At Gilbert High School, students have an option, if they want, to go down the AP route (starting in 9th grade) or the IB route (starting in 11th grade). With AP classes come some pros and MANY cons. Some pros would be: college credit and a deeper understanding of the subject. When it comes to IB however, some pros are: better life balance, open-mindedness, opportunities to take risks, teamwork, and support from peers. When it comes down to the cores for each path a student can go down, IB is OBVIOUSLY the better option. I’m not here to change any opinion or upset the student body but if you want to stop reading, or if you want to see what I have to say, you can go at any point. What am I going to do, stop you? With the introduction out of the way, I would like to state why I despise AP and then state why I don’t dislike IB in any fashion. AP… short for Advanced Placement… I loathe AP!!! I have taken two AP classes, AP Government/Economics and AP World History. Now, I think the reason why I hate AP so much is because they were part of my personal, least favorite subject: History. But that doesn’t mean I can’t make assumptions about any other AP classes. I dislike AP for many reasons, I could list so many reasons that the next paragraph wouldn’t even start until the next page. I won’t do that to myself though. Anyway, when I was in AP World History last year I often found myself struggling with the workload and time management. Even with SOME help, and I say “some” with a grain of salt, I STILL wasn’t quite grasping onto the vocabulary, the Document-Based Questions, the repetitiveness, and even the restrictions, and force I felt within the class. As you might have guessed, this made me SUPER stressed so I dropped out into on-level. As far as AP Government/Economics goes, I dropped within the first quarter. I felt so stupid in those classrooms, and I would NEVER wish that upon myself so that is why I’m not a HUGE fan of AP at ALL. Don’t even get me STARTED on those AP Exams! It must suck for someone who tries their hardest in that AP class, stay for the ENTIRE year, take the test, and find out that they obtained a failing grade to get the credit for college. On TOP of that, the AP Exams might happen AFTER school; this could mess up the student’s schedule. I’ll stop yapping about AP, it’s making me seethe just typing about it. My feelings towards IB are so positive, so starting now I won’t be bawling my eyes out! IB!!! International Baccalaureate!!! How formal, at least that’s what I think. IB isn’t just for the hopes of getting the college credit, I mean it COULD be if you want, rather it is for the sense of togetherness you feel with your peers. I’ve personally always viewed IB classes as a time to get together with classmates and become a giant family. There are two types of IB a student can go down, they can’t go down both though. The IB Diploma Programme, which I will call DP, and the IB Career Programme, this one I will call CP, are the two options. They are very similar in the ways in that they have the same overall goal, to “develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect,” however the CP is meant for student who have a good idea on what they want to do for their future career and the DP is more general learning to later on narrow down what you want to do for your future career. They are both beneficial in their own spectacular ways and shape a student into the best version of themselves. For the CP, students take at least two IB classes per year and take their CTE (Career and Technical Education) both years for their future career; they also take PPS (Personal & Professional Skills)! In the DP, students take all IB classes as well as TOK (Theory of Knowledge). Alright, I’ll admit something… AP is tough and so is IB. To succeed in these you have to be committed and WILLING to learn. There is no reliance on the 50% rule to pass these classes, the teachers care about you and will do anything to help you succeed; the student has to also take accountability though and ASK for help rather than waiting to receive it. IB and AP are great paths for students to go down and leave these students in a way better state in the years following, even if AP is not as fun to accomplish. To end off, what do you want to do, it is NOT my job to persuade you. If you put your mind to what you want to achieve, I’m sure your confidence will overcome anything you want to do in your education!

