Any experience with International Baccalaureate program?

Parents Forum
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And, looking at my son's schedule of classes, I find it difficult to see how any of these classes could be influenced politically or subverted by the UN or any other organization. My son's IB classes include Spanish, Math, World Literature, World History, Music, Physics, and TOK.

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<p>Actually, there is some political bias in all of these courses except for maybe Math and Physics. Even the World Literature and Spanish courses are affected (through the choice of readings). It's good that your son didn't take Environmental Systems instead of Physics; it's almost pure propaganda. And TOK is infused with the underlying assumption that all of the "ways of knowing" are of equal validity -- which is an opinion, not a fact.</p>

<p>As I said above, though, I think IB kids are smart enough to recognize propaganda when they see it. In fact, I only know about the politicization of these courses because my IB kid pointed it out to me.</p>

<p>But if really you want to see courses politicized, wait until college. My daughter calls her freshman sociology course "Introductory Socialism." And heaven help the kid who expresses anything other than a liberal, politically correct viewpoint on many campuses.</p>

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<p>My son's public HS implemented an IB program three years ago at the urging of the parents of students who did not feel that the academic program there was sufficiently rigorous. Prior to IB, there are some AP and honors courses offered, but the IB was seen as a way of creating a "learning community" within the school for the students who were preparing to attend college. (About 60% of the graduates attend college). Initially, any student who wanted to enroll could "take the plunge" and commit to the full IB curricula/exams/diploma or just attend the IB classes that might interest him or her. This worked out well, as the new program needed a sufficient number of students taking classes to justify the expense of training the teachers, paying the IB fees, etc. My son took a few IB classes as a junior and senior, as well as honors classes, and one or two AP classes. It worked out very well for him, as the better teachers in the school trained for IB (and saw their salaries increase as a result), and he was able to be in some classes with some of the more movitivated and academically oriented students in his grade. He didn't take any of the IB or AP exams. (He is now in college as a sophomore and doing fine there).</p>

<p>As the program matured, inevitably the flexibility disappeared and the school asked every student to make the committment to not only the full IB curriculum, but taking the full panel of exams. The thought was that the school had to produce some diploma students in order to continue. Enrollment dropped precipitously, the IB coordinator left, and the program has sadly become something of a controversy in light of the budget cuts that the school has had to bear in the current fiscal climate. It didn't help when the IB program was labeled by its critics, the "I'm Better" program. </p>

<p>I guess the lesson here is to determine how many students in any particular school are likely to not only benefit from an IB program, but how may will stay to the course to justify the added expense. Also, keep in mind that in a public school setting in particular, change is never easy, and while building "learning communities" may seem a worthy goal, it is not always supported in schools with students of diverse backgrounds and futures.</p>

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<p>The biggest problem with setting up the IB program is trying to tell kids and parents the truth. 1st of all; if your school ONLY has the IB program with 11th and 12th grade in high school, then what Qucksilvery said can very much be true. IB could be hell on earth. This is for 2 reasons: The teachers aren't ready for it and the students aren't ready for it.</p>

<p>If your school has the 9th - 12th grad IB program, then you are in much better shape. Most schools allow just about any kid to go into the program in 9th grade and allows then at any time between then and the end of 10th grade to drop out of the program and go back to traditional classes. This allows all the stereotypes of IB and the students to be overlooked and make the program worth a try. </p>

<p>I've seen 8th graders and their parents signing up for the IB program for 9th grade. They could be low "B" students. Some would say they are crazy for doing so. That it will be too difficult. Yet, I've seen where this was exactly the challenge and the discipline of a rigorous course of study that the student needed. I've also seen where the straight "A" student went in at the 9th grade and dropped out by 2nd semester. IB is not for everyone. Luckily, our school makes the student and parents make decisions. You don't have to sign up for IB in 9th grade, BUT if you aren't in it by the 10th grade, then they WON'T LET YOU get in for 11th and 12th. They understand the importance of the PRE-IB program in 9th and 10th. Remember, this is NOT a "IB Classes are harder" thing. IB is a PROGRAM. It's a different way of learning and educating. You can't get it from taking IB classes. And it is hell on earth if you jump in at the 11th grade level. Our high school is not very large. Graduating class is around 400. In the 9th grade, there will be about 150 students who will sign up in the IB program. On graduation day, there will be about 35 students who finished the IB program. Many of those who dropped out along the way say they gain some good things from the program, but that it wasn't for them. Even 4.0gpa students. Some of the 35 who did make it, graduated with a lower gpa than they could have gotten from traditional classes, but they know they are much more prepared for college. This is where it's important to talk to your student. By the end of 9th grade, you have to decide. Is it better for me to graduate REGULAR high school with a 3.75 gpa and SOME AP classes, or is it better to graduate a 3.4 gpa in the IB program? That's hard to say. There are some kids who do the IB program and graduate with 3.9-4.0gpa. Some graduate with 2.8gpa. Those on the low end realize they probably wouldn't have gotten a 3.8 on regular classes either, so the IB program actually helped them prepare for college, where regular classes wouldn't. If you are looking at any competitive college, then AP or IB is almost required if it's available.</p>

