I (a high school senior) am currently in a standoff with my school administration, and my Principal told me today that I "won't be successful in college" because of how I'm handling this.
My school is pushing a program where students take a CLEP exam (for third-party college credit). This is an elective, non-mandated exam. However, my school sent out a "Student Checklist" stating that if we miss the exam, we will be placed on Academic Probation. I asked around at other schools, and they weren’t taking this exam matter a fact even heard about it before.
I am already taking a full load of AP classes. I would very much rather focus on studying for just my APs, since I’m already stressed about them. When I asked for the policy justifying the "probation" threat, I got no answer. So, I emailed the District Superintendent’s office for clarification.
Today, I was called into a meeting with the Principal, Assistant Principal, and my counselor. Instead of discussing the probation policy, the Principal told me that I had testing anxiety (telling me I should speak to a social worker), that that’s why I don’t want to take the exam, and that I’m being emotional by reaching out to the Superintendent and escalating it. When I stated my opinion that students should be able to choose the college credits they wish to pursue, they proceeded to tell me that in the future, at workplaces or in college, I won't get to choose what I do and don’t want to do, EVEN THOUGH the thing that I don’t want to do is an ELECTIVE EXAM that I have a choice of not doing! Every time I tried to bring the conversation back to why academic probation was threatened in the checklist, they continued to tell me I was being emotional and talked about how much the test could help me.
I ended up tearing up infront of them because of how much they were attacking my character instead of just explaining the rule. My parents are on my side, but the school was acting like I’m being a "difficult" student for wanting to know why they were making me take an exam that I don’t need to graduate. I could see the annoyance on my Principal’s face every time I brought it back to the academic probation threat.
My sister said I should just take the test and get it over with instead of turning it into a big thing.
So, AITA for not just taking the test and for "going over their heads" to the District?
EDIT: they conceded and said that me me not taking the CLEP will not affect my graduation, they also mentioned i can graduate right now if i want (mostly felt like they wanted me to but i said no :) ), but im also wondering your opinion of, do you think i should ask them what about other students? And if it doesnt affect graduation then what does academic probation mean? Also im not going to prom so i dont know what that means for other students if they also dont want to take the test, are they not allowed to participate in school events etc. cause alot of my friends know i was in a meeting with the principal, but i told them i dont have a definite answer for them if itll affect them in other ways! (i said this replying to another comment but i just wanted to post it here too)
also answer to some frequent questions:
Do you have to pay for the exam out of pocket?
- to get a voucher for the exam, you have to take an online course outside of school. After finishing the course specific to the CLEP youre taking, you have to take an online test and score a 75% above to get the voucher.
(but im confused as if you dont get a 75% above on the test, does that mean you also have to pay out of pocket?)
where your parents in the meeting with you?
-yes they were! the only other time they meet with me alone was when they pulled me out of class to talk to me in the hallway. But also my parents are immigrants so english isnt their first language.
Has the superintendent responded to your inquiry?
- The chief staff of the superintendent hasnt yet since they are short staffed so it may take a while but they informed me they are investigating it as of yesterday.
didnt expect this many people to see my post and support me! thank you so much :)
(I also emailed colleges that i am interested in enrolling the current situation, just incase they reach out to colleges)