I sent out a Google form to Gilbert High School Teachers featuring questions that vary from their opinion of the education system to why they love teaching, and I received many responses. Some of my favorite responses were about the teachers themselves. Education has many thorns, but the teachers are the roses who make it beautiful. I have heard many stories of how teachers have not only supported their students, but supported each other, and I wanted to hear more! So, one of my first questions for the teachers was, “What are some of the things other teachers have done for you?” “SO MUCH! Other teachers are so generous with their knowledge, help, and support.” “Other teachers have metaphorically saved my life on many occasions!” “I can say with complete certainty that I wouldn't be the teacher I am today without the support, encouragement, and community formed with other teachers. I have made some of my best friends through teaching and I'm so lucky to have them. Everything from borrowed lessons, help with grading papers, sharing chocolate, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, or just sitting in silence while we let the events of a day or week wash over us, I couldn't do this job without other teachers.” “Having teachers you can talk to that are going through the same stresses is a huge boost to your day/week/semester.” “I am constantly learning from other teachers, whether they teach my subject matter or not. I always learn from their classroom procedures, behavior management, and many other things.” “My fellow teachers are amazing. We have a wonderful department and we help each other plan and share resources. We are definitely each others' cheerleaders! I've learned so much from them even though we have different ways of teaching. We are constantly trying to improve. Just like our students, we learn new things every day!” “Other English teachers share their materials. Ms. Peters, the other ELL teacher, keeps us organized and in compliance with the state. Coaches will talk to students who are having trouble behaving. Math teachers have been willing to come in my class during their prep to help students with concepts. All the teachers who have ELL students are willing to work with them, which makes my job easier.” “Other teachers have helped me to broaden my thinking about new and different ways to teach and connect with students. This is one of the most valuable assets we have as teachers, the ability to collaborate.” “Pushed me beyond what I thought I could do.” Mrs. Milius, a true necessity to the Gilbert science department, specifically in the chemistry field, has a heartwarming story of how teachers support other teachers. “The science department rocks and totally took care of me during my maternity leave. Mr. Sullivan gave up so much of his time teaching my substitute and teaching my students, Mr. G helped my kids by making himself available for tutoring and also conducted a lab for my classes. The science department held a baby shower for me during lunch one day. Not to mention, Mrs. Wagner gives me tons of advice and helps me come up with better lesson plans.” Not only do teachers support one another, but many of the amazing teachers we have today were inspired by the wonderful teachers they had when they were in school! “It is part of the reason I became a teacher- I have had a lot of wonderful mentors that helped me in a lot of different ways throughout my years. It took a while for me to believe that I could be that for other students, but I know that I can now so I do everything I can to pay it all back." “My Auto teacher in high school helped me learn in alternate ways since I have learning disabilities. This opened up my world and changed my life. I spent over 40 years in the industry.” “I had a few great high school history teachers who made me love history. They made it exciting and interesting. I try to replicate that in my classes to this day.” “I have had teachers kick me out of their classroom, out of their course, and I have even been kicked out of elementary school. Those teachers held me accountable, but they refused to let me hold myself back. When I punched back (sometimes literally), they always maintained their focus on helping me through the rough times because they felt I was worth it.” “My favorite teacher in high school (and we are still friends to this day) drove me to the city from our small town every week to take a life drawing class. It was a [hour and a half] round trip and was a 3-hour class. She has been my inspiration, model, and mentor as a teacher.” I loved hearing the special stories of how past and current teachers supported one another and their students, but I had one more big question for the teachers about their careers. “What is your favorite part of your profession and working with students?” “Without a doubt my favorite part of working with students is forming relationships with them, getting to know them, and being a part of their lives as they grow and mature. To watch that process happen is absolutely beautiful and one of my greatest joys in life.” "My favorite part of working with students is that I can see both the unique individual that each of them are as well as seeing a little bit of me in there. The students remind me of the variety and vivacity of youth while helping me to appreciate the path I took to become who I am. When I hear a student discover a favorite band of mine for the first time, I think back to being their age and being thankful that I found that art in the world. I get that reminder on a constant basis. I also get to learn new ideas and language. I at least am aware of Ice Spice and I can use the word rizz properly in a sentence. So, I guess it is the shared life experiences that keep me coming back to school each day.” “Making connections and building a community of learners is the best part of being a teacher.” “I love seeing how much of an impact I have on the students