Letter to FCPS about TJ Admissions By TJHSST Students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We agree that the application fee should be removed/reduced.
We believe it would be a good way to create equal opportunity among the applicants.
We truly believe that when there is no gap between income and educational opportunity, diversity within the TJ community will flourish naturally. Instead of hastily trying to “fit” in more diversity at TJ, we should be starting from a fundamental level to make education an experience that flows naturally and allows everyone equal

I don't know is this is laudable naive optimism or cynical hope that the system that favored them will remain in place until the impossible is achieved

I think it's the latter. How many years would it be before there is no income gap?! We should wait for that to solve the diversity problems at TJ? Ok. These kids are smart, they can't possibly be naive enough to think that offers a real solution to the current problem.

Improving STEM education and exposure for URMS since the early age is the ONLY solution. Not to forcibly admit URMs, but to invest enough resources to make URMs as competitive as UMC children. But it's expensive, long-term and laborious, and therefore you want nothing to do with it. You want a quick fix you can point to.

You keep posting this but you aren't reading any of the responses to your posts.

You aren't right. FCPS and the school board are and will be investing at many levels. Additionally, TJ needs to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We agree that the application fee should be removed/reduced.
We believe it would be a good way to create equal opportunity among the applicants.
We truly believe that when there is no gap between income and educational opportunity, diversity within the TJ community will flourish naturally. Instead of hastily trying to “fit” in more diversity at TJ, we should be starting from a fundamental level to make education an experience that flows naturally and allows everyone equal

I don't know is this is laudable naive optimism or cynical hope that the system that favored them will remain in place until the impossible is achieved

I think it's the latter. How many years would it be before there is no income gap?! We should wait for that to solve the diversity problems at TJ? Ok. These kids are smart, they can't possibly be naive enough to think that offers a real solution to the current problem.

Improving STEM education and exposure for URMS since the early age is the ONLY solution. Not to forcibly admit URMs, but to invest enough resources to make URMs as competitive as UMC children. But it's expensive, long-term and laborious, and therefore you want nothing to do with it. You want a quick fix you can point to.

Having a lottery that has an academic benchmark doesn't forcibly admit anyone. It levels the playing field so UMC kids don't have an overwhelming advantage because their parents pay for expensive prep classes and tutors. The lottery system won't be a quick fix, but it can't possibly have worse results for URMs than the current system. I also think MC and LMC white kids will be helped by the lottery. I value SES diversity as much as racial diversity. This is a public school that should serve a larger segment of the public.

[Anonymous]

This letter will go into the same trash where all letters to Brabrand and the School Board land. 2020 in FCPS should be a scary example for all of what unchecked, liberal Democratic leadership looks like.

[Anonymous]

Not everyone belongs to TJ, those who don’t and get pushed in simply suffer, whether they are pushed in by overzealous parents or overzealous politicians. A differential equation doesn’t care what color of skin you have. Either you can solve it or you can’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. You could use some therapy.

Nah. I wasn't born yesterday and can spot self serving BS when I see it. What kind of solution is income equality will solve TJ's diversity issues? If that's the the critical thinking the current TJ produces, change is long overdue.

Why do you think income inequality is the core problem here? Many poor Asian kids test into NYC's best schools--Stuyvesant, Bronx Science etc. Why do you think poor people can't test into TJ?

Look at the FARMS rate at TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone belongs to TJ, those who don’t and get pushed in simply suffer, whether they are pushed in by overzealous parents or overzealous politicians. A differential equation doesn’t care what color of skin you have. Either you can solve it or you can’t.

You don't need to take differential equations in high school to succeed as a STEM major in college. TJ's goal should be to prepare high school kids for succeeding in STEM majors in college, not to make high school into college. I think that focus on making high school more like college instead of preparing kids to succeed in college is where TJ has gone off track and so is failing all except a small segment of the FCPS student body. Those who want a simulated college experience in high school should pay to have that privately and should not be able to use a public school for that purpose to the detriment of others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. You could use some therapy.

Nah. I wasn't born yesterday and can spot self serving BS when I see it. What kind of solution is income equality will solve TJ's diversity issues? If that's the the critical thinking the current TJ produces, change is long overdue.

Why do you think income inequality is the core problem here? Many poor Asian kids test into NYC's best schools--Stuyvesant, Bronx Science etc. Why do you think poor people can't test into TJ?

Look at the FARMS rate at TJ.

NYC uses one admissions test SHSAT to select students into specialized high schools.
46% of Stuyvesant High School students live below the poverty line.
44% of Bronx Science students live below the poverty line.

Why can NYC's poor students test into these elite schools? Why can't Fairfax County's URMs test into TJ?

[Anonymous]

This is embarrassing from the TJ students and I am frankly shocked that these decided to put their names on it. It's just not good writing. Their position is a defensible one but this is a poorly mounted defense at best.

The vast majority of students at TJ will not accept this change, and that's to be expected because they were admitted through a different process that told them that they were the best and brightest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. You could use some therapy.

Nah. I wasn't born yesterday and can spot self serving BS when I see it. What kind of solution is income equality will solve TJ's diversity issues? If that's the the critical thinking the current TJ produces, change is long overdue.

Why do you think income inequality is the core problem here? Many poor Asian kids test into NYC's best schools--Stuyvesant, Bronx Science etc. Why do you think poor people can't test into TJ?

