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Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008 | As a junior in a competitive private high school contemplating whether or not to discard its own AP program, I can attest to the fact that AP has created a deepening rift in school curriculum. What the implementation of the AP program into schools has ultimately done is create a two-tier system of students who either take AP courses or do not.
Not wanting to be left behind, many students then feel an insatiable need to have as many AP courses on their transcripts as possible. Even more frightening is the fact that the AP course of study is not conducive to the program’s goal, which is to create an intellectual atmosphere worthy of a college level class. Is a rapid memorization of historical or scientific facts really commensurate with coursework in a college class?
While I believe that schools should assent to the fact that the AP curriculum is severely flawed, I understand that it is an unfortunate reality that many schools need the AP label to stay competitive. I can only hope for the day when the words “advanced placement” actually hold some meaning.