Northam’s “Anti-Asian, Anti-Immigrant” School Initiative

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully "revamp AAP" doesn't mean lower AAP standards. There are already kids struggling in AAP who have parents that probably pushed to get them in. The goal should not be to make it general Ed. Please no.

I am not the "revamp AAP" person, but I don't think that's what it means. AAP admissions are pretty unique at this point in terms of how other districts think about gifted education. So, when I hear "revamp AAP," I think about getting rid of teacher input (an element that many districts are getting rid of due to cultural bias) and ending the practice of accepting private IQ tests as part of the appeals process.

Similarly, I would suggest a renewed and expanded program of identifying under-represented groups for an accelerate math track by middle school, even if it means busing them to a nearby school. It's absolute nonsense that the TJ admissions test would include material that is offered *in school* in some parts of the attendance zone but not in others.

I think these are great ideas. I don't agree with having the private Wisc. test scores accepted. I think they should do away with accepting Wisc. scores or pay for the test for all kids. SOmeone on here said that you couldnt get rid of wisc though because 2E kids would sue for not being included (or something like that).

See, I don't think so. MCPS does not accept any private IQ tests at any level of the magnet process and they are fine, legally. What they do is this: having an IEP or 504 is one of the factors that can give a student a leg up in the admissions process. Then, if you think your child's learning differences might have impacted testing, or accommodations were not followed, you can appeal on those grounds. But there's none of this WISC shopping we see in AAP and no leg up for having thousands of dollars to throw at private testing.

[Anonymous]

You can't have One Fairfax and TJHSST.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can't have One Fairfax and TJHSST.

Resources devoted to aap should be devoted to all schools to improve their quality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get rid of TJ and raise the standards at the neighborhood schools, and the hyper-focus on who is attending one magnet school goes away.

Look at every other school district in the country. They universally try to raise standards. Yet all this inequity remains. The problem isn't TJ. It's largely differentials in parenting. Of course, this will never be addressed until the citizenry takes individual responsibility and stops thinking government can actually solve these problems.

Government can help solve the problem by trying to address economic inequality. A huge difference in "parenting" that shows up in the demographics of TJ is being able to pay someone else to tutor or teach your child outside of the school day/year. I'm sure many lower income families would happily be more involve parents by writing a check. That means increasing the minimum wage and helping to subsidize healthcare for a larger segment of society. Maybe lower income parents would still not be able to afford private tutors or CTY, but they may have resources to sign up for cheaper enrichment camps at a younger age or they could have more free time to help their kids because they don't have to work longer hours to make a living wage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get rid of TJ and raise the standards at the neighborhood schools, and the hyper-focus on who is attending one magnet school goes away.

Look at every other school district in the country. They universally try to raise standards. Yet all this inequity remains. The problem isn't TJ. It's largely differentials in parenting. Of course, this will never be addressed until the citizenry takes individual responsibility and stops thinking government can actually solve these problems.

Government can help solve the problem by trying to address economic inequality. A huge difference in "parenting" that shows up in the demographics of TJ is being able to pay someone else to tutor or teach your child outside of the school day/year. I'm sure many lower income families would happily be more involve parents by writing a check. That means increasing the minimum wage and helping to subsidize healthcare for a larger segment of society. Maybe lower income parents would still not be able to afford private tutors or CTY, but they may have resources to sign up for cheaper enrichment camps at a younger age or they could have more free time to help their kids because they don't have to work longer hours to make a living wage.

These things can help but that doesnt mean that TJ should go away in the meantime. Helping one group doesnt mean that the another group has to be held back while others catch up.

[Anonymous]

Also, economic inequality isnt something FFX County can solve. This is something that should be addressed at the federal or even state level.

