<p>So, a couple days ago, I found out that now my school is allowing anyone (and I mean anyone) to take IB classes. They don't have to take the full diploma but can choose the IB classes they want and opt for the certificate instead. Now, all of my IB friends and I think this isn't fair! It's the reason we have AP AND IB. If you feel comfortable enough with all of the subjects, take IB, if you're only good at some things or want to focus on specific subjects, take AP, and it is not as if we have a weak AP program. </p>
<p>We're not trying to be elitist or anything but we just think that it kind of takes away from the program. The majority of us enjoy the small classes with people of the same intelligence that we see everyday. You kind of form a close-knit group because we all suffer (lol) through the same things. Plus (although it sounds really bad) it kind of takes away from the prestige of the program if anyone can do it. </p>
<p>Idk, is this really as bad as it seems to us or (in typical IB fashion :p) am I just overreacting?</p>
<p>Sounds a bit stuck up to me. But I get what you mean. I walked into my APWH clas on the first day of school and thought, “Wat are these guys doing in here?” I switched from AP Physics B to C (to the detriment of my GPA) partially because my usual group was in the other class.</p>
<p>My honest opinion on this is that ANYONE should be allowed to take an Honors class if they want to, but AP should be reserved for those who have already proven their capabilities.</p>
<p>With rigorous AP classes, I really don’t want dumb people slowing down the pace like in European History, where anyone can take the class.</p>
<p>Hmm…That’s not conceited at all. Believe me, you’re not that smart. I used to think I was of moderate intelligence, but that notion quickly gets exploded.</p>
<p>Actually, I have very little oppositions to the idea. I think it’d be a great way for the IB bubble to be broken. Honestly, IB kids are secluded from other students enough. We’re basically a school within a school. I don’t think you’re being completely fair to students who are bright and not in IB. For instance, let’s say that there’s someone who doesn’t feel quite confident with all of the subjects, but is a beast at biology. They should have the option of taking IB Biology. I know you said that the reason why AP and IB existed apart from each other was due to the whole idea of ‘if you’re confident in a few subjects take AP’ vs ‘if you’re confident in all take IB’, but I disagree. You, yourself, could have just taken all AP classes, and be challenged in all subject areas. However, you opted for IB. Why? Perhaps you believe that IB classes are slightly more challenging? And perhaps that’s true. The fact is, sometimes, AP classes and IB classes are taught slightly differently from one another. Sometimes they’re not. Even so, those who are most likely going to want to take IB classes are those in current AP classes. Shouldn’t students who are confident in only a few subject areas be able to take the most challenging class for themselves? And let’s be realistic. IB teachers are amazing. If a student wants a great teacher, can you really blame them for wanting to be in that class?</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, I love the IB family and the small classes, but often times, I get tired of the seclusion. I don’t think this change will make your classes all too much bigger. If people aren’t cut out for the class, then they’ll just drop. If anything, I think people may come to realize that IB is either a) much harder than they thought or b) much easier than they th ought. It should’t make much of a difference regardless. You get the full diploma, and all they get is a certificate. Colleges will ask them why they didn’t go for the full diploma, and if they have a weak answer, then that’s their issue, not yours.</p>
<p>As for prestige?</p>
<p>It’s just a high school diploma-- a cool one in which you get to a wear a large, shiny, golden medal at graduation for. You can still be an IB family. You just might have a few new members in a few of your classes.</p>
<p>If anything, I wish my whole school would take TOK.</p>
<p>My school is pretty much open admission and most people in my school take IB. So IB in my school is not just the “brains”. I think it’s good that way, IB feels a lot more normal. Wish my school had another program for non-IB students though. They have some business oriented programs which aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.</p>
<p>See, that’s what happens at my school. We get all these kids who don’t need to be in IB, then just fail in them. I want smaller, selective courses. The only ones like that are Computer Science HL(3) and Math HL II(<15).</p>
<p>I’m disappointed in my school for oversaturating the HL 1 class, where all the Alg 2/Trig students from before complain. This year’s have over 30, next year will be 20+… But really only 3-10 have the ability to take HL II</p>
<p>Don’t be afraid to have these people who aren’t as academically strong in your classes.
