@paveyourpath Thanks for sharing. Things aren’t always as simple as they seem. I think my sons teacher was reviewed poorly on her students performance last year and is desperate to do better this year, and this is what she came up with. She is a nice person, but may need more experience with teaching.
Out of curiosity, your son doesn’t have any pre-existing obligations at the time of the study sessions, does he? Is he able to complete all of the worksheets perfectly immediately, so you have a convincing case that he doesn’t need to attend? Perhaps most of the class is getting something out of the study sessions, and really do need to be there. Many seniors do not take AP exams seriously once senioritis hits, and this might be the school’s way of addressing the issue. I think this solution is preferable to our local public high school, which simply gave up requiring the seniors to sit for the AP exams.
@roycroftmom He can do study sessions and will be for his 3 other AP classes. Not Mandatory. The sessions in the other classes are helpful. The teacher is available for help. They can work in groups to work out problem solving, etc. But just doing worksheets from problems out of the class book without teacher or student help or input, he might as well be home alone doing it. Many of the students may find them helpful, especially if they are struggling. So far he’s been lucky, Chemistry has been easy for him.
Also school policy is that if you take an AP class, you have to take the AP exam. Which he will. No problem with that. It’s school policy.
I’m afraid that won’t be a very convincing argument. He might very well get more out of studying at home alone than in the study sessions, but the same could be said for even attending any class, if the teacher isn’t good. Any student could argue that he would get more out of skipping the class and studying on his own, and it might very well be true. Nevertheless, public schools require physical attendance, and in this case, it sounds like you were notified in advance that study sessions would be considered like classes, with physical attendance required. If he finds the material easy, can’t he complete the worksheet quickly and either leave or move on to other subjects? Presumably both he and the teacher have a mutual interest in maximizing his AP scores, and the time could be profitably used to do so.
I also hope you are quite certain your son will get a 5 on the AP exam without attending any study sessions. Perhaps he will.
It makes me kind of sad to see a young teacher offering up extra time to be referred to in such a throwaway manner. Even if she had a bad year last year, she is trying to work on that. My kids have teachers who do so much after and before school time help that I really want students to be eternally grateful even if they might feel it is a waste of their time (16 yrs olds being so experienced and all). I see in my kids’ school that the time allowed in an 8 period schedule is always insufficient even for ultra experienced super-teachers, in no way does a 16 yr old take a pragmatic view of such situations. I would say to my kids, suck it up, because college is around the corner and no one will even notice if you don’t turn up to class for a semester, let alone a period. It is a shame the teacher can’t just say to OPs kid, sign this form and you are released, no complaints about an AP score allowed. Who wants another kid in the class who knows better anyway?
Just needs a 4 for college credit, though 5 would be good too.
I agree, Syballa. I’m sure the teacher has things she would rather do with her time than provide unpaid study sessions, but the parents will both complain about attending and then complain again when AP scores aren’t high enough. It must be very discouraging.
My daughter ran into a similar problem with an AP English teacher - the teacher was insisting on the kids attending extra sessions for practice exams, and my DD not only felt that the sessions were unnecessary, but it also caused conflicts that were impacting her grade in another class. In this case it was one teacher making demands that would have caused my daughter to miss time in another class, where attendance in the other class was a known part of the grade. As I recall, my DD also had an after-school job during that time frame.
Unfortunately, I don’t remember how it was resolved. I do know that my daughter went to the doctor, on her own, because of all the stress she felt she was under, and got a prescription for something like xanax from the doctor and also a doctor’s note which she wanted to use to get herself exempted from the requirement. But I don’t know (or remember) how it all worked out. My DD was always very independent and knew she had my support and backing, but pretty much fought her own battles, so I don’t think I ever got directly involved. It’s very possible that my DD actually ended up going to the study sessions in the AP class and living with the “B” in the other class where attendance was part of the grade.
But I do have one thing to say: don’t be afraid to be the only one rocking the boat. I’d say, encourage your son to follow whatever procedures the school sets out for pursuing this, and also to document what happens along the way. I doubt that this will impact his status with the college that has admitted him, but if that is a concern, his best bet is to figure out worst case outcome at his high school and then contact someone with authority at his college to find out if it is a problem. If the issue is dropping AP Chem for a regular chem class, then I doubt it will have any impact. But if the outcome could be a D or F in his AP class… then there could be an issue.
@Sybylla makes a very good point.
As the mother of a young woman who left teaching after only one year because she found she didn’t enjoy working with many children in a classroom at one time (she now works as a one on one special ed teacher and loves it), I think it does say something positive that the teacher is trying to improve her teaching and her students’ results. The way she is going about it leaves something to be desired, perhaps, but I think that is something the school district needs to work on.
