Magnet school teachers' attitudes toward CTY

[Anonymous]

Since I have experience with CTY (JHU), EPGY(Stanford), Thinkwell and Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) with my children it's unclear to me, too, whether she has issues with the content or the price?

My child is in a magnet program and enjoyed many aspects of all these programs until the ceiling effect and then moved on to a more challenging curriculum. In Math the teacher should try the open enrollment EPGY version that is a very cheap version of CTY (CTY uses the EPGY software for math and both programs use Thinkwell software for Algebra -- dirt cheap if you contract with Thinkwell directly). Content is excellent for the motivated and young child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My wife teaches in an MCPS magnet and our children have gone through MCPS magnets as well. We've never taken a second look at CTY because DW thinks it is hyped-up, overpriced hooey, and after taking a look myself, I agree.

If you haven't tried it personally, how would you really know?

I wouldn't know. The original question was, what is the attitude of magnet program teachers. I responded to that question.

I wonder what makes this particular magnet teacher's attitude so negative towards CTY?

I think some teachers or schools (especially if private) might consider a more advanced program to be a threat, i.e. "we're not good enough". For teachers or schools who need to believe or to sell the idea that they are the best and can provide it all, yes, I could see how advanced programming could be seen as a threat. It's always a wonder that schools couldn't reap the benefit of "this is going to bring us higher test scores" or "kids that will win awards and be affiliated with our school." (I don't get it either.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My wife teaches in an MCPS magnet and our children have gone through MCPS magnets as well. We've never taken a second look at CTY because DW thinks it is hyped-up, overpriced hooey, and after taking a look myself, I agree.

If you haven't tried it personally, how would you really know?

I wouldn't know. The original question was, what is the attitude of magnet program teachers. I responded to that question.

I wonder what makes this particular magnet teacher's attitude so negative towards CTY?

I think some teachers or schools (especially if private) might consider a more advanced program to be a threat, i.e. "we're not good enough". For teachers or schools who need to believe or to sell the idea that they are the best and can provide it all, yes, I could see how advanced programming could be seen as a threat. It's always a wonder that schools couldn't reap the benefit of "this is going to bring us higher test scores" or "kids that will win awards and be affiliated with our school." (I don't get it either.)

PP here. No, DW doesn't view these programs as a threat, so much as a waste of money and time - her view is that these very bright kids in these competitive academic programs don't need all this stuff, all this desk-time, all this summertime-homework, that they would benefit more from simply exploring their interests and getting fresh air and exercise in the summertime.

She also commented to me that many of these programs (including CTY) are all about marketing, and that the gifted kids they allegedly target are actually just bright kids from families with the money to pay for these things.

So mostly she just rolls her eyes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My wife teaches in an MCPS magnet and our children have gone through MCPS magnets as well. We've never taken a second look at CTY because DW thinks it is hyped-up, overpriced hooey, and after taking a look myself, I agree.

If you haven't tried it personally, how would you really know?

I wouldn't know. The original question was, what is the attitude of magnet program teachers. I responded to that question.

I wonder what makes this particular magnet teacher's attitude so negative towards CTY?

I think some teachers or schools (especially if private) might consider a more advanced program to be a threat, i.e. "we're not good enough". For teachers or schools who need to believe or to sell the idea that they are the best and can provide it all, yes, I could see how advanced programming could be seen as a threat. It's always a wonder that schools couldn't reap the benefit of "this is going to bring us higher test scores" or "kids that will win awards and be affiliated with our school." (I don't get it either.)

PP here. No, DW doesn't view these programs as a threat, so much as a waste of money and time - her view is that these very bright kids in these competitive academic programs don't need all this stuff, all this desk-time, all this summertime-homework, that they would benefit more from simply exploring their interests and getting fresh air and exercise in the summertime.

She also commented to me that many of these programs (including CTY) are all about marketing, and that the gifted kids they allegedly target are actually just bright kids from families with the money to pay for these things.

So mostly she just rolls her eyes.

All I know is my child find CTY as a breath of fresh air. No school is perfect, and the CTY just helps her out.