and the relationships that carry beyond the material learned in class. Seeing students become functioning members of society will always be a great sense of pride for me.” “My favorite part of teaching is getting to spend all day with my students. They're such cool people! It's so exciting to think of all the amazing things my students are going to go on and do in the world!” “Giving them the knowledge I have…Nothing makes me happier than seeing a former student living their best life after high school.” “I really love to know my students and hear about their lives. I see SO MUCH GOOD in my students and truly hope that they achieve their goals. I think teenagers get a bad rap, and it is so refreshing for me to see kids just trying to do their best, and doing it well.” “I love seeing the growth of my students over a school year. By the end, they have gained so much knowledge and confidence. It is very rewarding.” “Watching students' reactions when something finally clicks for them and the realization they have is incredible and always a highlight of my day.” “Seeing the improvement over the course of a quarter. Watching them be freaked out and stressed about a piece of music I put in front of them, and then by the end of the quarter, they can play it masterfully.” “I really enjoy seeing the students' progress. It's really easy to see with our ELL population. A kid who didn't know any English at the beginning of the year is able to have a conversation with you at the end of the year.” “The relationships built and watching young people grow. I am lucky as many of our students are in our program for all 4 years. We conduct many activities outside of the class through the FFA which allows us to build those relationships with students.” “They keep me optimistic because they haven't been jaded by adulthood yet. I absolutely love the subject that I teach and seeing how excited students get to learn about personal finance.” “Seeing the students working with each other solving issues on vehicles that would cost thousands for them to have professionally fixed. The more you know about life the better you’re equipped to succeed. The Students Rock!!” Teachers love and appreciate their students, so now it’s time for the students to show their teachers they care too. Next week, May 6th through May 10th is Teacher Appreciation Week. Take the time to show your teachers you care, even if all you say is thank you, it’ll mean more than you can imagine.

The United States education system has slowly tarnished its reputation of being one of the best in the world. From standardized tests to restricted learning, American teachers face numerous obstacles. When asked for their opinion of the education system, one teacher replied, “I plead the fifth.” I think that sums it up perfectly. Now, I could go on for days about my issues with the education system, but my goal with this article is to (safely and anonymously) share teachers’ opinions and maybe a few tidbits of my own. Their answers varied, but they all reflected the need for improvement. “I believe that everyone is trying their best, but we have lost focus on what matters most.” “I think there are some big issues that we need to take seriously and work to solve intelligently.” “It definitely could be better, but we should always be getting better so I don't think anyone should ever be completely satisfied with where we are at as an educational system.” “It needs a lot of work, but it's not as bad as some people might think. It obviously varies from district to district, but I feel we're very fortunate here in GPS because they always at least make an effort to get us what we need.” “There are good elements, but there is always room for improvement.” “There are good things and bad things about it just like anything.” “I think there are a few parts of the system that could be more effective.” “It has a lot of issues, but if we can find ways to make it work for more students, I genuinely think education can make our world better.” “[I] accept it and make it work best for students… I will stand up for what is good and right for [the] kids.” The students. That’s what matters. One of the biggest issues with American education is that it has forgotten the purpose of education: to educate the students. If something proves to not be the best way to teach students, shouldn’t it be changed? How are students supposed to truly learn if there are restrictions and limits placed on how they learn? When asked if they had ever found workarounds for the system, one teacher said, “I always do what is best for the students no matter what.” They also said, “The education system needs a complete overhaul. We need to focus on more career-oriented classes and such to help students get on the path that interests them. I would love to find more ways to make education meaningful for all students. I feel that the current model is very outdated and is not serving this generation.” And they are right. The purpose of school is to prepare students for the future, so wouldn’t a more career-oriented education make sense? Is it fair for students to be forced to take classes they will never use in the future, rather than classes that will benefit them career-wise? “I believe our system is outdated and many students are not gaining the skills they need to be successful in life. We need to really rethink what a school looks like in the 21st Century.” “I've disregarded policies that are harmful to students.” “Students learn much differently than they used to, and it's important that schools meet their needs. Parents are a big part of student success and they also need to work with teachers.” “...sometimes I add relevant information and lessons to the prescribed curriculum. This helps students understand the content better.” “The education system should be building kids for the future and not teaching to a test. The test does not prepare them for the real world where there are a