CTY shakeup

[Anonymous]

After the mess at Johns Hopkins CTY, with more than 100 classes over two three-week sessions, including some people who were notified less than two days their session was to begin, their seems to have been a major, deserving shakeup. The university announced a new CTY interim exec director, which suggests executive director Virginia Roach has been let go.

Someone had to be held accountable for a complete disaster.

[Anonymous]

big whoop

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After the mess at Johns Hopkins CTY, with more than 100 classes over two three-week sessions, including some people who were notified less than two days their session was to begin, their seems to have been a major, deserving shakeup. The university announced a new CTY interim exec director, which suggests executive director Virginia Roach has been let go.

Someone had to be held accountable for a complete disaster.

Just got this note in my email. My DS's camp wasn't cancelled. We're not on the East Coast, and the amount of planning, expense, etc. was significant--plus my DS's excitement and pride over the opportunity (it's his first year at JHU CTY). I'm sure many of these families are rightly p*ssed, disappointed, and probably too late to plan an alternative.

[Anonymous]

Here is the original story:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/06/27/johns-hopkins-cty-canceled/


I know, I know, a lot of people say this is a privileged camp for rich kids (that is all over the Post comments) but those criticisms are misguided. This camp supports super smart kids who sometimes feel alienated or ostracized at school and I can tell you from experience it is way more diverse than critics think, with financial aid available as well. It is a great program that Hopkins made a mess of this year.

[Anonymous]

I got that email too. Seems like a patent PR move, nothing more.

[Anonymous]

Seems like the perfect fit to plan and execute a kids' summer program (j/k):

https://provost.jhu.edu/members/stephen-gange/

Although, really, all he has to do is is deflect the blame and be a name on the door until they hire someone to deal with next summer.

[Anonymous]

They are just deflecting blame. You don’t see the Director of Special Education in MCPS getting fired because they can’t staff ESY summer programs. This is a societal problem with how we treat teachers in this country.

[Anonymous]

It is not a societal problem that informing people about cancellations after they got on an airplane to head to the program or hired staff had arrived, but absolutely believe that more than one person was involved in that poor decision process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is the original story:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/06/27/johns-hopkins-cty-canceled/


I know, I know, a lot of people say this is a privileged camp for rich kids (that is all over the Post comments) but those criticisms are misguided. This camp supports super smart kids who sometimes feel alienated or ostracized at school and I can tell you from experience it is way more diverse than critics think, with financial aid available as well. It is a great program that Hopkins made a mess of this year.

How easy is it to get financial aid? Where would you look for information about this? We are interested. Would also love to know what percent of kids in any given program are receiving aid, to get a sense of demographics and whether our child would feel out of place or not. The last thing we want is to put her in a situation where instead of feeling isolated for her interests/aptitude, she is isolated for economic status. But when we looked at some of the programs, they sound like she would love them. She's super academic and very artistically inclined (visual arts and dance), with specific interests in history, politics, and science. She's 8. Any info you can share would be great.

Of course, if we did find a way to afford CTY for her, I can't imagine what we'd do if the program was cancelled last minute. It would be a major family crisis. Not just enormously disappointing but also put us in a massive childcare bind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is the original story:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/06/27/johns-hopkins-cty-canceled/


I know, I know, a lot of people say this is a privileged camp for rich kids (that is all over the Post comments) but those criticisms are misguided. This camp supports super smart kids who sometimes feel alienated or ostracized at school and I can tell you from experience it is way more diverse than critics think, with financial aid available as well. It is a great program that Hopkins made a mess of this year.

How easy is it to get financial aid? Where would you look for information about this? We are interested. Would also love to know what percent of kids in any given program are receiving aid, to get a sense of demographics and whether our child would feel out of place or not. The last thing we want is to put her in a situation where instead of feeling isolated for her interests/aptitude, she is isolated for economic status. But when we looked at some of the programs, they sound like she would love them. She's super academic and very artistically inclined (visual arts and dance), with specific interests in history, politics, and science. She's 8. Any info you can share would be great.

Of course, if we did find a way to afford CTY for her, I can't imagine what we'd do if the program was cancelled last minute. It would be a major family crisis. Not just enormously disappointing but also put us in a massive childcare bind.

I don't know about financial aid beyond that they offer it, but you don't need CTY at 8. Especially if it's too much $. I'm sure it's nice, but you can enrich an 8 year old elsewhere. CTY really serves its purpose for older children who need the social connection with very smart peers. Most families I know sacrifice to send their kids, because they value it. I would keep it in mind for when your child is 12/13.

[Anonymous]

My kids tested as eligible for CTY programs and I was excited about the offerings but absolutely shocked by the price tag! There was no way we could pay for them. It was disillusioning considering the original mission of CTY. They never took a single CTY class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is the original story:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/06/27/johns-hopkins-cty-canceled/


I know, I know, a lot of people say this is a privileged camp for rich kids (that is all over the Post comments) but those criticisms are misguided. This camp supports super smart kids who sometimes feel alienated or ostracized at school and I can tell you from experience it is way more diverse than critics think, with financial aid available as well. It is a great program that Hopkins made a mess of this year.

How easy is it to get financial aid? Where would you look for information about this? We are interested. Would also love to know what percent of kids in any given program are receiving aid, to get a sense of demographics and whether our child would feel out of place or not. The last thing we want is to put her in a situation where instead of feeling isolated for her interests/aptitude, she is isolated for economic status. But when we looked at some of the programs, they sound like she would love them. She's super academic and very artistically inclined (visual arts and dance), with specific interests in history, politics, and science. She's 8. Any info you can share would be great.

Of course, if we did find a way to afford CTY for her, I can't imagine what we'd do if the program was cancelled last minute. It would be a major family crisis. Not just enormously disappointing but also put us in a massive childcare bind.

The sleep over programs don't start that young -- I think they begin with rising 7th graders. And the online classes that 8 year olds can do are not worth the price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After the mess at Johns Hopkins CTY, with more than 100 classes over two three-week sessions, including some people who were notified less than two days their session was to begin, their seems to have been a major, deserving shakeup. The university announced a new CTY interim exec director, which suggests executive director Virginia Roach has been let go.

Someone had to be held accountable for a complete disaster.

Just got this note in my email. My DS's camp wasn't cancelled. We're not on the East Coast, and the amount of planning, expense, etc. was significant--plus my DS's excitement and pride over the opportunity (it's his first year at JHU CTY). I'm sure many of these families are rightly p*ssed, disappointed, and probably too late to plan an alternative.

Mine wasn’t either and I only realize now how lucky we were

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are just deflecting blame. You don’t see the Director of Special Education in MCPS getting fired because they can’t staff ESY summer programs. This is a societal problem with how we treat teachers in this country.

It wasn’t just a staffing problem. CTY officials said that publicly, but in an open letter CTY staff made clear that CTY admin dropped the ball and fail to get process of required background checks done in time. That is an administrative foul up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is the original story:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/06/27/johns-hopkins-cty-canceled/


I know, I know, a lot of people say this is a privileged camp for rich kids (that is all over the Post comments) but those criticisms are misguided. This camp supports super smart kids who sometimes feel alienated or ostracized at school and I can tell you from experience it is way more diverse than critics think, with financial aid available as well. It is a great program that Hopkins made a mess of this year.

You must be rich to afford CTY, period. Believe me, I'd love for my brilliant, socially alienated child to attend but a $5k camp (plus travel expenses) is not remotely within the realm of possibility. Please don't front your like super-special child *needs* this opportunity in a way others, who can't afford this camp, don't.