Despite Controversy, International Baccalaureate Increasingly Popular

None by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) The controversy over the International Baccalaureate high school curriculum is attracting - rather than discouraging - students to enroll in the program, in at least one local school district. The growing demand for the program is a testament to its strength, says Granite School District Assistant Superintendent Linda Mariotti.

"Everything about it sounds like, ‘Oh, this would be a great option for my children.' Rigorous course of study; broad perspective; involves participation in a civic-minded, arts, community-service kind of project; requires learning a foreign language - those are all good things in terms of a well-rounded education for my child," Mariotti says. "So I think when they find out more about it, and hear more about it, they're intrigued."

The International Baccalaureate program received additional funding from the legislature this year. However, it came under scrutiny during the session when Senator Margaret Dayton called it anti-American. The Orem Republican has started an interim session investigation into the governance of the program, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland. However, the international emphasis in the program is exactly what many parents want for their children, Mariotti says. Furthermore, she says educators have a responsibility to prepare students for the new global marketplace.

"I see part of my job as an educator is to prepare the 68,000 students in my district for participation in a world that is increasingly flat," Mariotti says. "We've been championing world languages, all toward preparing students to work in an environment that's increasingly shrinking, and interactive, and integrated worldwide."

While the controversy is drawing attention to the program, Mariotti says her district does not yet have the final enrollment numbers for next year.

1. No World Government! said:

This is pure nonsense to lure the best and brightest into socialism, UN style. Dayton had it right and still has it right.

IB should be banished as should all UN influence in this country.

2. KeepItReal said:

In response to "No World Government!"I thought Senator Dayton and her consultant on the Utah Senate website said the controversy with IB wasn't about concerns over UN influence but rather about school governance. Which is it? Is Dayton saying something different to you than she has stated publicly in hearings? What are the real concerns here? IB is under state control. The curriculum must meet the standards and guidelines of the state core curriculum. Governance and oversight are provided by the State Board of Education and local boards of education. The teachers are Utah teachers and patriotic, productive citizens in our democracy. Where is this UN boogey man? It sounds like another conspiracy theory run rampant to me.

3. Brittanee said:

I am actually in the International Baccalaureate program at my high school. As being a student in IB, Dayton's comments about the program are very opinionated instead of factual. I cannot see anything wrong with learning about different areas in the world on top of learning about our own country. There are classes required to learn about America as well as other parts of the world in the IB program. We are not losing education; there is just more curriculum involved on top of the regular requirements. It is so important for students be educated about the world elsewhere. Why should we be contained? There is great significance in learning about other cultures because doing so may prevent war and miscommunication.

4. Facts, please said:

@ No world government:

Check the facts:

http://www.ibo.org/ibna/actionpacks/documents/MythvFact_000.pdf

5. crscheid said:

@Facts, PleaseI don't think that even the IB would appreciate your using their own information to support your argument here. Too much bias, which is certainly something we're taught to avoid/reduce as much as possible.