<p>Just a statement and some advice ! I'm accepting of the fact that my S is having a difficult time with the academics of his first year at BS. However I was helping him ( over the phone ) on his most recent topics in biology. The reproductive system is one of multiple topics. I happen to be a urologist. I cannot believe the detail that the students are asked to study, understand and internalize for the exam. Way way too advanced ( I did not know the term epididymis until deep into college) ! This is not AP and what I do not understand is how the other students can possibly master this material while participating in all their activities , having multiple students in their dorm rooms making noise etc. Something is just not right! And please there are very few geniuses regardless of what is stated on CC. There is no way that students at this level can master these concepts ( details of menstrual cycle, the pituitary hypothalamic axis etc) without having been exposed before OR having some pre-knowledge of the course work or access to a resource from where the questions are taken for the exam. It can't be . The material is NOT math and not intuitive . It must be understood and internalized. This would take time for a student who was in college and has dedicated him/her self to science NOT a ninth grader. This is not sour grapes.... I really need to know . I was a premed student, a med student and a resident. I've been exposed and taught and the above just doesn't sit well with me.</p>
<p>Is your kid at Exeter? The Biology at my HADES school isn’t bad.</p>
<p>Actually, in my public school, basic, and required health/sex-ed class (9th grade, i’m a new sophomore at a BS) we were asked to remember the complete anatomy of the male and female reproductive organs, and describe sequentially all of the associated processes that were performed by the systems, and what role each organ played (such as epididymis) . It actually sounds rather basic to me actually (I’m really not trying to offend, perhaps I was served a dumbed-down version?) Again, this was a public school (and not a very good one at that). You’d be surprised what is considered standard at really any high school these days. I’d expect BS to at least meet that level of detail in a bio class.</p>
<p>Actually it was not only the depth but the speed! One night was the male/female reproductive system ( menstrual cycle with hormones etc), one night the Pituitary -Hypothalamic axis with what the major hormones do ( including ADH, Adrenal medulla /Cortex etc). If you have never heard of these structures before how can one lecture cover them and their function? You would have to repeat and make flow charts and really memorize in order to internalize the material. That coupled with the other courses and the other activities make me suspect that many of these students had prior exposure. It’s almost impossible. One poster stated some of this was covered in a health class… I don’t think so. This is anatomically and physiologically too detailed. In addition each major topic is one lecture. If the male GU tract was elucidated over the course of a week perhaps it could be mastered. (That is without having an additional four other equally detailed new topics in that course to master ).</p>
<p>I think most parents (including myself) have/had no idea how demanding some of the curricula at these schools can be. Kids work around the clock – between classes, homework and required athletic activities. I’m not saying this is a bad thing at all – we would do it again in a heartbeat – but it is not for every student. My son is now at a rigorous university and still says that he worked harder at boarding school (at least 6 hours every night) than he has had to so far at college. The upside though is that the transition to college is very smooth and I think these kids graduate with a very strong sense of themselves and what they can accomplish.</p>
<p>Well stated and I thank you for your insight . I guess BS is even more difficult ( especially for age) than college and that the fruits of all that hard work will be realized when going off to college .</p>
<p>One criticism of the way biology is taught is “Mile wide and inch deep” which is why they tried to change the AP curriculum last year, to a more problem solving approach.</p>
<p>I think a lot of science intro classes are aimed at recognition, not understanding. As a medically trained adult, you understand that hormonal cycles are very complex. Often kids just have to recognize that there are hormonal cycles and circle a graph that sort of looks like the one in the book. Multiple choice questions facilitate recognition, not understanding.</p>