Advanced Detrimentality

Advanced Detrimentality In a multitude of high schools across the nation, an increasing number of students are deciding to enroll in AP classes, of which a large percentage are quite unsuited for the upper level class they are about to take. These advanced placement classes are meant to stimulate the brightest children of the school population, as well as for students to prove themselves as deserving of sought-after college credit. However, perhaps due to parental and peer pressure, those who clearly do not have the intelligence or motivation necessary to take these classes end up enrolling in these courses. The original intent of making these advanced classes open access was to enable minorities, who are bogged down even today by racial stigmas

Incompetent students end up lowering the level of intelligence in the learning environment, dragging down the other learners in the learning process. Due to teachers obviously not wanting their pupils to fail, the “advanced” classes end up being watered down to accommodate those students. Michael Petrilli, the president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute (which deals with education-policy), states that “Teachers seem torn, … They see the value of getting more students into AP, and to a large extent so far that [expansion] has gone well. But they do have some worries that the quality of students isn’t what it used to be, and that

Although this is to an extent true, it should be noted that screening or teacher recommendation for a course is not that large of a barrier for any intelligent, motivated student. The focus should truly be on familial support, not on making the advanced classes open to any most likely unqualified teenager that walks their way. When Carmen Melendez-Quintero, the founder of Latinos Excelling in Advancement Placement (LEAP), pushed Latino students to enroll in AP classes, “In the first week, half of kids who signed up for an AP course wanted to drop it.” However, as Melendez-Quintero says, “We needed the parents to say, ‘Absolutely not, you’re staying in the class. You signed up, you know the benefit, you’re willing to do the work. I know it’s scary, but we are here to support you.’” As a result, “The number of students in AP courses that year jumped to 86 and the number of qualifying scores of 3 or higher doubled” (Brundin 3). The LEAP program apparently displays how family support can motivate minority-race children with potential to achieve a great deal in AP classes. Therefore, open-access, while allowing those with potential into AP classes, allows other not as prepared people in as well, which makes it unnecessary, as friendly teachers will gladly accept intelligent, motivated pupils to their