This school year, selected sophomores had the option of joining an AP World History class; the first time this has ever been offered to sophomores at Chapin High School.  About eighty students joined the AP classes, all of which are taught by Ms. Bettye Boone. It is her first year teaching AP.  It is a very rigorous course and demands a lot of work and effort from students and the teacher, as well. 

“It is causing too much stress, and I have two to three hours of homework every night,” said sophomore, Savannah Mallory.

Nightly homework for the class includes making note cards, reading from the history textbook, highlighting key points in an AP Achiever textbook, and keeping track of a theme based on world history standards.  A student easily becomes overwhelmed, and it is very easy to fall behind. 

Many students weren’t even aware of the consequences if they wished to drop out of the class if they didn’t like it. It turns out that if a student wanted to drop AP World History, they would have to go to advanced—in both history and language arts.  There was no dropping to honors, unless you wanted to change your entire schedule.  There just aren’t enough options.

“When I signed up for this class, I thought that if I didn’t like it I could drop it.  I didn’t know that I would have to go straight to advanced,” said Mallory. 

“AP history is alright, there’s just a lot of work. I like the detailed discussions we go into, but I don’t like all the reading we have to do for homework. I don’t regret signing up for it, though, because it’s a good thing for colleges to see,” said Ethan Zakian, another sophomore enrolled in the AP World History class.

Tests for the class are also very difficult.  One recent test included seventy multiple choice questions and an essay, with class averages dipping into the fifties and sixties in all three of Ms. Boone’s AP classes.  Something is wrong here.  Students study very hard, and most do all homework assignments, so how are grades so low?  Was it too soon to offer AP classes to sophomores? Or is the teacher doing something wrong?

Zakian also says that he is skeptic on whether or not he will want to sign up for AP classes next year.

“If all AP classes are this hard and are taught like this, I don’t think I’m going to sign up for any next year.  I can’t help but wonder if AP language will be like this. Or any other AP classes for that matter.”

Carl Garris, also a sophomore, feels that this is the way an AP course is supposed to be taught.  He is one of the few students that excel in Ms. Boone’s class.

“My class average was a ninety eight on the report card.  I got a 90 on the first test, and on the second one I got a 94,” said Garris. 

Garris also admits that he likes the class.

“It’s probably my favorite class.  I’m really interested in history, and this is really the first time I have been challenged in history class.  I like being challenged.  And the class is definitely boosting my GPA.”

Hopefully soon all of the students will be able to say this about the class. But there’s no getting out of it now. Until the end of the year, it seems that they will just have to tough it out and pray that they don’t bomb the exam.