[Anonymous]

Dumb students need something different than smart ones, do we want to create a school for the under performance

[Anonymous]

I dont like the use of the word dumb with kids but parents need to recognize that not all kids are gifted or advanced. Some are average and that is okay. I have 1 who is gifted and 1 who likely will not test into AAP when the time comes. I would never deprive the gifted kid opportunities because their sibling may not get into those classes. This idea that everyone has to be pulled down for the sake of "fairness" is silly and will only drive people out of FCPS. I certainly know if the standards are lowered any further or if the AAP classes "dumbed down," we will pull our gifted kid for other schooling opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dont like the use of the word dumb with kids but parents need to recognize that not all kids are gifted or advanced. Some are average and that is okay. I have 1 who is gifted and 1 who likely will not test into AAP when the time comes. I would never deprive the gifted kid opportunities because their sibling may not get into those classes. This idea that everyone has to be pulled down for the sake of "fairness" is silly and will only drive people out of FCPS. I certainly know if the standards are lowered any further or if the AAP classes "dumbed down," we will pull our gifted kid for other schooling opportunities.

yup a gifted program should be for the top 5% max not the close to 20% joke that AAP is

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont like the use of the word dumb with kids but parents need to recognize that not all kids are gifted or advanced. Some are average and that is okay. I have 1 who is gifted and 1 who likely will not test into AAP when the time comes. I would never deprive the gifted kid opportunities because their sibling may not get into those classes. This idea that everyone has to be pulled down for the sake of "fairness" is silly and will only drive people out of FCPS. I certainly know if the standards are lowered any further or if the AAP classes "dumbed down," we will pull our gifted kid for other schooling opportunities.

yup a gifted program should be for the top 5% max not the close to 20% joke that AAP is

Defund AAP. Equity for all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get rid of TJ and raise the standards at the neighborhood schools, and the hyper-focus on who is attending one magnet school goes away.

Look at every other school district in the country. They universally try to raise standards. Yet all this inequity remains. The problem isn't TJ. It's largely differentials in parenting. Of course, this will never be addressed until the citizenry takes individual responsibility and stops thinking government can actually solve these problems.

Government can help solve the problem by trying to address economic inequality. A huge difference in "parenting" that shows up in the demographics of TJ is being able to pay someone else to tutor or teach your child outside of the school day/year. I'm sure many lower income families would happily be more involve parents by writing a check. That means increasing the minimum wage and helping to subsidize healthcare for a larger segment of society. Maybe lower income parents would still not be able to afford private tutors or CTY, but they may have resources to sign up for cheaper enrichment camps at a younger age or they could have more free time to help their kids because they don't have to work longer hours to make a living wage.

Poor asian parents will still pay for extra classes. Check out the stats in NYC's elite public schools. Overwhelmingly asian AND 50% qualify for free lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's keep the number 1 school in the country.

Let’s lose that silly mindset. Any number of jurisdictions would have a higher ranked school than TJ if they put all their eggs in one basket.

Oh really - which jurisdictions?

Huh??? You think TJ always rank #1? This is only the 2nd time TJ is ranked#1.
Key word: Rank

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's keep the number 1 school in the country.

Let’s lose that silly mindset. Any number of jurisdictions would have a higher ranked school than TJ if they put all their eggs in one basket.

Oh really - which jurisdictions?

Huh??? You think TJ always rank #1? This is only the 2nd time TJ is ranked#1.
Key word: Rank

TJ has been ranked number one for many more years than two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont like the use of the word dumb with kids but parents need to recognize that not all kids are gifted or advanced. Some are average and that is okay. I have 1 who is gifted and 1 who likely will not test into AAP when the time comes. I would never deprive the gifted kid opportunities because their sibling may not get into those classes. This idea that everyone has to be pulled down for the sake of "fairness" is silly and will only drive people out of FCPS. I certainly know if the standards are lowered any further or if the AAP classes "dumbed down," we will pull our gifted kid for other schooling opportunities.

yup a gifted program should be for the top 5% max not the close to 20% joke that AAP is

Defund AAP. Equity for all.

Yes. Let's pull everyone down! We are dumb, let's become dumberer!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont like the use of the word dumb with kids but parents need to recognize that not all kids are gifted or advanced. Some are average and that is okay. I have 1 who is gifted and 1 who likely will not test into AAP when the time comes. I would never deprive the gifted kid opportunities because their sibling may not get into those classes. This idea that everyone has to be pulled down for the sake of "fairness" is silly and will only drive people out of FCPS. I certainly know if the standards are lowered any further or if the AAP classes "dumbed down," we will pull our gifted kid for other schooling opportunities.

yup a gifted program should be for the top 5% max not the close to 20% joke that AAP is

So.. you will not be jealous if it benefits 5% of the students but will be because it benefits another 15%?!? Scratching my head here.. I bet you didn't qualify for AAP..