Why public schools are "cool": Reason No. 91023598267

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

<p>We had homeroom this morning. My guidance counselor paid me a little visit and asked me to go down to her office. For some reason, I knew exactly what this was about: My course selection of AP European History for next year (my sophmore year).
From the beginning, she has been very hesitant to put me in AP Euro, but she did because she said that I'm "not the average 9th grader." Well then, today, she told me that Madam Assistant Principle has a new policy: the only AP sophmores can take is AP Psychology. She offered to ask the assistant principle to talk to me, and she did.
The assistant principle came in, we shook hands. Then she told me to take a seat while she was standing up against the wall. Uh-oh. The conversation basically went like this:</p>

<p>Me: Why are you not letting sophmores take other APs?</p>

<p>Her: 1. We have to provide a fair playing ground so that you don't get your GPA above others.
2. You need "prerequisites" (whatever that means) to take "advanced" APs.</p>

<p>Me: I have substantial interest in European History, so I think I would be successful in it.</p>

<p>Her:You can find another elective that you have "substantial interest in."
(Oh please--most elective teachers at my school (from taking debate and creative writing this year) don't teach AT ALL)--I didn't say that though to be "polite."</p>

<p>Me: I'll probably take 5 APs junior year, like many others. Why is it that we can take up to 8 APs junior year. Do we get so much more studious in one year? How will we learn study skills?</p>

<p>Her: You're a good student; you should already have good study skills (she obviously wasn't a good student, because 90% of the people in my current very hard Hon. World History class has never EVER studied before that class)</p>

<p>Me: Why is Providence, the best school in Charlotte, denying classes to capable sophmores?</p>

<p>Her: We are allowing you to take AP Psychology. We don't even have to do that.</p>

<p>Her: WALKS OUT, SAYING THAT SHE HAS WORK TO DO AND THAT SHE WON'T WASTE TIME DEBATING WITH ME. THIS REMINDS ME OF HITLER WALKING OUT OF THE DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE.</p>

<p>I really want to take this class next year. It's taught by my current Hon. World History teacher, who is one of the top three teachers I've EVER had. She's not only taught me history, she completely changed my attitude toward history and learning. I don't want to do it junior year with APUSH, and I definitely don't want to wait until senior year.
I've asked my World History teacher (she's the dept. chair, too) to ask about it. She thought the policy (which has never been written down btw) was stupid. I hope that I get to take that class next year. I swear that if they don't let me, I WILL complain to the new superintendent and I WILL write several editorials in the newspaper.
But, what should I do if they're still stubborn as mules?</p>

2

<p>i get neither the point of this story nor the reason why you are saying this. but with all the respect, i hope you get what you wish for.</p>

3

<p>get your parents involved.</p>

4

<p>I feel for you. The same thing happened to me. I have a feeling my guidance counselor hates me, but that's not the point. What I suggest is if parent involvement doesn't get you anywhere far, find out if your school offers credit by exam. Self study for the prerequisite classes over the summer (or enroll in another district and take the classes. You can try doing it online, too) and take those exams. You'll get credit, and you can take your APs. That's what I'm doing. I hope that works out! :) </p>

<p>Are students at your school ambitious? Just curious, 'cause perhaps that plays a factor in how much guidance counselors/principals care when it concerns classes that prepare you for college.</p>

5

<p>Ironically, there are a lot of ambitious people at my school. Of the people I know, one freshman wants to take AP Euro, another is taking AP Stat and AP Psych. I asked the guy who's taking AP Stat, and he said that he wasn't told of this "policy change." I'm not sure about the other guy taking AP Euro, because I don't know him personally and I rarely see him. My teacher is trying to find that out. She's really great. You can always count on her to stand up for you.
About self-studying, I would rather learn from this teacher than self-study, because she makes history so many times more interesting. She's really amazing and smart.</p>

6

<p>I mean, there's no reason you should be allowed to take extra APs if no other sophomores are. They're right that it would unfairly inflate your GPA..</p>

7

<p>My cousins go to providence! do you know the danzes?</p>

8

<p>That's bull. At my school, you either have to take 10th Grade Soc I & II or AP Euro for soph year. Euro was definitely the first AP class, and it is completely manageable. Also, I hate history.</p>

9

<p>But if this guy has proven himself worthy and holds a good class rank, then why not give him the advantage to add points to his G.P.A.? He'd already be ahead nevertheless! Anyone in the #1-10 spot deserves it. </p>

<p>My Pre-AP Biology teacher agrees with my wanting to spend my next three years taking all the AP Science courses. Fortunately she's head of the science department, so I'll just go to her this fall and see if she'll give me these prerequisite exams. Hopefully the same works out with you and your teacher.</p>

10

<p>move to long island become special ed join my school vincent smith school and beg ms wishnew to switch the schedules around like shes doing for and BE COme a cool 10th and 11th grader at the same time but if ur a boy dont join..plz...We already have anough boys we need more girls</p>

11

<p>o completely know what you mean!! </p>

<p>what you have to do is appeal to their emotional side. explain that you really want to take this course not only because u have a vested interest in it, but because you want to pursue a career in teaching euro or something random like that. say that you won't have room in your schedule later on. and tell her that she should give you a chance to fail. they eat it up when you ask them for a chance to fail ;) </p>

<p>keep fighting for the classes you want b/c in the end, they really aren't that much harder and if you learn something from it, then all the better!</p>

12

<p>S-U-E!!!!!</p>

<p>And, call the 3 local TV stations and tell them that the other 2 are already running the story.</p>

13

<p>Not sure if this sounds insane, but. . .
if your teacher likes you and may be a couple other students enough, could she teach you the course before/after school, or during a free period? Take AP Psych. You won't get like a report card grade for the History, but you'll get your teacher, your Euro, and your 5 on two exams! </p>

<p>I kind of did this for Euro, but I ended up self-studying myself instead.
I was the only one in my sophomore class to self-study and exam, maybe only in the school this year. It was SWEET</p>

14

<p>There should be no reason for you to not take the class. this is a new unwritten policy. how new? 20 minutes? Get parents, teachers, anyone to talk to someone about this. don't even bother with the assitant principle. go to the principle or even the school board. If they are going to make it a policy it should be in writing.</p>

15

<p>
[quote]
I mean, there's no reason you should be allowed to take extra APs if no other sophomores are. They're right that it would unfairly inflate your GPA..

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Then let all the sophomores take more APs if they want to. Besides, I think this person has showed enough of an interest and initiative that he or she deserves the little extra inflation. Or maybe...oh I have an idea: OP, why not ask to take the class, but you don't get extra inflation calculated into your GPA?</p>

16

<p>I agree that if this person can take the AP class, all the sophomores should be allowed to as well. While taking initiative is certainly admired, equality of privileges is important as well, especially in public schools.</p>