I took regular economics instead of AP, and on the first day of 2nd semester, I walked in there and freaked out because it consisted of well-known idiots and slackers. 3 weeks later, it’s the funnest class I’m in. So seriously, give it a chance.</p>
<p>Okay, so that came out wrong. I don’t mean like I only want to be with people who are “geniuses” but people who actually have a motivation to learn and succeed and want to get a good education and good grades. It’s just that sometimes (and I see this happen a lot in AP classes) people will just join because they think it will look impressive and then once they’re in the class they really don’t care and then that kind of drags down the class. Plus a lot of people become disillusioned with IB once they see it’s more of a critical thinking essay based type of class that demands a lot from you.</p>
<p>I’m sorry if I made it sound like I was trying to be above everyone. Haha, in no way do I think I’m “one of the smartest” :p</p>
<p>and @herr0174 I agree about TOK. It would actually be a great class for everyone but it really only works if you can get people like into it and wanting to discuss and debate things. I just think it’s a really interesting class!</p>
I’m admittedly not an IB student(I’ll graduate with National AP honors), but I’m pretty sure that this statement goes against the very essence of IB. Isn’t the purpose of the interdisciplinary courses and highly analytical curriculum to stimulate a diverse group of intellectuals with a worldly point of view? A pool of experience already limited by a shared geographical location would only be further impeded in the absence of any fresh ideas or backgrounds; as would be true if your group IB family was the only group of kids taking IB classes.</p>
<p>i think so. as long as these students aren’t taking your spot away from the class, then i don’t get why it matters to you unless all you care about is it being exclusive.
whether they can keep up or not isn’t your business. focus on you</p>
<p>Most CCers are lucky enough to attend an outstanding high school where everyone is intelligent. Those of us at “regular” high schools have, obviously, a lot of students with IQs between 80 and 110. I’m not trying to say anything bad about these students, but they aren’t able to add much to–or receive much from–an AP- or IB-class. </p>
<p>The main problem is many of these students cannot reason their way outside of a paper bag–or into the section of wal-mart where one may be obtained. The worst of my honors-classmates think there are 51 states because there are 51 stars on the U.S. flag (neither of which is true), that the “government level” of the government runs police departments, and manage to interpret the exact opposite of the meaning of every political cartoon, after the teacher spent 15 minute spoon-feeding them the correct analysis. The very best are scoring between 70 and 80% on basic, multiple-choice tests–It’s not a matter of being conceited, it’s just that these students are killing honors- and AP-classes. </p>
<p>While I agree with your school opening IB classes up to non-IB kids, I see where your concerns stem from. At most schools, the counselors would not effectively keep IQ-100 kids from registering for several IB classes, when his or her only reason for doing so is that they “look good to colleges, and you get college credit.” Teachers are expected to pass these students (so that they graduate on time) and differentiate the education to each student’s level. That’s simply not possible when you have students who can’t read, much less write, and students who would be excited to write a ten-page paper on their favorite court case.</p>
<p>We don’t all go to super-amazing schools. I’m not nearly as intelligent as many CCers, but at my school, I often know more about the subject than my teacher, not to mention the other students. We just finished the state-government unit in one honors class; I’ve served in various state-government positions for the past three years. . .the guy sitting beside me couldn’t name our governor.</p>
<p>Sorry for the rant. . . OP, talk to the IB-head about your concerns, and ask him/her to coordinate with IB teachers and school counselors to make sure that only those who will benefit from the IB classes show up, and that they have the option to drop if it’s not working out. I think that your IB-community would benefit from outside students, but it will suffer immensely if you try to become politically correct by removing higher-order thinking from your courses and signing up everyone and their respective mothers.</p>
<p>In my opinion, you will be totally within your rights if you’re annoyed at any classes where the extra kids (who says they are all dumb? surely some of the AP kids will take a few IB classes) slow down or disrupt the class in a significant way. Where the class proceeds as usual, but you have to see a few more faces? Yes, you should try to get over that.</p>