As I said before, in my school, the AP test is mandatory but review sessions are not and extra credit is offered for attendance. Perhaps this teacher could offer an extra point or 2 for attending with no penalty for not attending? Kids who have a legitimate conflict, like sports or a job, could be offered the opportunity to complete the work during a free period or at home. If the student has help doing the worksheet, it’s cheating but the only one who suffers is the student if they don’t learn enough to score well on the exam.
A lot of good points. Thank you for everyone’s input. Like I said, my S likes his teacher, and we get the sacrifice that she is making with her own time to be there for her students. The issue is doing something that is against school policy. That is my sons argument. It is interesting to see many different viewpoints.
Trust and believe that your son’s teacher did not make a unilateral decision to have mandatory after school AP study sessions. It is not so much that it is against school policy as it is part of the school’s mission to offer academic intervention services and to provide time and compensation for study groups, tutoring etc.
The administration supports the idea or may have required it of the teacher (perhaps the majority of students are not scoring as well on the exam getting 3+, which is counted as part of the state’s metrics on school performance).
Challenges I see are:
If after school study sessions are part of the class, this should be stated in the syllabus at the beginning of the school year and should be signed or minimally by the student (preferably by the student and parent).
The way attending the study group is incentivized and the effect that it has on the student grade. The same thing could be accomplished by as some one else upthread mentioned - by giving extra credit to those that attend, vs. giving a 0 to those that do not attend. This still gives all students the same opportunity.
The other side of that coin is that your son, could still end up with a lower overall grade if 98% of the students are taking advantage of the extra credit to raise their grade. The teacher could make class/parents aware of the grading structure. If attending study sessions are 10% of your overall grade, then the teacher needs to communicate that to the student/parent at the beginning of the school year and also have it outlined in the syllabus. This way students know that if they don’t attend study session and do everything else perfectly, their highest grade will be a 90.
If a student is not able to attend the after school study sessions, due to work commitments, home or other personal commitments (standing doctors appointments) other school commitments (sports, band, etc.) the school should work with coming up with a way to help these students.
If attendance of after school study groups are a requirement of the course it needs to be better communicated so that students/parents know that when they sign up for the class that the after school study sessions are part of the deal (just like if they sign up for the class there is a mandatory summer assignment).
Mandatory after school study session would preclude students from participating in other school sponsored activities that require attendance at activities starting before school ends or immediately after the school day. Think band, chorus, orchestra when they leave early for a competition. ANY school athlete as many times they leave before the school day to get to out of town meets/games. The list goes on. I mean are no athletes in AP Chem? This could impact their ability to get athletic scholarships or help in getting admission/other financial assistance for college. Not to mention kids with jobs, or those that need to get home to care for younger siblings (common here).
If nothing else I’d have the student go to his coach and let him know his new “availability”, see if the coach has any suggestions other than quitting the team (given that they likely wouldn’t be available for non home games/meets).
ETA: Why would a school have a new, fresh out of school teacher take on an AP class?
perhaps this school actually prioritizes academics over extra-curricular activity. When my student-athletes had conflicts in schedules, they knew academics always came first for them; others may have different priorities but should then expect to deal with the consequences. Coaches always knew that they would be present at any practice or game that did not pose a serious academic conflict, but if it did, our choice was clear. It worked out just fine.
I don’t understand how this teacher’s method translates to quality learning. She is spoon feeding these kids 100’s in order to create inflated grades in the class.
@twogirls I agree. I really don’t think an AP Chem class should be an easy A. Here’s how it works, you get above a 50 on a test, you can correct, below a 50, you fail. So the kids who are failing can come to the study sessions and up their grade. I wish it was like all the other classes, you get what you get. Study harder to do better. Get help if you need it. And I have to mention again, I am not trying to put this teacher down at all. I wish her no ill. Her style is just not working for some.
It seems to me that this teacher needs mentoring by a more experienced teacher. The weaker kids in the class will suffer and the stronger kids will end up going home and teaching themselves.
My D’s apush teacher is offering 10 extra study sessions for an hour before school or half an hour during lunch. Two lunch sessions equal one before school. An extra point on the final is given for each session attended but if they attend all 10 sessions, they receive a bonus on the final.
So there’s an incentive to attend all sessions but no one is penalized if they can’t.
If he passes the AP test, will the units be useful at the college? What score does he have to get to achieve units? If he likes the teacher, I would consider going to her and saying “Would it be ok if I came to the prep sessions, but used alternate materials?” The reality is that he will not pass without extra studying. I would focus on that as my goal…if her worksheets aren’t the best way for him to accomplish that, she might let him sit in the back and do an alternative activity online that has adaptive learning built in. AFter all, her goal is to raise her passage rate. If he does well, and asks respectfully, I would think an alternative plan would be acceptable.