The College Board, the organization that produces Advanced Placement (AP) courses for high school students, recently deleted a statement defending its revisions to the new AP African American Studies course from its website. The statement, which was posted to the College Board website to combat a flurry of criticism, contained numerous false and misleading statements. The College Board has subsequently changed its narrative but is still defending the revisions, which appear to be politically motivated.
Those of us who didn’t grow up in America have watched the continuing and often violent suppression of the Black population with mounting incredulity. That a significant minority of the population with outsize influence can deny that systemic racism, and the legacy of systemic racism such as redlining do not continue to disadvantage the Black community today is mind boggling. To then have the audacity to pass “laws” to censor school and public library books and threaten the livelihood of teachers and librarians, is beyond belief. Normal in Putin’s Russia and other totalitarian states; in America? Really? I’m disgusted.
Thank you Donald. Your statement was both heartfelt and commendable. Of course you weren't raised here, thus lack the baggage that most of us unconsciously carry regarding our hyper-awareness of race here in the US.
So many here deny the systemic, poisonous and pernicious racism that repeatedly rears its ugly head in more ways than the deniers can deny.
Truth to tell, the slave trade had a deleterious effect on all those involved, especially those persons kidnapped and forced to come to these shores, but most assuredly, no one escaped it's damning influence.
Well, this is the position of many Republicans: to operate as totalitarian regimes. (For money and power, not for anything as idealistic as Democracy.)
I was born in America and I find this entire minority suppression of facts and reality deeply disturbing. Why are we allowing this fascist propaganda to continue?
I am a former US Marine and all of my training says that they must go. The facists. All of them. Their behavior demands it. Yes they have a right to life and the pursuit of happiness as do we all, but what do you do with someone who thinks that their "rights" include the right to limit your's? How do you negotiate or even communicate with persons who wish to erase you as a matter of course?
The College Board is learning what everyone who has licked authoritarian boots knows: Those shiny boots will always kick your appeasing b*tt out of their way when you've outlived your usefulness. #fafo
You wonder if a lot of people in Florida are enraged by DeSantis’ actions. Seems awful quiet in Florida considering the Fascist actions by their Governor.
I was just down visiting friends in St. Pete. Talked to a first grade teacher. She says teachers are not feeling the heat in her area, but “down in Manatee it’s bad.” I wonder (and worry) about people working hard, head down, no time to read much news, certainly not on Twitter, much less Substack, Mastadon, or Post.News. I was head down for many years as a single mom trying to get educated, escape an abusive past, and earn enough to support us. I didn’t start paying attention to politics until 2016.
Dangerous. Limiting knowledge leads to poorly educated population. Arrogant politicians attempts to restrict education and banning books, language, literature and education is lethal for students and citizens who depend on leadership for integrity and accountability. This is part of the fascist propaganda that has gripped aspects of GOP politics. Restrictions on access to historical events and analysis hurt everyone.
The Florida Governor is betting that his theatrics will appeal to Republican presidential primary voters. An added bonus for him is that ignorance will keep him and his likeminded Republicans in office. Florida is and has been ranked among the bottom rank of education in the country. They have low taxes and less expensive housing so people are moving there. The College Board has lost credibility with any schools that are really concerned about education.
So what have we learned here? The insanity and malevolence go on and on !
Didn’t the FL legislature re-draw the voting districts to favor Republicans, but then DeSantis went in and re-drew them to make them even redder? Talk about blatant. He’s got a regular little fiefdom going on down there. I also think he is heavily influenced by his wife who is pretty extreme right on the political scale. Would be good to find out what her influence has been on her husband.
Sorry if this is a little outside the topic. One of the messages the right-wing is pounding their fists about is that teaching about minority hardships is causing the majority guilt.
Back in 1977, there was a highly publicized and watched TV miniseries called "Roots". The series was a generational story about a family from when they were taken from Africa through their lives as free people in the American South. The themes included slavery, lynchings, institutional racism (term not used back then), Jim Crowe and in the follow-up series, the Civil Rights Movement.
I was only 13 when I saw the original series. Now, my memory could be foggy and, admittedly, I may not know all about the 70s zeitgeist other than being an extremely awkward teenager living in my own awkward middle school world in the NY City suburbs. I can't speak for all, of course, but IIRC, the American attitude was more acknowledgement than guilt. I do remember the story and actors were praised and won a lot of awards.
There were no 24 hour news networks "advising" us how to feel back then, but that is another whole topic.
