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STATISTICIAN’S VIEW
Dear Editor:
In reaction to Xiao-Li Meng’s article, “Statistics:
Your Chance for Happiness (or Misery),” in the
September issue, we very much appreciate and
applaud his commitment to helping students
understand and experience the excitement of statis-
tics. But, we consider his criticism of AP Statistics
as instilling students with a sense of boredom to be
misdirected. Our impression of the impact of AP
Statistics courses on student enthusiasm for our dis-
cipline is quite different than Dr. Meng’s. Contrary
to his experience, we have encountered many stu-
dents for whom their AP Statistics course was an
extremely positive, even transforming, experience
that led them to pursue further study and even a
career in statistics. The number of undergraduate
students at Cal Poly and the University of Georgia
choosing statistics as a major or minor has steadily
increased since the advent of AP Statistics, with
challenging circumstances, to inspire students to see
many students attesting that their choice was based
how exciting our discipline can be. We believe that
largely on their positive experience in AP Statistics.
AP Statistics teachers are among the most creative
Similarly, the number of students enrolling in sta-
and talented teachers of statistics, and they perform
tistics courses at Kenyon College has increased sub-
a great service to our profession.
stantially over this time as well, with many students
Looking at more objective data, as reported in
citing AP Statistics as the reason for their interest.
the May 2009 issue of Amstat News, the AsA and
One of the primary reasons that we university/
College Board collaborated to study the relationship
college statistics faculty all became involved with
between students’ exposure to AP Statistics and edu-
the AP Statistics program (we have all served in the
cational outcomes. Among the conclusions reported
position of chief reader) is that we recognize how
were that “taking the AP Statistics course and exam
valuable this course can be in introducing high-
does appear to be related to greater interest in the
school students to our profession. We believe that
statistical sciences” and that “the AP Statistics pro-
the curriculum for the course, designed with very
gram seems to be successful in preparing students for
careful deliberation by a team of university faculty
further study and in increasing interest in statistics.”
and secondary teachers, does a good job of empha-
sizing statistical thinking and conveying the applica- Sincerely,
bility and importance of statistical methods.
Moreover, our interactions with teachers of AP
Allan Rossman and Roxy Peck, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Statistics have convinced us that many of them
Christine Franklin, University of Georgia
display genuine excitement about our subject and
Brad Hartlaub, Kenyon College
have unquestionable dedication to it. These teachers
Richard Scheaffer, University of Florida (Emeritus)
work very hard and go to great lengths, often in very
Editor’s Note: A response from Xiao-Li Meng
will appear in the December issue of Amstat News.
NOVEMBER 2009 AmstAt News 5
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