lot of situations that could be covered in school to better prepare them. It feels like the education system gets worried about a loud minority and not the majority of people's opinions and needs.” “I'm sorry that [the education system] got ruined. I was really lucky to either have a good school system (I grew up in Gilbert) or it was not obvious that my educational resources were lacking. Nowadays, the same cannot be said. The world has advanced rapidly over the past 5 years alone, but expand that to the last 10, 20, or 30 years... it is like we are on an entirely different planet than the one we inhabited not that long ago. But, if you were to take someone from the 1970s and plop them into Gilbert High School in 2024, not much would have changed from when they went to high school. The same schedules, the same novels, and the same expectations- all to prepare them for a differentiated world. The public school system has stayed stagnant while the rest of the world (and the private and charter schools) has advanced.” One of the most recent downturns in our education system was the “fifty percent grading rule” established here at Gilbert High School. The school took a major step backward when it came to progressing the education system when it created this rule. There are no zeros in the grade book; students are given an automatic fifty percent for doing nothing. How is that teaching them responsibility and preparing them for the future? Although no teacher directly mentioned the fifty percent rule, the issue is that it, along with extended late work deadlines, is making students less and less accountable. This is the very thing that one teacher pointed out. “We aren't holding people (students, teachers, administration, staff, parents) accountable, therefore, our level of excellence and skill is declining and so is the desire to learn. If you aren't pushed or held accountable you don't do the work or improve. If there is no improvement, there is no desire to proceed to the next level.” I could not have said it better. Even though many students take advantage of the fifty percent rule and feel as though it benefits them, in the long run, it will only hurt our generation’s work ethic. (You don’t earn half your paycheck for doing nothing, friends, in case you didn’t know.) “I believe the education system exists for a reason, and I believe the goal of the system is sound in wanting to make sure we have education in our society. I think over the years the way in which that goal is achieved has changed drastically, and not for the better. I think the focus has been lost. It no longer feels like we are focusing on educating young minds and preparing them for the future. It feels like the system is continually telling teachers to do more with less and expecting major results. That doesn't work. It's disappointing, mostly because the people that tend to make these decisions have never set foot in a classroom and have no idea the circumstances that surround being a teacher in this day and age.” “I dislike that decisions are made by people who are not in the classroom and don't really understand the consequences of those decisions.” Teachers do so much with so little. The system works against them but still expects them to provide excellent education to students. That’s totally reasonable… (not). “Teaching is the best, AND the hardest.” “It is a lot harder than we get credit for :)” “I love education. There are always challenges. I look at it as: am I doing the best for my students and how can I improve? Are there things I do not like? Of course, but that is why I am a teacher and not an administrator or politician. I love working with students and chose many years ago not to pursue anything that would take me out of the classroom.” “This job is hard, and it's only gotten harder, but when we stick together and support one another the load is lighter and much more enjoyable. I will always fight for my students and do what I can to make sure they get what they need, and I will never stop fighting for my fellow teachers to make sure they feel supported and encouraged.” “I think we have too much teacher turnover due to lack of support.Teachers are severely underpaid and underappreciated. There are better education systems that exist in other countries, and we could adopt methods from those other systems to improve ours. The problem, at least in my opinion, has a lot to do with people's mindsets when it comes to education/teachers.” “Teaching is a tough and oftentimes thankless job. We need to do more to support teachers because without them students will be the ones that ultimately suffer.” “I'm not going to comment much… but I will say that teachers do NOT get the respect, support, or compensation that they should. I think a lot of teachers are doing their best with what little we have to work with.” One teacher said, “I think the sign of a good teacher is one that can take others' ideas and alter them to fit their own teaching. Whenever this opportunity has been possible, unfair and unreasonable become fair and reasonable.” I agree to an extent. Good teachers can find workarounds within the system to ensure they provide their students with the best education they can, but imagine the type of education that teachers could provide if they didn’t have to work against the system. I understand following a curriculum, but teachers are the ones who go to school and learn how to help others learn, so why aren’t they given more freedom to teach others the way they know will work best? To sum it all up, I want to share one more teacher’s response to the question, “What is your opinion of the education system?” “I am hopeful. We've been experiencing a dark time in education due to bad policymaking, lack of funding, and distrust of educators. Eventually, the public will stop seeing us as scapegoats, fully fund our children's education, and create a policy that supports our students' learning.”