There is probably no way that an honest AP American history course could be written that would meet the fascist interpretation of American history. So DeSantis’s threat to pull Florida from all AP courses should be taken seriously. Of course the College Board is looking at its profit/loss statement and academic integrity is just an afterthought in their analysis.
For many people, AP courses are a way to reduce college costs. Depending on the number of exams and the scores, students can apply the credits gained to graduate in less than 4 years. Frankly, it would take a very stupid constituency no matter which party they align to agree to this.
I believe the blame game of "politics" on this subject is simply a pathway around the discussion and recognition of the underlying root of the problem, which most always seems to be "dollars and cents". Like so many other social conflict issues, what it comes down to in the end, is the cost of doing business/survival. When having sat on corporate boards..."survival" has most always been equated with capturing market share and improving the ROI. It instills the optioin of considering pushing or exceeding the limits because..."...it's our survival that is at stake..."
Why the repeated claim of politics? Isn't politics all about money?
Again it's the "Money". Most all shareholders, politicians, business owners, workers, etc. have money as one of their primary concerns. (Despite what they may tell you when being interviewed)
It might be a tough hurdle for humanity to jump but if Earth's inhabitants are going to realize their full potential...their addiction to prioritizing "dollars and cents" for survival has got end. The true value in life should be the discovery of new, better, improved, less stressful, ways to survive as a species. The accumulation of wealth should not be the motivator. Money should be a convenient tool used for achieving a value balance when trading goods and services.
We have the most Earth/humanity threatening changes ahead which will far exceed anything that the planet and its inhabitants have ever experienced and "We Are Failing Biggly".
Henry, I love the way you’ve articulated what the goal should be: new, better, improved, less stressful, ways to survive as a species. As a social scientist, I emerged with the idea that “well being” is worth aiming for. New Zealand measures wellbeing, along with GDP and other monetary metrics. I agree that “it always comes down to the $$” and believe unfettered capitalism exacerbates societal ills. Tajifel’s in-group / out-group theory also explains unproductive human behavior. The urge people have to “find your tribe” and to think of those who are different as “those people” has roots in evolutionary biology; there was survival value in being wary. Now, we’ve layered power, money, culture on top of what might have become a natural curiosity rather than wariness. Rather than cultivating curiosity and critical thinking, we’ve emphasized self-preservation and a toxic individualism in American culture. Given a natural tendency toward self-absorption, cultivating empathy, emotional self awareness, and self-regulation skills ought also to be at the top of the list of needed KSAs. So while I am disgusted by the book bans involving sexuality, gender, and race, I am also concerned that DeSantis is going after socio-emotional learning (SEL). SEL content is being targeted for removal; helping children to learn HOW to deal with their emotions and social interactions productively is absolutely essential learning to develop pro social behavior.
This article is an interesting (to me) look at the origins and funding of the College Board and arguments about the value it delivers and whether public subsidies are warranted. https://nonpartisaneducation.org/Review/Articles/v14n7.htm
You have a great track record and do a wonderful public service. Next job Please lay out why AARP supports the privatization of Medicare under Medicare REACH!
I believe it is because AARP will make more money, gain more power and establish a more solid foot hold by entering into new and additional arena. By doing so they can leverage their membership access more broadly to the private sector's marketing apparatus. An expanded use of their existing assets to increase overall profit and political power. It's also a bit of an ego trip for some of the leadership and curiously some of its members also as they, would like to think, get a bigger voice in Washington with "the real" power base?
I looked at all the advantages of membership and still said "F that!" Couldn't tell you why exactly. Just seemed to pat, practiced and slick for my tastes. And when my first mind tells me "NO," there is no need for further consideration.
As a parent of a recent high school graduate, I know that colleges look at students taking AP classes as demonstrating 'rigor'. If the school offers AP classes and the student doesn't take any, that can affect their application as well. In one instance, a Big 10 school my son was interested in applying to said 'upper level math' was needed to apply, and Statistics or 'College Math' did not count. That means Calculus, and Calc is only offered as AP, at least at the schools in our area.
There is much to say about the pressure to take tons of AP classes (my son took 3), to get high scores on the tests to place out of Gen Ed classes (two of the AP classes he took counted for the same Gen Ed, so he didn't 'need' one of them, which is why you should only take AP classes that you are interested in!) There is not enough publicity about dual enrollment classes, which may not be available in all schools, and not a standardized selection of classes (both my kids took one dual enrollment class, but we didn't know it was dual enrollment until they were told they also had to sign up with the community college. The class was taught at the high school).