I've seen this argument made MANY times. However, you need to actually look at the data and how poverty is actually defined.

For FCPS, "poverty" means the percentage of students receiving free or reduced priced meals. In FCPS, this is about 30%. Its unclear if the all students that attend schools where everyone gets free lunch are included in this number.

In NYC Schools, "poverty" appears to be not as well-defined. Sometimes they use free/reduced priced meals and sometimes they use "community income". Its very confusing and I'm sure a poverty expert would be able to explain it better. NYC provides free meals to ALL of its students, not just those that are below 185% of the federal poverty limit.

NYC also sees the poverty rate at their specialized HS as a problem:

Students at the specialized high schools are less likely to be in poverty than students city wide.

While 74% of students city wide experience poverty, fewer than 50% of students at specialized high schools experience poverty.

Source: https://council.nyc.gov/data/school-diversity-in-nyc/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. You could use some therapy.

Nah. I wasn't born yesterday and can spot self serving BS when I see it. What kind of solution is income equality will solve TJ's diversity issues? If that's the the critical thinking the current TJ produces, change is long overdue.

Why do you think income inequality is the core problem here? Many poor Asian kids test into NYC's best schools--Stuyvesant, Bronx Science etc. Why do you think poor people can't test into TJ?

Look at the FARMS rate at TJ.

NYC uses one admissions test SHSAT to select students into specialized high schools.
46% of Stuyvesant High School students live below the poverty line.
44% of Bronx Science students live below the poverty line.

Why can NYC's poor students test into these elite schools? Why can't Fairfax County's URMs test into TJ?

Its unclear (to me at least) what definition of "poverty" NYC is using. Is it FARMs? Community Income?

In the policy world, defining poverty is not easy. Especially when comparing between localities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't care if you feel like your spot is "stolen" by the lottery. The lottery makes your chance of getting in equal to others. Why should higher SES kids whose parents can pay for enrichment, prep classes and tutors have a monopoly on attending TJ. Be grateful for the years and years of having that monopoly and stop trying to hog everything for yourself.

No, I just wanted to point out that the lottery makes their chances lower since spots are allocated by region. A kid from Carson, for example, does not have the same chance since there are way more qualified applicants.

[Anonymous]

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/18/nyregion/black-students-nyc-high-schools.html

Only 7 Black Students Got Into Stuyvesant, N.Y.’s Most Selective High School, Out of 895 Spots

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone belongs to TJ, those who don’t and get pushed in simply suffer, whether they are pushed in by overzealous parents or overzealous politicians. A differential equation doesn’t care what color of skin you have. Either you can solve it or you can’t.

You don't need to take differential equations in high school to succeed as a STEM major in college. TJ's goal should be to prepare high school kids for succeeding in STEM majors in college, not to make high school into college. I think that focus on making high school more like college instead of preparing kids to succeed in college is where TJ has gone off track and so is failing all except a small segment of the FCPS student body. Those who want a simulated college experience in high school should pay to have that privately and should not be able to use a public school for that purpose to the detriment of others.

Actually that’s not true. Public schools are required by law to identify talented kids and support them With their special education needs. Talented programs are a part of special education, just the same as Special education provided to autism kids or blind kids. You don’t tell them if you’re blind you should pay to get your own education. You also don’t take a look at autism program and check if their skin colors are representative of the population.

TJ needs changes for sure. Diversity benefits everyone. But the reason shouldn’t be there are too many damn Asians. That reason alone is racism. And if the solution is only targeted to reduce Asian admission, not caring about the real underlying problem, then that solution is fueled by pure racism mentality too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't care if you feel like your spot is "stolen" by the lottery. The lottery makes your chance of getting in equal to others. Why should higher SES kids whose parents can pay for enrichment, prep classes and tutors have a monopoly on attending TJ. Be grateful for the years and years of having that monopoly and stop trying to hog everything for yourself.

THIS.

-TJ alum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. You could use some therapy.

Nah. I wasn't born yesterday and can spot self serving BS when I see it. What kind of solution is income equality will solve TJ's diversity issues? If that's the the critical thinking the current TJ produces, change is long overdue.

Why do you think income inequality is the core problem here? Many poor Asian kids test into NYC's best schools--Stuyvesant, Bronx Science etc. Why do you think poor people can't test into TJ?

Look at the FARMS rate at TJ.

NYC uses one admissions test SHSAT to select students into specialized high schools.
46% of Stuyvesant High School students live below the poverty line.
44% of Bronx Science students live below the poverty line.

Why can NYC's poor students test into these elite schools? Why can't Fairfax County's URMs test into TJ?

Maybe FCPS should switch to that test? They should also get rid of looking at anything other than the test and grades. That way some UMC kid with strong STEM extracurriculars dating back years isn't presumed to have a stronger interest in STEM than kids who couldn't afford the extracurriculars. Essays are also preppable, so we need to get rid of those too so being able to afford an essay writing coach doesn't improve a student's chance of getting in. You also keep focusing on URMs and NYC. Clearly there's an issue in FCPS because there are basically no FARMS kids of any race at TJ. Are you going to ask why poor Asians here in FCPS can't test into TJ as opposed to their counterparts in NYC? You should.