It would be very shortsighted to cut IB. It is recognized world wide as one of the highest standards of education a high school student can achieve. Furthermore, students with an IB diploma have higher rates of acceptance at colleges and universities everywhere. It is an exceptional program and must be retained in an increasingly global and competitive world our children will live in.
D
Dorothee Werner
10 years ago
My daughter graduated with an IB diploma last year from SME and received 30 college credit hours. She entered McGill University in Montreal, Canada as a sophomore. Discontinuing the program will put Kansan students at a disadvantage, nationally and globally, which seems to be the goal of our Governor. The US ranks at best 17th and at worst 36th in the world on educational performance. It seems to me we owe students more rigor and not less. The IB program teaches students to think critically while AP puts more emphasis on memorization, an obsolete skill.
M
Margy Ronning
10 years ago
I have two sons who benefited from the IB Program at SM East. We can't say enough good things about it! They are both in college now and not only did they get scholarships, but the IB Program gave them so much opportunity to explore the world globally and have the experience of using critical thinking in the classroom and not just study toward a test.
H
Holly Cornelius
10 years ago
This petition isn't saving my address correctly. I live in Overland Park (not Lenexa), and I assume that will be important to the school board (that these are SMSD residents signing and making the comments). If there are others who are showing up as Lenexa or Kansas City, I'm guessing the same thing is happening to them. It would make sense that the majority of people signing are from the SMSD area.
H
Holly Cornelius
10 years ago
I believe the IB program is something that truly sets SMSD apart from other competitive school districts in our region. There are families who have chosen to move to (or stay in) our district exclusively because of this outstanding program. I think it's important to be a leader and continue to set our district apart from the others. My daughter recently transferred to her current high school so that she is able to consider this program when she enters the appropriate grade-level. It affords our bright Kansas students greater opportunities for advanced academic achievement wherever they choose upon graduation. Please reconsider cutting this program.
D
Damon Anderson
10 years ago
one of the best class offerings i had in high school and i would hate to see it leave SME.
R
Roslyn Wohler
10 years ago
IB is a different kind of program, without it, those who would take IB classes will take AP classes or just regular classes. Only having one way to excel in school is just hurting the students. Students should be able to take classes more suited for them; IB is that for many.
S
Sabrina Smith
10 years ago
The IB program is an excellent opportunity for children to excel and succeed in a worldwide recognized way.
T
Taylor McDougall
10 years ago
SME IB graduate 2015
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Bernie Winston
10 years ago
It's been noted...The existence of IB, perhaps with an impressive slate of AP's may show the community emphasis on education and favorably affect property values.
P
Paula Blood
10 years ago
My son will be a freshman at Shawnee Mission North next year and has been looking forward to being a part of the IB program. He is extrememly frustrated and disappointed that the program may be eliminated.
S
Sam Mosburg
10 years ago
The IB program is a very important educational foundation for our students and should under no circumstances be removed.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
IB allows students to become more open-minded and adopt an international-mindedness. Please save the IB diploma programme!
N
Nadia Grell
10 years ago
IB has been great positive impact to my life. Please save i.
T
Thomas Braslavsky
10 years ago
As an IB alum, I can say that the rigor and extent of the program served as an immeasurably helpful preparation for college and life in general. Cutting IB would be a shame.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Solidarity!
S
Sophie Unterman
10 years ago
I am a graduate of the Shawnee Mission East IB program. This program was what prepared me for college and gave me a leg up on subjects such as essay writing and reading comprehension. My IB English teachers pushed me to excel at writing, and I am now in a writing MFA program at an Ivy League school. Not only did the IB program prepare me for college, but colleges recognize how prestigious and rigorous the program is, and I received multiple college credits for intro-level classes, which let me focus on subjects I wanted to take. IB at East was also where I made most of my friends and provided me with a team of motivated classmates who helped me grow. Please do not cut the program, as that would be a huge mistake.
B
Brooke Stanley
10 years ago
I am a graduate of IB at Shawnee Mission East ('08). I credit the program with making me exceptionally well-prepared for college, and also with inspiring genuine intellectual curiosity. I wouldn't have been as successful without IB, and even more importantly I don't think I would have been as excited to learn. I'm now doing a Ph.D. at an Ivy League school in a subject that I love, and I still think often of specific lessons from the IB program. More pragmatically, many elite colleges love seeing this program on students' transcripts, and it helps great public schools like the Shawnee Mission Schools achieve their high rankings and compete with private schools for college admissions. Don't cut this world-class program - it opened so many doors for me, and it will do the same for other students!