But the parents of high school students in Florida, who may have considered themselves 'safe' from DeSantis because of the color of their skin or economic status, should realize that their children's future college applications are at risk. Because why would DeSantis be satisfied with just shutting down one class? In a press conference, he talked about 'looking for alternatives' to AP, and I'm sure he will at least set up some kind of exploratory committee looking into a Florida version of AP classes.
The College Board needs new leadership. They appear to be promoting white supremacy, not merely acceding to Florida’s bullying. Who in their right mind thinks you can teach African American studies without teaching Kimberle Crenshaw or bell hooks? Or without mentioning Black Lives Matter (which, not for nothing, was creased by Black queer women)? 🙄
Good for you, Judd. I had been looking for a timeline - there is no better one than yours. Thank you for putting it all together when the NYT could not.
CEO received a whopping $2.5 mill -- not to shabby for a non profit. Many Universities and colleges no longer require SAT. It’s all about the money for college board and power and continued dumbing down of America for DeSantis.
None of them control the present. We can thank our personal Gods for that. The present is the place we go for the truth. It can not be used for anything but truth because that is what the present is made of.
Those of us who didn’t grow up in America have watched the continuing and often violent suppression of the Black population with mounting incredulity. That a significant minority of the population with outsize influence can deny that systemic racism, and the legacy of systemic racism such as redlining do not continue to disadvantage the Black community today is mind boggling. To then have the audacity to pass “laws” to censor school and public library books and threaten the livelihood of teachers and librarians, is beyond belief. Normal in Putin’s Russia and other totalitarian states; in America? Really? I’m disgusted.
Thank you Donald. Your statement was both heartfelt and commendable. Of course you weren't raised here, thus lack the baggage that most of us unconsciously carry regarding our hyper-awareness of race here in the US.
So many here deny the systemic, poisonous and pernicious racism that repeatedly rears its ugly head in more ways than the deniers can deny.
Truth to tell, the slave trade had a deleterious effect on all those involved, especially those persons kidnapped and forced to come to these shores, but most assuredly, no one escaped it's damning influence.
And THAT is EXACTLY how I feel. Having grown up here. Born in DC.
Well, this is the position of many Republicans: to operate as totalitarian regimes. (For money and power, not for anything as idealistic as Democracy.)
Fear is a powerful drug.
Power is a fearful drug.
..because it can be taken from you.
I was born in America and I find this entire minority suppression of facts and reality deeply disturbing. Why are we allowing this fascist propaganda to continue?
I am a former US Marine and all of my training says that they must go. The facists. All of them. Their behavior demands it. Yes they have a right to life and the pursuit of happiness as do we all, but what do you do with someone who thinks that their "rights" include the right to limit your's? How do you negotiate or even communicate with persons who wish to erase you as a matter of course?
The College Board is learning what everyone who has licked authoritarian boots knows: Those shiny boots will always kick your appeasing b*tt out of their way when you've outlived your usefulness. #fafo
Those boots are made for walking, and they’re walking over the students of Florida.
De Santis is a real tough guy. He s threatening to withdraw all AP classes. And who does that hurt?
The College Board ?
He certainly doesn’t care a scrap if it hurts college bound students.
As it stands Floridas kids will have a pitiful education , based on his , De Santis rules box.
They can’t learn anything
Thats offensive to De Santis.
And anything of value is . He wants to create ignorant little robots that learn little and feel nothing, while their parents hover over them.
I once heard an important and true statement.
“Our job , as parent’s , is to
prepare our children for living and coping in the ‘real world’ . “
Tell me how De Santis gets even close to that .
He does not .
This privileged Yale graduate lives in a fantasy world . His own.
You wonder if a lot of people in Florida are enraged by DeSantis’ actions. Seems awful quiet in Florida considering the Fascist actions by their Governor.
Awfully too quiet. Saddens me that family in Florida agree with him/gop
That occurs to me every day.
I was just down visiting friends in St. Pete. Talked to a first grade teacher. She says teachers are not feeling the heat in her area, but “down in Manatee it’s bad.” I wonder (and worry) about people working hard, head down, no time to read much news, certainly not on Twitter, much less Substack, Mastadon, or Post.News. I was head down for many years as a single mom trying to get educated, escape an abusive past, and earn enough to support us. I didn’t start paying attention to politics until 2016.
Who does that? A dick-tater!
Thanks for following them through the weeds and swamps, tracking all the ducking and dodging!
So helpful to the rest of us.
What a gift!
The dumbing down of the United States continues apace and if anything, it is accelerating.
