By FRANCESCA COCCHI
News Editor
Update: Principal James Gleason released the results of a Junior Class survey Tuesday morning. The class was split exactly in half (39-39) on whether or not CHS should offer AP Calculus AB. Of that, 34 students said they would take the class, 39 said they would not, and five were unsure.The majority of the class supported AP Art, with 51 voting for it, and 27 against it. Of that, 23 students said they would take the class, 52 said they would not, and three were unsure.
—
The AP buzz resurfaced Monday during a junior class meeting with Principal James Gleason during second period.
Gleason explained to the Class of 2013 that adjusting the schedule to fit AP courses next year is feasible. Gleason said the possible new courses are AP Art and AP Calculus AB, noting that nothing is set in stone yet.
If implemented, students taking calculus in their senior year could opt to continue the course a few days a week during the second half of their lunch and activity period to prepare for the AP exam in May. Interested students would either be accepted to or denied entrance into the course based on grades and teacher recommendations.
AP Art would function as a more rigorous design class, according to guidance counselor Carol Caruso. The full-year course would take up two electives for seniors admitted. Each student would submit a portfolio of drawings, 2-dimensional designs and 3-dimensional designs to the College Board for evaluation instead of taking an exam for the course. The prerequisite for admission is the junior level visual communications course.
Gleason opened the floor to questions and hands quickly shot up. He addressed a variety of concerns, including that AP Calculus would have little effect on mentorship and that opting out of AP Art in favor of different electives would probably not decrease the value of a student’s course selection. He also said the regular senior design course would still be available with or without the new course.
Before dismissing the juniors to lunch, the guidance counselors handed out surveys to determine who thought the new courses should be implemented and how many would take them if they were introduced in the fall. The sheets also had spaces for questions and comments.
Juniors weighed the pros and cons of adding the new courses during the lunch period. Students like junior Emily Marr of Millstone, however, said the possible changes would not affect them.
“It really doesn’t apply to me because I’m not eligible to take any of them,” said Marr. “But I’m afraid that colleges are going to hold it against me and think I wasn’t applying myself.”
Once a decision has been made, juniors can expect to receive official course selection sheets in the coming weeks.