<p>My daughter is in IB and expects to complete the full diploma.</p>
<p>In my experience, the descriptions of the IB program on the IB Web site are far more politicized than the actual program as it is run in the schools. In my daughter's school, at least, the emphasis is far more on meeting deadlines and preparing for exams than on any sort of political indoctrination.</p>
<p>Why would any conservatives be against IB program???? Would they also be against AP? This sounds weird.</p>
<p>My son did the full diploma program at an international school in Asia. Many of his classmates went on to colleges in Europe, Australia and Asia where IB participation was almost expected. The school also offered a wide range of AP classes for those who didn't want to do the IB.</p>
<p>Among the kids who were admitted to selective US colleges, some did the full IB, some took only AP classes, some took a combination of both. Theory of Knowledge, for example, was a popular course with just about everyone. Despite strong prejudices among students, teachers, administration and parents either for or against one or the other, I believe that there was absolutely no difference in the college acceptance rate at American colleges. </p>
<p>For my son, the IB was a very good choice. It offered a clear structure within a context of written and oral analysis. I felt that the art and creative side was the weakest part but I understand the arts focus varies from school to school.</p>
<p>We found when we visited colleges and attended information sessions, that the IB was well regarded across the board. The diploma came up again and again as a desirable accomplishment. The emphasis on writing and analysis was understood and appreciated. </p>
<p>It seems, however, that once admitted, the colleges are universally unclear on how to credit or accelerate students based on classes or test scores. They seem locked into the AP mold which the IB only partly fits. My son did not actually receive any credit or advancement for his IB classes, eventhough he did fairly well on the exams.</p>
<p>The fact that the exam results come out well after American kids are through with the college admissions process, is another disconnect between the European and US systems.</p>
<p>I think, ironically, that the un-American, Eurocentric focus of the IB is what gives it a certain mystique with US colleges -- more than it probably deserves. Why it would be the subject of a right wing witch hunt is a mystery to me. If anything, I found the obsessive attention to consistent and quantitative evaluation ("fuzzy" as the article called it, it decidedly is NOT) squelched creativity. The objection to quantitative versus subjective evaluation is usually more a leftwing provenance so most likely these rightwing complainers haven't bothered to really find out what the IB is all about. (Wouldn't be the first time.) </p>
<p>The "moral relativity" objection completely distorts the focus of Theory of Knowledge which is all about questioning the different ways of knowing.</p>
<p>The "America as center of the universe" argument was an issue at our international school as IB US history was not offered, making the program objectionable and to many American families, both politically and practically as US history would required when they went back home. Every time it came up at a school meeting a friend of mine who is Swedish also protested that the school didn't offer Swedish history, just to make a point how ridiculously xenophobic Americans can be. :)</p>
<p>Our school gets around that history problem by offering European History for the IB years and United States History in 9th grade. But our school is in Europe! I think the art focus varies from school to school. We have a decent art and music program offered at HL. Also Technology in a Global Society can supplant the history course. Most schools cannot have huge offerings. However, my friend's children are at the Geneva school where the offerings are amazing!</p>
<p>Also my son got almost a full year's credit for his IB coursework which will be helpful with some of his core requirements. It depends on the school.</p>
<p>My son also graduated from a full-IB program school. He and many of his classmates were accepted to top colleges in the U.S. (hi scarletleavy)</p>
<p>The over-riding principle for the most selective colleges is:
Did this student choose the most challenging program his or her school offers?</p>
<p>That could be IB, AP or something else. College admissions offices are well aware that not every school offers full IB or a good selection of AP classes. If a high school kid is very motivated, and challenges him/herself with work beyond the purview of the school (for instance, taking college courses or doing independent research), then that is always a mark in that student's favor. </p>
<p>My no. 2 and 3 kids will attend a U.S. curriculum school, with AP courses. I don't think they will be in any way disadvantaged by not doing the IB program. It's a completely different educational format. </p>
<p>As to the question: even at an International School overseas, we did not feel that our son was in any way ideologically indoctrinated. (he already has his own very strong political beliefs!)</p>
<p>Bush's new Press Secretary Tony Snow went to an IB school in Cincinnati. Don't know if he did the IB program or not.</p>
<p>I am senior who is pretty much finished with the IB program.</p>
<p>That article certainly brings back memories because about 3 years ago an article was published in our local newspaper about how IB was a tool to turn students liberal and that it was anti-American. Our IB class had a field day with that article. A main point brought up in that article was the fact that IB had a very global approach to learning which to me is true in some sense(our program focused mainly on Europe, but left out a lot on Asia and Africa). A majority of our classes taught us to look beyond our own borders when it came to learning. I believe the program only reflected what is to come in the future. The world is becoming more interconnected showing that the United States will not always be at the focus of all world issues. There are other countries out there. :)</p>