Driving us to the ends of stupidity at breakneck speed! Stupidity kills. I've seen it happen.
Dangerous. Limiting knowledge leads to poorly educated population. Arrogant politicians attempts to restrict education and banning books, language, literature and education is lethal for students and citizens who depend on leadership for integrity and accountability. This is part of the fascist propaganda that has gripped aspects of GOP politics. Restrictions on access to historical events and analysis hurt everyone.
Sad but true.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8MO7fkZc5o&ab_channel=Metallica
The Florida Governor is betting that his theatrics will appeal to Republican presidential primary voters. An added bonus for him is that ignorance will keep him and his likeminded Republicans in office. Florida is and has been ranked among the bottom rank of education in the country. They have low taxes and less expensive housing so people are moving there. The College Board has lost credibility with any schools that are really concerned about education.
So what have we learned here? The insanity and malevolence go on and on !
Didn’t the FL legislature re-draw the voting districts to favor Republicans, but then DeSantis went in and re-drew them to make them even redder? Talk about blatant. He’s got a regular little fiefdom going on down there. I also think he is heavily influenced by his wife who is pretty extreme right on the political scale. Would be good to find out what her influence has been on her husband.
And Mrs. DeSantis equates herself to Jackie Kennedy. Not even close.
You did this with your joshing. I choked on me confefe mz Phillips. Prepare for LITIGATION!!!!
His own police force, his own political apparatus, wife and EVERYTHING!
Sorry if this is a little outside the topic. One of the messages the right-wing is pounding their fists about is that teaching about minority hardships is causing the majority guilt.
Back in 1977, there was a highly publicized and watched TV miniseries called "Roots". The series was a generational story about a family from when they were taken from Africa through their lives as free people in the American South. The themes included slavery, lynchings, institutional racism (term not used back then), Jim Crowe and in the follow-up series, the Civil Rights Movement.
I was only 13 when I saw the original series. Now, my memory could be foggy and, admittedly, I may not know all about the 70s zeitgeist other than being an extremely awkward teenager living in my own awkward middle school world in the NY City suburbs. I can't speak for all, of course, but IIRC, the American attitude was more acknowledgement than guilt. I do remember the story and actors were praised and won a lot of awards.
There were no 24 hour news networks "advising" us how to feel back then, but that is another whole topic.
You are oh so correct David. What an education moment, suspended for months as the entire series aired.
Used to be when Mike Wallace and 60 Minutes knocked on a door it struck fear in the hearts of the Subjects behind the door.
By cracky, Judd and staff, I can imagine that has become the norm for your knock be it electronic or otherwise.
Great work. Keep rattling the saber of truth in Journalism as
It is too far gone from our country and we need you.
Subscribe to PI those of you on here for free. That is one way you can help your country.
By cracky? cathy you just time warped me back to the Gabby Hayes future, by cracky. So weird to hear that now.
LoL. Geezus. Tis the norm with me. You must have missed my recent comment taking us back to a more recent whiz and twister of tongue, George HW Bush.
I quoted him when saying our country
"Is in deep doo doo"
There is probably no way that an honest AP American history course could be written that would meet the fascist interpretation of American history. So DeSantis’s threat to pull Florida from all AP courses should be taken seriously. Of course the College Board is looking at its profit/loss statement and academic integrity is just an afterthought in their analysis.
For many people, AP courses are a way to reduce college costs. Depending on the number of exams and the scores, students can apply the credits gained to graduate in less than 4 years. Frankly, it would take a very stupid constituency no matter which party they align to agree to this.
I believe the blame game of "politics" on this subject is simply a pathway around the discussion and recognition of the underlying root of the problem, which most always seems to be "dollars and cents". Like so many other social conflict issues, what it comes down to in the end, is the cost of doing business/survival. When having sat on corporate boards..."survival" has most always been equated with capturing market share and improving the ROI. It instills the optioin of considering pushing or exceeding the limits because..."...it's our survival that is at stake..."
Why the repeated claim of politics? Isn't politics all about money?
Again it's the "Money". Most all shareholders, politicians, business owners, workers, etc. have money as one of their primary concerns. (Despite what they may tell you when being interviewed)
It might be a tough hurdle for humanity to jump but if Earth's inhabitants are going to realize their full potential...their addiction to prioritizing "dollars and cents" for survival has got end. The true value in life should be the discovery of new, better, improved, less stressful, ways to survive as a species. The accumulation of wealth should not be the motivator. Money should be a convenient tool used for achieving a value balance when trading goods and services.
