CHANGE: Principal Dr. Michael Roe removes honors history classes from the curriculum.
By Emily Hughes, Staff Writer
Principal Dr. Michael Roe has implemented many changes this year in sports and school programs, as well as in Poly pride. One of the academic alterations eliminated Honors World History from the school’s course options and will remove Honors U.S. History as well.
These changes were not arbitrary; Roe believed that if students had the choice between a regular class and an AP class, more students would challenge themselves by taking the more difficult option. “We wanted to make sure first and foremost that when you leave high school, your transcripts are competitive with anybody from Orange County, San Diego County and Riverside County […] We want you to stand above and beyond,” he stated. Roe also believed that the College Board would be more interested in students who tried AP courses and then attempted the AP test. “Those two things right there are key indicators in terms of kids being college-ready,” Roe said.
Lily Mitchell (10), a student who initially signed up for Honors World History and later had to choose a different course, decided to try AP European History. “Now that I have spent some time in AP Euro, I actually view this change as a blessing rather than a burden. I have found that the work load is not too bad and the subject matter is interesting,” Mitchell explained.
The College Board conducted a research report on the importance of AP classes. Students in a test group who took AP U.S. History and received a passing score on the AP test had the highest SAT scores (1940 on average), GPAs and attended the most selective institutions. Students who did not take an AP U.S. History class had lower SAT scores (1538 on average), GPAs and attended less selective institutions, showing that the the importance of AP classes could not be undervalued.
Of course, the system works both ways. Some students felt that an AP history course would be too difficult for them, and because of this, took the less challenging option. A student who wanted to be in Honors World History, Veronica Poston (10), decided to take Advanced World History as her alternative. “I decided that history isn’t something that I’m really interested in outside of high school […] so I wondered why I would take a college course in something that doesn’t interest me […] and I heard several people didn’t even pass the AP test,” Poston explained. However, she also felt that Advanced World History would not challenge her enough. “I wish they still had Honors World History just because it would have been a better fit for me,” Poston said.
These changes not only affected students, but also teachers. Mr. Anthony Zlaket had to transition from teaching Honors World History to teaching AP European History for the first time. “[Students] will need to commit to far more reading and studying time at home, and become skilled in responding to FRQs and DBQs. The class moves very fast, and the level of complexity of the questions asked far surpasses what sophomores may be used to,” he said. Despite the speed of the course, Zlaket thought that subjecting students to this level of rigor will benefit them in later years.
Mr. Gull, who currently teaches Honors U.S. History, will also be teaching an AP class (U.S. History) next year when the honors option is removed. Gull looks forward to teaching AP U.S. History and working with Mrs. Dubuisson, the current AP U.S. History teacher. “Advanced Placement classes force students to be more organized with their coursework and time management; but it’s the life skills they acquire as part of the rigorous content that help them to become better critical thinkers and analytical writers […] which is truly what college work and undergraduate life is all about,” Gull explained.
Though the removal of honors history classes will constitute many changes, AP classes will benefit students in the future.“Over time we will have more kids in AP classes, [thus] challenging them and making sure they’re ready for the next level,” Roe explained. He reasoned that if students are taking AP classes, they would be much more prepared for college-level work.
So what have these eliminations meant for the student body? For some, they meant a greater challenge. For others, these changes meant a lost opportunity. Whichever the case may have been, intelligent teachers at the front of every regular, honors or AP history class, will be willing and ready to teach students the ins and outs of history.