Much time was spent with the
> sort of "We love our school" comments I would
> expect every such visiting group to present. I
> select ("cherry pick") a few comments from Ms
> Ackerman's minutes for your consideration:
>
> "... The number of students taking the full IB
> diploma has been rising steadily—52 seniors, 53
> juniors, and 75 sophomores are expected to receive
> the diploma. The passing rates for all students
> taking AP or IB exams from 2004-2006 is 81%. ...
> The math and science classes also include writing
> components and make you think. ... Bruce Butler
> said that comparing the AP to the IB was like
> comparing a Lamborghini to Ferrari. They are
> equally challenging. ... Most east coast schools
> accept it; some less progressive states may not be
> familiar with it. ... South Lakes is very excited
> about the increase in population because it will
> allow them to expand the elective opportunities,
> engineering and language programs, and they will
> be getting a culinary arts program. The school
> offers 5 languages, and this year replaced
> American Sign Language because it was not accepted
> as a language for IB. ..."
>
> Ms Ackerman only took the minutes and is not
> responsible for what was said. HOWEVER:
>
> "The number of students taking the full IB diploma
> has been rising steadily—52 seniors, 53 juniors,
> and 75 sophomores are expected to receive the
> diploma" is false logic. IB advocates use the
> greater number of younger students in the program
> to imply interest is rising. They should also show
> the dropout rate: Of those 52 seniors, only 45
> earned the IB Diploma. How many of last year's
> sophomores and juniors are still IB Diploma
> Candidates?
>
> "The passing rates for all students taking AP or
> IB exams from 2004-2006 is 81%" does not break out
> HL, SL, and AP. We know that in 05-06 only 21 SLHS
> students earned the IB Diploma and only three took
> any AP exams.
>
> "The math and science classes also include writing
> components and make you think" is one of the major
> differences between AP and IB. When SLHS holds its
> discussions of AP and IB it needs at least one
> meeting to look in depth at the differences in
> what is actually taught in AP and IB English and
> social studies classrooms. A second meeting will
> be needed to examine the IB and AP methodologies
> of teaching math and science.
>
> "Bruce Butler said that comparing the AP to the IB
> was like comparing a Lamborghini to Ferrari. They
> are equally challenging." We are back to a
> recurring issue: IB costs considerably more than
> AP. If they are "the same only different" then
> FCPS should dump the more expensive programme.
>
> "Most east coast schools accept it; some less
> progressive states may not be familiar with it."
> Wait a minute on this one. Who used the word
> "progressive" - Butler or Ackerman? Is "less
> progressive" a political term meaning less
> democrat? Or did the writer or speaker imply the
> natives on the other side of the Appalachians are
> backward and uneducated?
>
> "South Lakes is very excited about the increase in
> population because it will allow them to expand
> the elective opportunities, engineering and
> language programs, and they will be getting a
> culinary arts program. The school offers 5
> languages, and this year replaced American Sign
> Language because it was not accepted as a language
> for IB." Are we finally at the "real" reason for
> this whole RD? How many FCPS high schools offer
> MORE than five languages? SLHS admits it had to
> dump a program (sign language) because it is not
> recognized by the IBO - that point will be of
> interest to many.
>
> SLHS can offer their engineering and culinary arts
> program as Academy offerings without any RD. So
> why are we going through all this?
Holy crap. Dropping ASL? (American Sign Language). That is bound to peeve off hearing impaired constituents if they found out about that. Or anyone who would like to take ASL. Sounds like discrimination maybe? What language was replaced for ASL? If SL is doing all this then like you mentioned and like you asked, WHY THE NEED FOR A RD WHEN IN THIS MANNER COULD BE AS A MAGNET PROGRAM? MB is right, it is getting murkier alright.