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Why would I choose the Linden curriculum
instead of an International Baccalaureate diploma?
Linden's senior school offers all the advantages
of the IB programme except for the accreditation. There is
a reason for this. The International Baccalaureate programme
is actually an expensive product sold by a private company
that licenses qualified schools and provides curriculum materials.
IB schools end up being operated like franchise operations.
Linden's founders have designed their own programme, one they
believe -- and the experience of their students and graduates
has shown -- is equal and in some aspects superior to the
IB curriculum, in that it provides the best possible academic
preparation for girls. Like the IB programme, Linden's
approach is rigorous and inquiry-based, fosters critical thinking
and analytic skills, and goes far beyond ministry guidelines.
It also challenges the girls to go beyond the classroom to
question, to think, to research, to evaluate, to pursue, and
to push themselves.
The IB programme
is known to open doors when applying to both Canadian and
foreign universities. But so does Linden. Statistics are incomparable
because clearly many more students have graduated from the
IB programmes than from Linden. On the face of it, however,
Linden would appear to have a record that's as good as --
if not better than -- the IB. Every Linden graduate has been
accepted in her first choice of university and programme.
Two-thirds have been offered scholarships. Many have attended
U.S. and European universities. The school's experience has
been that the girls' academic accomplishments, leadership
skills, innovative community service projects, and ability
to communicate thoughtfully and confidently open the same
doors as the IB diploma.
Finally, Linden's
founders worry that following an IB programme may deter some
students. Using such a rigid template could restrict or prevent
Linden teachers from adapting and enriching their curriculum
in the senior years to suit the needs of individual students
and ensure their success.
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