Anyone here have any exsperience with American School?

1076 Views 29 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Lillian J, Jun 27, 2005

Mylie

Discussion Starter · Jun 16, 2005

My son is starting "high" school this fall and has been uschooled for 2 years.If you have what do you think of this cirriculum? Hard to follow? It is pretty affordable and acredidated..I really liked the Goddess of the mooncircle but they don't take payments and I can't afford all the tuition at once...American school seems secular...Thanks for any info or exsperience you can share about this cirriculla...Love Mylie xx

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MrsMoe

· #2 · Jun 16, 2005

I went through American High school for my High School education. My grandparents pulled me out of school because they thought I was getting into too much trouble (I wasn't, they were religious NUTS.)

I have the be honest with you, the math was a joke - so make sure you enroll your child in advanced if you want them to have decent math. The other courses seemed "decent" but nothing special.

With American, I found it easy not to study at all, do my open book tests, and just send them in. It's very tempting to do that when you are 15 and locked in your bedroom all day. I got little to no education through that course, and I always have very very deep regrets about not getting a good highschool education.

I will also add I was given the books and told to study by my grandparents, so I got ZERO support or tutoring from my grandparents or otherwise. Prior to High School - I was in advanced and gifted classes and I really feel THAT is where I got my education.

But where does the blame lie? With the people who raised me because they didnt' watch over my schoolwork? Or the courses themselves?

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CerridwenLorelei

· #3 · Jun 17, 2005

18 yr is finishing up with it right now ( was married to exdh and couldn't get into the local hs's down where we moved) I only did my Sr year.and his 12 yr sister is starting her sophmore year with it...
My gpa had told me about it because he and a lot of boys in his unit in WWII used it..

I went on to a two year college with it

There are pros and cons with it I think -they don't get the tests back in a timely manner MPO

I don't know when Mrs Moe did the math but some of dd's I don't remember doing ...
Oak Meadow does payments too I think

I never did the open book tests and neither do my dd or ds -we all felt that was not the right way to do it and if we didn't get it right then we could see where our study weaknesses and strengths were

yes it is secular

what else can I tell you ?

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Ravin

· #4 · Jun 17, 2005

Why not let him continue unschooling? Have you (and/or he) read The Teenage Liberation Handbook? I've heard it comes highly recommended by unschool high schoolers.

blessedwithboys

· #5 · Jun 18, 2005

i have an AS diploma. too long of a story on why i left public school, so let it suffice to say that quite a few of my friends were doing it too and we just sort of did the subjects we were best in, waited for our graded tests to come back, and traded them around so everyone did well.

:

they make everyone do a course on social civics or something similar. i recall the psych class very well. i actually got the most out of that course, and still remember things from it more than 10 yrs later.

it is totally secular.

donny and marie did AS.

they use the tag line "you are in a class of one" way too much.

also, the "coveted HS diploma". that used to crack us up. coveted by whom? not us, at least then! lol

if i recall any other vital info, i'll post more.

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2

Mylie

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 18, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravin
Why not let him continue unschooling? Have you (and/or he) read The Teenage Liberation Handbook? I've heard it comes highly recommended by unschool high schoolers.

I had thought about it but he wants to go onto college and be a marine biologist who specializes in shark science..So he wants a diploma..He is insisting on doing real high school...WE have even been discussing him going to the local high school and are still going between that and American school...

I understand his reasoning but I hate the thoughts of sending him off the "cleaners" as I like to think of public school education.. :LOL

mojomom

· #7 · Jun 19, 2005

I did American school when I was a teen. I liked it and like a PP said knew other firends who did the whole test sharing.

I enjoyed and it and to be honest I was PS for 9 &10 th grade can't remember a thing I learned there, but I do remember the stuff I learned with AS.

CerridwenLorelei

· #8 · Jun 19, 2005

at Oak Meadow?

Or Clonlara?
I think Citizens is secular too

Texas Tech also has one but they have to take the TAKS test just like PS

I don't know anything about test sharing and dd and ds do not. They couldn't right now anyway even if they wanted to which they don't because the handbook scared them to death about that kind of thing

DS tested out of several subjects -this can be done but it costs 25 a test and they only let you do four-so his sis is doing subjects he never had and their electives are different so ...

anyhoo I am out of here for several days but next weekend if you want to ask more ?'s I will be around

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MrsMoe

· #9 · Jun 19, 2005

Keep in mind - American School does not offer Biology, Physics, college entry maths, etc. It is very basic and very minimal. I know, I took it.

