Does AAP create unhelpful elitism and separation?

[Anonymous]

We are currently in Falls Church City (3 kids - in 3 schools in FCC). They have always done well and their learning is differentiated by where they are in a given year in a given topic. (Honors english, but regular math; extra help in some areas, and accelerated learning in others, and it has varied grade by grade). We are moving into Fairfax County and I have been horrified by the AAP program. Why brand children? Why separate them from others in such an elitist way? I have no idea whether my kids would get into the AAP program, but I worry that, if they don't, they would view themselves as "not smart" or, if they do, they would view themselves as "smarter than others" - both of which would bother me. Does anyone feel similarly? Or, am I wrong about the reality of the social implications and self-esteem of the AARP program?

[Anonymous]

If you’re that worried and “horrified” don’t move here.

[Anonymous]

It's horrifying. Don't move to Fairfax.

That's sarcasm, btw. No one is branding children. They even changed the name to make you feel better about the gifted program.

[Anonymous]

Op, you are exactly on target.

[Anonymous]

Op, it's the elephant in the room. Many deny it's a problem. It's a huge problem. It goes against everything that public school should stand for. What is your reason for leaving where you are?

[Anonymous]

Wait... public school doesn't stand for giving the best education to fit the needs of the students?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone feel similarly

People are polite and don't mention their disdain. It's assumed by those who support AAP that all is ok. There are also parents who are not vocally critical so they don't impede their children's placement even if they strongly dislike the system. However, all parents for whom I have respect feel as you do. Everything you mention is real.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, OP, your answer will vary on where you live. I live in Fairfax in a Robinson feeder and it's not a big deal. If anything, it seems like a good number of people pass on level IV services to stay in our local school.

My sister lives in Herndon and her kids went to Carson. Yes, it's noticeable and crazy there.

So it's a very YMMV situation.

[Anonymous]

Yes to both...definitely separation, various degrees of elitism.

[Anonymous]

I think the most important influence on kids and their view of the program is their parents. Some people commenting here will say, oh my kids hear XYZ from other kids - and I think that's a teaching moment to explain that some people think that, but that's not what we believe in this family for XYZ reasons.

I tell my kid in AAP that this doesn't mean he is smarter than anyone else, that he can learn something from everyone he meets, that everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, and that we thought this program was a good fit for him, and that the most important things are to work hard and be kind.

I have younger kids who are too young for AAP now, and who knows whether they'll get in so I certainly don't want them to think any less of themselves if they don't, so we really talk about it by "fit" (in the rare instances that we talk about it at all). I suppose it may be easier for me to have the conversation about fit because my kid in AAP is 2E with ADHD and in my experience our AAP center has more experience working with 2E kids than our base school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, it's the elephant in the room. Many deny it's a problem. It's a huge problem. It goes against everything that public school should stand for. What is your reason for leaving where you are?

+1. Too much focus on AAP leaves scraps and leftovers for bright kids who end up bored and underwhelmed in the gen ed class. That's my kids. They continually complain that they're bored in class and how the work is/was waaaaaay too easy. My kids have acted out as a result of utter boredom (doodling, staring out the window). The teachers don't get it, and blame the kid instead of the curriculum. I supplement at home to keep them challenged. Sometimes, I wish we would have stayed in our old school district in another state. It was much better.

[Anonymous]

Falls Church City is a very elitist neighborhood separate from any poors, so I find this whole discussion a little silly. Falls Church City has the smallest differential between students in probably the entire DMV area. And because they are wealthy they can do a lot for each child. Fairfax has kids with many needs that Falls Church City just doesn't have. Seems silly to be complaining about AAP when Falls Church City does nothing to help bring in more lower income housing etc. which would really help diversify the city.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax seems unusual in its labelling and separation (even to the point of sending kids to alternate schools) of gifted kids. Arlington and Falls Church City integrate them into the classrooms and enable differentiation on a subject by subject basis, as well as based on whether a kid wants to choose to push themselves, with the teacher's permission (even if they didn't test well). Similarly, they integrate special needs children. In Falls Church City, my son has children with down syndrome, cerebralpalsy, and brilliant (off the charts) smart kids all together. There is very low teacher/student ratio (the special needs kids have one-on-one attendants) so that everyone's needs are met but children are not labelled and separated. I much prefer the integration.

An earlier poster said that parents play a role and that is true to a point. Kids see the obvious. If a kid is tested and then separated from their peers because they did well, there is an inevitable superiority they will have that no amount of parental discussion will change. It will become clear to them that smart kids benefit and are separated, and that they are not one of the smart kids. That will, in turn, affect their worldview of themselves and what they believe they can achieve. The sad thing is that many studies show that brilliance doesn't lead to success - effort matters more. The Fairfax system of (based solely on tests) labelling and separating kids will harm them in the long run.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Falls Church City is a very elitist neighborhood separate from any poors, so I find this whole discussion a little silly. Falls Church City has the smallest differential between students in probably the entire DMV area. And because they are wealthy they can do a lot for each child. Fairfax has kids with many needs that Falls Church City just doesn't have. Seems silly to be complaining about AAP when Falls Church City does nothing to help bring in more lower income housing etc. which would really help diversify the city.

OP here. I agree. That is why we are moving. We want to move into a more diverse neighborhood. There is no other reason we are moving. My kids are getting a great academic education in FCC, but not a real world education by not seeing economic and racial diversity. Because of our concern about integration, I was alarmed by the idea of separation of the "smart kids" and generally have an allergic reaction to putting kids in boxes.

[Anonymous]

Our school is having a field trip just for the AAP kids.