We have the most Earth/humanity threatening changes ahead which will far exceed anything that the planet and its inhabitants have ever experienced and "We Are Failing Biggly".
Henry, I love the way you’ve articulated what the goal should be: new, better, improved, less stressful, ways to survive as a species. As a social scientist, I emerged with the idea that “well being” is worth aiming for. New Zealand measures wellbeing, along with GDP and other monetary metrics. I agree that “it always comes down to the $$” and believe unfettered capitalism exacerbates societal ills. Tajifel’s in-group / out-group theory also explains unproductive human behavior. The urge people have to “find your tribe” and to think of those who are different as “those people” has roots in evolutionary biology; there was survival value in being wary. Now, we’ve layered power, money, culture on top of what might have become a natural curiosity rather than wariness. Rather than cultivating curiosity and critical thinking, we’ve emphasized self-preservation and a toxic individualism in American culture. Given a natural tendency toward self-absorption, cultivating empathy, emotional self awareness, and self-regulation skills ought also to be at the top of the list of needed KSAs. So while I am disgusted by the book bans involving sexuality, gender, and race, I am also concerned that DeSantis is going after socio-emotional learning (SEL). SEL content is being targeted for removal; helping children to learn HOW to deal with their emotions and social interactions productively is absolutely essential learning to develop pro social behavior.
This article is an interesting (to me) look at the origins and funding of the College Board and arguments about the value it delivers and whether public subsidies are warranted. https://nonpartisaneducation.org/Review/Articles/v14n7.htm
👏
You have a great track record and do a wonderful public service. Next job Please lay out why AARP supports the privatization of Medicare under Medicare REACH!
I believe it is because AARP will make more money, gain more power and establish a more solid foot hold by entering into new and additional arena. By doing so they can leverage their membership access more broadly to the private sector's marketing apparatus. An expanded use of their existing assets to increase overall profit and political power. It's also a bit of an ego trip for some of the leadership and curiously some of its members also as they, would like to think, get a bigger voice in Washington with "the real" power base?
Smoke and mirrors.
AARP is an insurance company firms and foremost. They just use seniors as a marketing tool.
Which is why I’ve been throwing out their mailers since the day I became eligible.
I looked at all the advantages of membership and still said "F that!" Couldn't tell you why exactly. Just seemed to pat, practiced and slick for my tastes. And when my first mind tells me "NO," there is no need for further consideration.
As a parent of a recent high school graduate, I know that colleges look at students taking AP classes as demonstrating 'rigor'. If the school offers AP classes and the student doesn't take any, that can affect their application as well. In one instance, a Big 10 school my son was interested in applying to said 'upper level math' was needed to apply, and Statistics or 'College Math' did not count. That means Calculus, and Calc is only offered as AP, at least at the schools in our area.
There is much to say about the pressure to take tons of AP classes (my son took 3), to get high scores on the tests to place out of Gen Ed classes (two of the AP classes he took counted for the same Gen Ed, so he didn't 'need' one of them, which is why you should only take AP classes that you are interested in!) There is not enough publicity about dual enrollment classes, which may not be available in all schools, and not a standardized selection of classes (both my kids took one dual enrollment class, but we didn't know it was dual enrollment until they were told they also had to sign up with the community college. The class was taught at the high school).
But the parents of high school students in Florida, who may have considered themselves 'safe' from DeSantis because of the color of their skin or economic status, should realize that their children's future college applications are at risk. Because why would DeSantis be satisfied with just shutting down one class? In a press conference, he talked about 'looking for alternatives' to AP, and I'm sure he will at least set up some kind of exploratory committee looking into a Florida version of AP classes.
The College Board needs new leadership. They appear to be promoting white supremacy, not merely acceding to Florida’s bullying. Who in their right mind thinks you can teach African American studies without teaching Kimberle Crenshaw or bell hooks? Or without mentioning Black Lives Matter (which, not for nothing, was creased by Black queer women)? 🙄
Good for you, Judd. I had been looking for a timeline - there is no better one than yours. Thank you for putting it all together when the NYT could not.
The College Board is either run by or caved into a buncha degenerate racist scumbags, and now wants to cover its ass.
CEO received a whopping $2.5 mill -- not to shabby for a non profit. Many Universities and colleges no longer require SAT. It’s all about the money for college board and power and continued dumbing down of America for DeSantis.
Why not both?
He who controls the present controls the past and he who controls the past controls the future.
None of them control the present. We can thank our personal Gods for that. The present is the place we go for the truth. It can not be used for anything but truth because that is what the present is made of.