<p>I can honestly say that the IB program is not for the 2.0gpa student. But it's also not only for the 4.0gpa student needing additional challenges. Many times that student who isn't doing so well in school actually does better in a more disciplined environment. IB is a school of it's own within a school.</p>

<p>If a student didn't have access to the pre-IB program in 9th and 10th grade, I don't know if I would recommend the program to them or not. The problem here is that many parents, students, and teachers have the wrong impression of what IB is. Some see it as another type of AP classes. Some se it as a replacement for AP classes. Some see it as advanced classes only for smart kids. Assuming your school had all 4 years of IB available; with the teachers and program established and in place; I would tend to say, see the IB program as this.</p>

<p>"IB is like having the choice to take your kid out of the normal school they are in, and sending them to a private school. A private school where most all the kids going are all motivated because they want to be there, and where the teaching methods and student involvement are interactive, exciting, and everyone cares about education. A private school where kids aren't just there because their parents can afford it, but because they want to be there. Yet, a private school that is within the walls of the normal school they were attending where they can still associate and socialize with the friends they grew up with and participate in certain elective, ec, sports, etc... with these same kids."</p>

<p>I guess that's how I would describe IB to someone. Again, this is a program and NOT just advanced classes. I have seen some schools where they only had the 11th and 12th grade IB program, and it is more hell on earth. This is because the kids and teachers aren't ready for it and are trying to teach and learn the classes the way they have been doing their whole life instead of as a program. I just think it's too hard to do. It's hard enough having 9th and 10th grade PRE-IB. I probably wouldn't let my kid do it if it was only 11th and 12th.</p>

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<p>Christcorp, thanks for the reply re: AP/IB credits at the seven colleges.</p>

<p>A lot of schools with IB allow students to take individual IB classes; for some classes, that's the only way they can get enough students to justify having the classes at all. And most IB schools in the states have only the 2-year program for 11th and 12th graders.</p>

<p>Georgia,</p>

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Only few students sign up to do IB, even though the system tries to recruit for it very hard. They are really pushing my younger son's 8th grade class on the issue, even though they don't really have to make that decision till they get ready to start their junior year. The program is about 5 years old, but still has problems attracting students.

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<p>The IB programs in my district also have to recruit, and they have been here for over a decade, some for 15 years. In contrast, the very well-regarded science and tech program has to turn kids away every year; its acceptance rate is under 20%. I live in a very diverse metropolitan area, with people from all over the world, and even so, the IB program here has trouble drawing students to it.</p>

<p>This is why I have stressed that the implementation of the program is key. All of the experiences of people here, students and parents alike, with IB is nice to know, shed light on the program, etc., but it doesn't follow that the OP's D will have the same experience. </p>

<p>Is the education good? Depends on the implementation.</p>

<p>Does a student have time for extracurriculars? Depends on the implementation. </p>

<p>And so on.</p>

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<p>"Does a student have time for extracurriculars? Depends on the implementation.
"</p>

<p>I agree. At the United Worl COllege, the students finished the 150 hours cast they need during in 11th grade and do more than the 150 hours. In 12th grade they still do Ecs. Notice that they don't do them to impress colleges, but because they trully believe in what they are doing. The school works so well that they have time for Ec and even have time to spend a week off campus to do community service and any other independent project that they want to do.</p>

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<p>I've seen a lot of people on here questioning IB because they say it makes them not be able to do extracurriculars, but my case is just the opposite. I am doing the full IB diploma (HL Math, Physics, History, English, SL French and Economics), and CAS has encouraged me, and many of my friends, to try activities that we wouldn't otherwise do. I decided to relearn how to play the flute and join the pit orchestra for the play, some of my friends took up ballroom dancing, and my other friend joined the squash team and is now a captain. Mind you, we still all have time for a social life.
Also, regarding the biases: Any educational progam has biases. I think it depends more on the teacher than on the program itself. Also, most college courses are biased as much, if not more so than IB, so it is good preparation.</p>

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<p>In post 39 I meant to write that he took the Spanish AP exam. In my son's former school it was usual for students, many of whom had been studying a language for up to 13 years, to take a language AP.</p>

<p>As to Teach 39; what the h*** are you talking about?</p>