Bloomington High School North, Nikean, 2006, Page 25

Description:	I Junior DilemmaStory by Ruby KohlerEvery student is required to take UnitedStates history as a junior. Students can eitherchoose Core-40 or Advanced Placement(AP). Both classes start the school yearstudying pre-colonial America and end withpresent day. The AP course is a more-rigorous version and is designed to preparestudents for the AP exam.Mrs. Pat Wilson, the AP teacher, said theAP exam defines what she teaches. Sheknows when colleges see that her studentshave taken AP US History they know exactlywhat the student has learned because of theAP curriculum guide.There is more focus on the multiculturalaspect of the United States, Wilson said.Why shouldnt we hear all of the voices?Because the AP course is more in-depth, itdoesnt always go all the way to present day,but Wilson says her class gives theoreticalframework for understanding morecontemporary history. Many students noticea difference in their first year of taking APclasses. To students, they see more of a challengethan any of the other classes in social studies theyhave taken before.We move a lot faster than honors, juniorAnna Fiore said. We are expected to go thespeed of college students.Junior Kelsey Lynch wants to take the APtest so she can get college credit. This wouldallow her to get into a more advanced class ornot have to take US history in college. Mr.Brian Muehlhaus, a Core-40 teacher, thinkshis classes also cover the multi-cultures ofAmerica.One of my biggest units is the Civil Rightsunit, Muehlhaus said. They also cover theSpanish and Asian Americans and their rolein US History. Muehlhaus thinks it is toodifficult to teach US History in a one yearclass.There are too many things to discuss in alimited amount of time, Muehlhaus said./— PAdavanced Placement UnitedStates History teacher, Mrs. PatWilson, instructs one of her classes.Wilson has four US history classesand one government/economicsclass. Wilson is the department chairof social studies and the adviser ofHabitat for Humanity.What is one thingyou have learnedin your years oftaking socialstudies?Columbussailed theocean blue in1492.-Jenny Ross,juniorThe US isthe richestcountry inthe world.-Tony Lake,Dont cheatin Mr.Muehlhaussclass.-ChrisMorrison,seniorKody HigginsJunior Jesse Thompson takes notesduring Mr. Brian Muehlhauss UShistory class. I didnt take AP UShistory this year because I wasalready taking AP English,Thompson said. Thompson alsoplays varsity soccer.Social Studies 25
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomnorth/id/5829
Collection:	Bloomington High School North

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