If you intend on your child ever going onto college, I would seriously consider if it is the cirriculum you want. If your child wants to ever pursue a medical degree as an example, you or your child will seriously regret American High School. I know, because I HAVE regretted it.

Mylie

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jun 19, 2005

MrsMoe said:
Keep in mind - American School does not offer Biology, Physics, college entry maths, etc. It is very basic and very minimal. I know, I took it.

When did you graduate from American School? I have the packet and they offer 2 different programs now..A General high school diploma and another one called College Prepartory course...Greg will be taking the latter...it includes...

Algebra 1
Biology
Planning your career
Civics,Social Government
Understanding English 1
Understanding English 2
Geometry
History,United STates
Literature,American
Literature,English
Mathematics,Essential 1
Mathematics,Essential 2
Psychology

Plus he is too choose 3 electives

These are the ones they have recommended he take with his intent of becoming a scientist that they also offer...

Physics
Chemistry
General/physical science

Plus he plans on taking some others too that he isn't required..

I am thinking that the college prep course is new?

Thanks for telling me of your exsperience though...I hope if my son decides to take this course his is better than yours sounds....I am sorry your exsperience wasn't a good one..

Love Mylie xx

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CerridwenLorelei

· #11 · Jun 19, 2005

merican School does not offer Biology, Physics, college entry maths, etc. It is very basic and very minimal. I know, I took it."
"

Biology physics chemistry and genetics. I had to use some of my Criminal Justice stuff to help him study a couple of units. I too am curious when you finished? I know in the 20 yrs since I had it the pysch changed a LOT that my kids
THe Biology combo was VERY intense and complete labs as well
I hadn't done chemistry so I had to send him to dh for that

I am sorry that your exp was so awful MrsMoe

The college prep isn't new but the courses for it compared to the over 20 yrs ago are...

I was a biology/premed major before I switched to CJ but I did only use the Senior year over 20 yrs ago .......

Oh and ds' sis gf just graduated from college and used AMHS and ds gf is too but we do augment with outside classes -youth and government and that sort of thing

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CerridwenLorelei

· #12 · Jun 19, 2005

your tat rocks

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kavamamakava

· #13 · Jun 19, 2005

My stepbrother did it. It was pretty easy and straightforward.

UmmSamiyah

· #14 · Jun 19, 2005

My mother actually enrolled me in AS before I went to junior college. It was pretty easy. I hated it though! It was so boring and very general. Though I can understand that, I just feel like my mother's money could have gone to something better.

Fairy4tmama

· #15 · Jun 19, 2005

May be I am just stating the obvious and your ds has already considered this, but why not continue to unschool at home and attend classes at your local comunity college concurently. He could easily have an AA in the time it would take to compleate "high school" and would really prepare him for university level work.

Mylie

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jun 19, 2005

We had actually discussed this ...But my son has just turned 15 and doesn't have the study habits for college classes yet.His attention span/study habits/attitude towards schoolwork wasn't what it should be which is why I let him deschool in the first place..When we moved to Ky his grades went down,his desire for school just plummeted...He is finally starting to get that spark back for learning...I am hoping that maybe in a year and half he will want to combine AS with junior college classes...That this year with relearning regular studing habits ect...will get him ready for that step.As it is I will have a tutor on standby to help him with the math(I stink at math) when he gets stuck for that...the other classes I will be able to help him with just fine.Plus he really wants that diploma and I think that working toward that goal is a good thing for him..He is even thinking of entering the military to acheive his goal of college...I want him to be all he wants to be...But Greg just isn't motivated enough to contiune unschooling and get all he needs for what he wants...The work has to be placed in front of him on a schedule or he wouldn't do it on his own.

Now my girl on the other hand she loves to learn everything she can get her hands on and is a self teacher and I don't think I will have this worry with her....

THanks for all the wonderful thoughts and opinions and exsperiences...They have all helped...Love Mylie xx

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MrsMoe

· #17 · Jun 20, 2005

Mylie said:
Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsMoe
I have the packet and they offer 2 different programs now..A General high school diploma and another one called College Prepartory course...Greg will be taking the latter...it includes...

