Towson U Prof: "I am firmly opposed to enrolling students in AP courses by the droves."

Here's what a Towson University professor has to say about the push to put all students in AP classes. (Reminder that The Washington Post's Jay Mathews' "Challenge Index" ranks high schools by how many AP exams are taken, not by how successful students are on the actual exam.)

I am writing to express my support for some of the parents of students at Towson HS. I have taught mathematics at Towson University since 1971, was a founder of the Maryland Coalition for Mathematics and Science, and just stepped down from a 14-year term as the Secretary of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).  What my colleagues and I are seeing at the collegiate level is an
erosion of rigorous and strong preparation for college-level subject matter, especially in mathematics... 

...The proliferation of AP classes and the disappearance of high school honors and gifted and talented courses have hindered most of the students we see coming into the university... 

...Students need to have courses available that are suited to them.  Something between "standard" and AP must be offered, and the success of the AP program in any school must be measured by the official AP exam grades of the students selected for the program, not by the number of students enrolled...

Read Professsor Martha J. Siegel, Ph.D's letter to parents here.

Follow the advocacy of Baltimore County Public School parents on this issue at their website.