M
Madison buckman
10 years ago
Don't stop . It's a good program, it helps a very good friend of mine. She has a hard day at school. She looks forward to it.
J
James Grahm
10 years ago
Featured
My grandson, Andrew McWard, graduated from this program and it helped him gain enhanced financial assistance for college. Our 2nd grandson, Alex, is currently a junior in the program and doing very well and we hope for a similar outcome
It would be very shortsighted to cut IB. It is recognized world wide as one of the highest standards of education a high school student can achieve. Furthermore, students with an IB diploma have higher rates of acceptance at colleges and universities everywhere. It is an exceptional program and must be retained in an increasingly global and competitive world our children will live in.
My daughter graduated with an IB diploma last year from SME and received 30 college credit hours. She entered McGill University in Montreal, Canada as a sophomore. Discontinuing the program will put Kansan students at a disadvantage, nationally and globally, which seems to be the goal of our Governor. The US ranks at best 17th and at worst 36th in the world on educational performance. It seems to me we owe students more rigor and not less. The IB program teaches students to think critically while AP puts more emphasis on memorization, an obsolete skill.
I have two sons who benefited from the IB Program at SM East. We can't say enough good things about it! They are both in college now and not only did they get scholarships, but the IB Program gave them so much opportunity to explore the world globally and have the experience of using critical thinking in the classroom and not just study toward a test.
This petition isn't saving my address correctly. I live in Overland Park (not Lenexa), and I assume that will be important to the school board (that these are SMSD residents signing and making the comments). If there are others who are showing up as Lenexa or Kansas City, I'm guessing the same thing is happening to them. It would make sense that the majority of people signing are from the SMSD area.
I believe the IB program is something that truly sets SMSD apart from other competitive school districts in our region. There are families who have chosen to move to (or stay in) our district exclusively because of this outstanding program. I think it's important to be a leader and continue to set our district apart from the others. My daughter recently transferred to her current high school so that she is able to consider this program when she enters the appropriate grade-level. It affords our bright Kansas students greater opportunities for advanced academic achievement wherever they choose upon graduation. Please reconsider cutting this program.
one of the best class offerings i had in high school and i would hate to see it leave SME.
IB is a different kind of program, without it, those who would take IB classes will take AP classes or just regular classes. Only having one way to excel in school is just hurting the students. Students should be able to take classes more suited for them; IB is that for many.
The IB program is an excellent opportunity for children to excel and succeed in a worldwide recognized way.
SME IB graduate 2015
It's been noted...The existence of IB, perhaps with an impressive slate of AP's may show the community emphasis on education and favorably affect property values.
My son will be a freshman at Shawnee Mission North next year and has been looking forward to being a part of the IB program. He is extrememly frustrated and disappointed that the program may be eliminated.
The IB program is a very important educational foundation for our students and should under no circumstances be removed.
IB allows students to become more open-minded and adopt an international-mindedness. Please save the IB diploma programme!
IB has been great positive impact to my life. Please save i.
As an IB alum, I can say that the rigor and extent of the program served as an immeasurably helpful preparation for college and life in general. Cutting IB would be a shame.
Solidarity!
I am a graduate of the Shawnee Mission East IB program. This program was what prepared me for college and gave me a leg up on subjects such as essay writing and reading comprehension. My IB English teachers pushed me to excel at writing, and I am now in a writing MFA program at an Ivy League school. Not only did the IB program prepare me for college, but colleges recognize how prestigious and rigorous the program is, and I received multiple college credits for intro-level classes, which let me focus on subjects I wanted to take. IB at East was also where I made most of my friends and provided me with a team of motivated classmates who helped me grow. Please do not cut the program, as that would be a huge mistake.
I am a graduate of IB at Shawnee Mission East ('08). I credit the program with making me exceptionally well-prepared for college, and also with inspiring genuine intellectual curiosity. I wouldn't have been as successful without IB, and even more importantly I don't think I would have been as excited to learn. I'm now doing a Ph.D. at an Ivy League school in a subject that I love, and I still think often of specific lessons from the IB program. More pragmatically, many elite colleges love seeing this program on students' transcripts, and it helps great public schools like the Shawnee Mission Schools achieve their high rankings and compete with private schools for college admissions. Don't cut this world-class program - it opened so many doors for me, and it will do the same for other students!
Don't stop . It's a good program, it helps a very good friend of mine. She has a hard day at school. She looks forward to it.
My grandson, Andrew McWard, graduated from this program and it helped him gain enhanced financial assistance for college. Our 2nd grandson, Alex, is currently a junior in the program and doing very well and we hope for a similar outcome