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While there will be some changes to the core subject areas of Glenbard Township High School District 87’s curriculum, the crowd went silent to hear the fate of a popular history class at Monday night’s meeting.
Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services Hector Garcia presented to board members the Curriculum Course Sequence Plan, which is intended to help close the achievement gap and get students on the same level as their peers.
For the past few months, parents had heard from their Glenbard West High School students that the Contemporary World History Honors course would be cut from next year’s curriculum. The class, which is offered at three Glenbard schools, has been a favorite of students and parents.
Concerned parents have attended the past several meetings to tell board members the negative impact they think the elimination would have on the school and students. Not only has it made the students well-rounded citizens, parents said, but also this specific course has changed their lives.
Nine mothers stood in front of board members Monday and pleaded with them to keep this course on next year’s schedule.
“Students have continued to take this course even though they have the option of taking the other (Advanced Placement European History),” said Mary Ozog, a parent who organized a larger group in support of the course. Ozog has had more than 240 parents sign her petition to keep the course, which she handed to the board at Monday’s meeting.
The recommendation is for the elimination of Contemporary World History Honors at the sophomore level, to be replaced by AP European History or AP Human Geography. This plan stemmed from many roundtable discussions with department chairs, administration, and teachers from all four Glenbard high schools.
Some mothers who spoke at last night’s meeting said they were concerned their freshmen children were not ready to transition into college-level courses yet.
Ozog brought up the fact that New Trier High School in Winnetka, which is regarded as one of the top high schools in Illinois, does not offer AP courses to sophomore-level students.
The board members had an hourlong discussion with Garcia and staff members to clear up any confusion and answer questions.
“We believe that our kids can do this at a sophomore level in AP,” District 87 Superintendent Mike Meissen said. “From my perspective, our kids will do just fine in the AP course.”
Board member Steve Sebby put forth a question that parents said they felt was not thoroughly answered during the meeting.
“What exactly is the difference between the honors level course and an AP course?” Sebby said.
Garcia explained an honors level course is put together by high school teachers, but an AP course is put together with college professors and high school teachers. This means there has to be a specific amount of material covered throughout the course in order for students to achieve the college credit.
While there will be some changes to the core subject areas of Glenbard Township High School District 87’s curriculum, the crowd went silent to hear the fate of a popular history class at Monday night’s meeting.
Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services Hector Garcia presented to board members the Curriculum Course Sequence Plan, which is intended to help close the achievement gap and get students on the same level as their peers.
For the past few months, parents had heard from their Glenbard West High School students that the Contemporary World History Honors course would be cut from next year’s curriculum. The class, which is offered at three Glenbard schools, has been a favorite of students and parents.
Concerned parents have attended the past several meetings to tell board members the negative impact they think the elimination would have on the school and students. Not only has it made the students well-rounded citizens, parents said, but also this specific course has changed their lives.
Nine mothers stood in front of board members Monday and pleaded with them to keep this course on next year’s schedule.
“Students have continued to take this course even though they have the option of taking the other (Advanced Placement European History),” said Mary Ozog, a parent who organized a larger group in support of the course. Ozog has had more than 240 parents sign her petition to keep the course, which she handed to the board at Monday’s meeting.
The recommendation is for the elimination of Contemporary World History Honors at the sophomore level, to be replaced by AP European History or AP Human Geography. This plan stemmed from many roundtable discussions with department chairs, administration, and teachers from all four Glenbard high schools.
Some mothers who spoke at last night’s meeting said they were concerned their freshmen children were not ready to transition into college-level courses yet.
Ozog brought up the fact that New Trier High School in Winnetka, which is regarded as one of the top high schools in Illinois, does not offer AP courses to sophomore-level students.
The board members had an hourlong discussion with Garcia and staff members to clear up any confusion and answer questions.
“We believe that our kids can do this at a sophomore level in AP,” District 87 Superintendent Mike Meissen said. “From my perspective, our kids will do just fine in the AP course.”
Board member Steve Sebby put forth a question that parents said they felt was not thoroughly answered during the meeting.
“What exactly is the difference between the honors level course and an AP course?” Sebby said.
Garcia explained an honors level course is put together by high school teachers, but an AP course is put together with college professors and high school teachers. This means there has to be a specific amount of material covered throughout the course in order for students to achieve the college credit.
