In today's schools, why are advanced (GATE, honors, and AP) the target of criticism from parents and students?

Question

I've heard a lot of criticism of advanced classes lately, more from those who are NOT in the programs. What I'd like to know is that, if your student is not in those classes, why would you try to shut them down?

As an AP student myself, I feel underappreciated by the parents who call my principal everyday to complain about APs and honors classes. As a result, our funding is being funneled to classes to 'get studnets back on track', and the advanced classes are left with nothing. We now require huge amounts of money from students, especially in science laboratory classes, because the teacher only has enough funding for one class, not 5.

My question is directed towards those parents whos students are not in any advanced classes, and it is this: What is the justification for your actions? Why would advanced classes bother you so much that you would have our resources relocated and the programs shut down? What do you have against these classes in the first place?

Answer 1

IN some areas, the criticisms are coming from parents with kids in a failing school district who see the spending of the funds for AP or GATE programs as diverting money from the crumbling regular ed programs.  Another issues is that in most districts GATE programs are actually part of special ed, an area where money is always a concern.  Parents of children with autism and severe special needs are seeing fewer and fewer programs and services for kids that really have few other educational options.  They are told the budget must be cut,this has to go...but then see GATE programs still holding on.  In their eyes, these students could go into a traditional class and be fine...and in some ways that statement is true.  These parents feel the money from GATE would be better used in programs for kids who can't integrate, no matter what.  

I will be honest...as the mother of a special needs child who simply could not be integrated into a traditional class, there are times when I agree.  To see struggling school systems pull money from services such as speech, PT and one on one aides while GATE is left largely untouched angers me.  I understand that children in GATE cant always be best served in a traditional class either...but if the choice is that a child who can learn in any class has to give up some services so that a child who has to have a special class to learn can, I side with special needs.  

And finally, there is a way to fix things.  Our schools...all schools...are in financial trouble.  We demand more of them all while forcing them to make do with less.  If we want to see the educational system of this country truely shine, we are going to have to realize that can not happen if we keep voiting for tax cuts.  Education takes money..and that means more taxes not less.  It's a tough choice...

Answer 2

I'm just answering the question because your details are too long to read. Right now, too many people are criticizing public school in general. Sh*t, you know how many kids in other countries would love to attend school, but here in the U.S. we are so spoiled we will even criticize free, public education.

Answer 3

I'm with you on this one. I was in Gifted (Advanced, high IQ... Basically honors classes) from Kindergarten through 8th grade, and was placed in Honors and AP cources in Highschool, but because the programs had such poor funding, they were no better--possibly worse--than the regular ed. classes. We couldn't afford the books and other materials the classes required, and the advanced Chemistry class had virtually no lab time because of limited supplies and students who couldn't pay the outrageous lab fees. It resulted in a lot of students (myself included) withdrawing from the public schools and being home educated so that they would be able to work at their leve and not be held back by a lack of funds. It isn't fair, and I'd like to know why it has to be this way.