Warren school becomes second in AOD to offer ‘global’ curriculum

Warren — The International Baccalaureate rose from the dust of World War II as educators sought to provide a quality, uniform curriculum for the children of international diplomats.

“If a student was stationed with his family in Geneva and wanted to go to Cambridge, Harvard or another school, there had to be a vehicle to make the transition,” said Patrick Adams, principal of De La Salle Collegiate High School in Warren.

Adams said students across the globe would have easier access to their preferred universities, regardless of whether they came from another country, due to the shared curriculum.

De La Salle recently announced it will join the 2,621 schools in 139 countries to offer the “IB diploma” program to junior- and senior-year students. The students will graduate with both an IB diploma and a De La Salle diploma.

De La Salle is the first private school in Macomb County, the second Archdiocese of Detroit school (Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is the other) and the third Macomb County school to offer the IB.

Adams explained there was more to the international aspect than simply getting into universities on the other side of the globe: the original IB developers had been deeply affected by the destruction of WWII, and did not want a repeat in future generations.

“By promoting that global connectedness, running a ‘thread’ through the curriculum, the goal … was to make well-rounded individuals that respected humanity and human beings,” Adams said.

Each year, only about 20 high schools across the globe are authorized to join the ranks of schools to offer the IB, explained Vicki Granger, director of communications at De La Salle. De La Salle joins a total of 31 other high schools in Michigan that offer the program.

Granger described the program as “incredibly rigorous,” comparable to students “taking six AP classes at one time.”

According to the website ibo.org, the IB diploma program focuses on the “theory of knowledge” to develop “a coherent approach to learning that unifies the academic disciplines.”

The IB provides “appropriate forms of assessment and international benchmarking,” it said.

As IB coordinator at De La Salle, Stephanie Howay said she will make sure teachers stick to IB standards and monitor students’ grades.

She explained that a fundamental part of the IB is the senior-year “extended essay,” which is essentially a “college-level research paper that will be sent outside of (De La Salle) to be assessed and evaluated” by IB program representatives.

Howay added that while travel is not a requirement of the IB, De La Salle is hoping to provide this opportunity for its IB students through the “creativity, action, service” (CAS) activities of the IB.

Bill Iacona, a 1988 De La Salle alumnus, is the father of freshman Ben Iacona. Bill Iacona said he already knew of the IB as a well-respected program, but upon learning that De La Salle would offer it, “as parents we were thrilled.”

“We were very happy and at that point knew conclusively without a doubt that our son was going to be in the right place for high school by attending De La Salle,” Bill Iacona said.

IB programs for younger children and career-oriented courses are also available. To learn more visit ibo.org or ibsom.org for a list of Michigan IB schools.