BY BLAKE BEAMAN
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The Roseville Joint Union High School District school board approved the proposal for restructuring AP Human Geography to fill the sophomore social science graduation requirement.
They voted on the proposal for restructuring the course at the April 12 district school board meeting. Also mentioned in the meeting packet were concerns about how the restructuring would affect enrollment in AP European History, but this does not need to be a consideration.
While the district is aiming for a 2016-17 implementation, the changes are preliminary, and I believe APHG would better compliment world studies and provide students with a long-term, applicable curriculum.
APHG pairs better with the established curriculum of world studies. APEH strictly covers European history, from the Renaissance to WWII, going very in-depth on all of the events that happened in those countries. World studies does not go as in depth with the European countries as Euro does, but offers a general understanding of a wider subject field.
APHG provides a broad view of how humans interact with the world, including sections on migration, population patterns and culture. These topics are universally applicable. Students could apply the ideas they learn in APHG to any history course to come and these concepts will be relevant in a much wider range of careers than APEH.
The knowledge of broad trends and ideas from APHG could be utilized in future careers and everyday life.
If APHG receives this restructuring, it will need some significant adjustments to be an effective replacement for the growing number of students taking APEH. Care will be needed to account for the expected influx of students, but it has promise to provide an increased benefit to students in its proposed role.
I am currently enrolled in APEH, and as many told me and as expected, it is a pretty difficult class. If APHG is to replace APEH, it needs to be around the same rigor to give students the challenge they are expecting from an AP class.
APEH is many students’ first experience with an AP and sets a precedent for these students throughout their high school careers. The workload tests students’ determination and prompts students to adopt good habits and improved study skills.
APHG transition doesn’t mean APEH shouldn’t have a place on campus. Some adjustments will be needed to promote enrollment, but there are students interested in the field and a spot to be found in the schedule.
A comparable rigor should be maintained if APHG were to be put in this position, but APHG is undeniably more applicable for everyday life and the modern world.