Algebra 1
Biology
Planning your career
Civics,Social Government
Understanding English 1
Understanding English 2
Geometry
History,United STates
Literature,American
Literature,English
Mathematics,Essential 1
Mathematics,Essential 2
Psychology

Plus he is too choose 3 electives

These are the ones they have recommended he take with his intent of becoming a scientist that they also offer...

Physics
Chemistry
General/physical science

I took all of those courses other than Algebra and Biology as I took the General High School Course. My girlfriend took that course but my parents opted me not to. This was thier choice, not mine.

I totally forgot she had bilogy. I do recall looking at her Alegebra book and telling her it was a repeat of the pre-algebra course I took in middle school when I was enrolled in advanced classes.

The rest of the course books are identical in both the General and College Prep programs. They only remove a few electives and replace them with more "hardcore courses," such as the "algebra" (which again is very basic and not what I would consider college prep material at all They don't even do Trig with Algebra 1.) I was not aware that they offered Physics and Chemistry as an elective. I really glad to hear they do and very glad I was wrong! I do honestly wonder though what the quality is of those courses. I remember the History course was very outdated, generic, and went over "old hisotory" such as the wars between America and the Native Americans and Christopher Colmbus bumping into America, which I did in elementary school. I learned nothing.

I do recall the Psychology course and I remember being very disappointed in it, because pshychology was my favorite subject and I didn't find it educational at all. It was the first book I got, in fact, and it had a black and white cover.

I would take a look at thier website. They go into detail as to what each book/course goes into.

Example - according to their website:
http://www.americanschoolofcorr.com/...escription.htm

Mathematics, Essential I
Reading and writing numbers; addition; subtraction; multiplication; division; factoring; cancellation; fractions, decimals; percentage; denominate numbers.

Mathematics, Essential II
Introduction to Geometry; Lines; Angles; Polygons; Squares; Rectangles, Parallelograms; Triangles; Trapezoids, Circles; Sum of Angles; Names of Triangles; Right Triangles; Ratios and Proportions; Graphs; Metric System; Solid Figures; Volumes of Solids.

Algebra I
Course covers symbols and sets; variables and open sentences; axioms, equations, and problem solving; the negative numbers; equations, inequalities, and problem solving; working with fractions; graphs; sentences in two variables; the real numbers; functions and variation; quadratic equations and inequalities.

My daughter will know all of this stuff by the second grade, no joke. This is not college prep level math. No way. In high school, my husband took algebra 1 and 2 before in the 9th and 10th grade. His high school math also included Trigonometry, advanced geometry, Calculus, and other types of maths. He took general math, he did not take college prep math. College prep math is a lot more intense. American High School does not offer real college prep math.

From what I recall, my math books were small and didn't go individual maths in depth - they are skimmed over everything pretty breifly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by UmmSamiyah
It was pretty easy. I hated it though! It was so boring and very general.

I agree 100%. Yes, it is easy. Too easy. I got a B average with my eyes closed and zero effort. I learned nothing.

ustasmom

· #18 · Jun 20, 2005

I've had one graduate American School and another one will graduate this summer. We go for the general diploma as it doesn't make any difference anyway.

My daughter finished AS in her sophomore year. She then went to the local community college for her junior and senior years. She just graduated with her Associate's Degree with a 4.0 GPA.

We test out of 4-5 things. I still do Saxon. So we test out of Math Essentials 1 and 2 and Algebra.

She also had to keep up her subjects from me. She did Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur for Spanish. (Do NOT try to do correspondence Spanish. It just doesn't work.) We do Apologia for science and then Physics was at the college.

Do I feel that AS is a strong high school program? Absolutely not. But that isn't why we use it. We use it to earn an accredited high school diploma.

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MrsMoe

· #19 · Jun 20, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ustasmom
Do I feel that AS is a strong high school program? Absolutely not. But that isn't why we use it. We use it to earn an accredited high school diploma.

Excellent point. It is all about an accredited diploma getting into college, isn't it? Good for your daughter! 4.0! You must be SO PROUD!

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marilynmama

· #20 · Jun 20, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsMoe
Excellent point. It is all about an accredited diploma getting into college, isn't it? Good for your daughter! 4.0! You must be SO PROUD!

I'm not sure what you mean, I was unschooled (meaning no diploma or anything) and got into college just fine as did both my brother and sister (Boston College) and am about to graduate as a Biology/chemistry dbl major.

A high school diploma just isn't necessary to get into college anymore.

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