Comments on: IB program “anti-American”?

By: kevinhuang

kevinhuang — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:54:17 +0000

Maybe it’s the teachers that teach IB that might make it seem anti-american. I know Mr. Lerner teaches me IB Business and he teaches it in an American manner. In addition, although the US graduates the most IB students each year, it is probably a very miniscule percentage of the total students graduating.

By: Jonathan Lau

Jonathan Lau — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:40:49 +0000

Haha that’s pretty funny. I guess it shows just how ignorant some Americans are. The fact that the US graduates more IB Diploma students each year than any other country disproves this man’s remarks. I’m sure that if the IB program was indeed anti-American, there would be no way it would be taught here at SAS.

By: Jinny Kwon

Jinny Kwon — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:39:16 +0000

Being a student who has been in both AP and IB classes, I can say without doubt that IB courses address the subject with a more global perspective than AP courses. Another difference that I noticed was the different emphasis of the courses. While IB focused more on developing one’s ability to critically analyze and evaluate, the AP courses were more mechanical and straight forward, especially since a major part of the AP Exam is the multiple choice in which you just regurgitate what you have memorized. When I took IBSL Economics, the major part was being able to evaluate certain economic policies and situations. Also, many examples that were given were world-wide, not just examples from US. So, I wouldn’t say which one is better or not because the learning emphasis itself is different.

By: caleb

caleb — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:13:28 +0000

Well I guess you also have to take into account that a large part of the population in Utah is Mormon and supporting IB programs would influence students to view Mormonism in a objective light, which would be a less than undesirable effect.

By: Jeff Ye

Jeff Ye — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 10:23:02 +0000

I personally think this “debate” (more like Welker dominating “teacher”), is hilarious. I don’t understand how “teacher” can possibly be so narrow-minded. Sure, if he/she stated some cold, hard, not to mention, up-to-date facts, then maybe he/she could be taken a bit more seriously. The situation as it is right now; however, just makes “teacher” look like a fool. I actually hope “teacher” responds, i do enjoy a good laugh. Go Welker!

By: Chris Seah

Chris Seah — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:04:48 +0000

I had much fun reading this thread. I think it’s pretty obvious that the IB program, for reasons other than the fact that it has the word “international” in its name, is more attuned to the global situation. I don’t think anyone needs to be told to take this with several very large grains of salt. AP students are OBVIOUSLY smarter than IB students but this does not mean IB kids are subjugate to the will of the UN either.

By: Christina Hu

Christina Hu — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:42:59 +0000

Hahah, Alice, glad you picked up on that, apparently Tim missed it. :p

I take both AP and IB, and IB is in NO WAY anti-american, unless you count some of those snobby European kids who enjoy poking fun at the States, despite wearing American Eagle and Abercrombie.

By: alicesu

alicesu — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:23:10 +0000

HAHAHAH. why does it seem to me that most of the comments on this article have been made in jest? mr. welker maybe you should consider changing the settings so that only your students can comment on the blog.

By: jacqueszhang

jacqueszhang — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:03:50 +0000

If anything, I’d say IB classes are more global relative to AP courses. Think of our AP courses, all we talk about usually is America. AP Language essays are usually focused on America, and in Economics we study the “Fed” as an example of central banks. I take IB French, and I’ve realized the class’s focus is extremely centered on global issues, rather than America based ones. This, however, by no means makes IB courses anti-American.

By: Conrad Liu

Conrad Liu — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:29:37 +0000

For the people agreeing with the not-so-aptly named “Teacher”, I suggest you actually sit in a few IB classes before opening your mouths with completely ridiculous lies. I myself am an AP student, and in no way believe that the IB program can have an iota of “Anti-americanism” within it; the same holds true from my IB friends, and those who take both AP and IB.

Inductive reasoning, my friends.

By: TimChu

TimChu — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:36:05 +0000

hmm teacher’s apprentice… more like teacher’s pet. anyways, while i am currently developing my own conspiracy theory on the International Baccalaureate program, I will have to disagree with Utah on this one. The fact that this lawmaker is against the idea of expanding the already shallow horizons of American citizens is absurd. However, everyone should know that IB is front for an alien organization that will use methane produced from cows to take over the world. Tin-foil caps on everyone!

By: AP Student 1

AP Student 1 — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:22:22 +0000

I completely agree with this guy from Utah, I think in order to protect our perfect US education system, we should abolish the IB program immediately.

By: teachersapprentice

teachersapprentice — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:16:20 +0000

Oh my gosh, “TEACHER,” I totally agree with you!! I mean, I never thought I’d find somebody as pessimistic and cynical as me! MY TWIN! Look at all those dumb sops hoping that an international government will somehow ameliorate the climate problems we have right now. Psh. What airheads. Like you, I do not care what’s going to happen to the Earth if global warming’s not treated, just as long as, like you’ve stated, there is no “organization as arrogant and powerhungry as the UN” thinking that, God forbid, they can do something to try to save the human population. And I disregard all the evidence that the increasingly crappy climate is caused by men (I mean, come on, we don’t pollute at all!) cuz, like you’ve said, “Climate has changed for years with no help from man.” So, uh, I just tell myself that all those greenhouse gases were caused by flatulence, and if we want them to go away, we’ll just have to wait for a miracle.

By: IB student 5

IB student 5 — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:51:17 +0000

Obviously communism is the only way that can bring the world to prosperity and equality. The IB program prepares us to follow the path of the great leaders such as Marx, Lenin, Stalin, and Mao, and continue to strive for a perfect world. Today, the IB has infiltrated into the land of American Imperialists, and will soon reeducate all of them into global communist citizens.

By: IB student 4

IB student 4 — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:13:49 +0000

Oh my, your arrogance is only surpassed by your ignorance “teacher,”

“As for the US being part of the UN, they should get out. They fight most wars on behalf of the UN anyway don’t they?”

If you think that the US should leave the UN just because it fights most wars on behalf of the US, you clearly do not understand the purpose of the UN. Furthermore, generalizing that the US fight most wars on behalf of the UN is an ignorant generalization, ignoring the countless conlicts that prevail in South-East Asia (to which the US has made minimal commitents to).

You also cite the words of a former Secretary-General and claim that his aspirations for the UN are what define the nature of the orgnaization to this day. If you opened up your eyes and read the news, you would realize that the UN is far from being a one supreme world government. Despite the rapid rate of globalization, national sovereignty is still a concept cherished by all the signatories of the UN.