A Solution to the TJ Lottery Madness

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you all are so focused on admissions that you don’t understand the real impact of lack of diversity on the TJ experience. A lottery takes out the “you only got in because you’re black or Hispanic” AND the “you are a cheating, prepping Asian if you got in”. TJ has a lot of issues involving race, and the approaches over the years have not worked. It’s time to try something else.

No it will now be you ruined the best high school the country and you only got in through lottery because you can’t get in through the front door on merit.

Sunshine, the lottery will be the front door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If its a public school that is supposed to be open to all children, then why are they discriminating against dumb kids with bad grades?

Just wait for the day the SB decides studying for a final exam this not longer ok because that gives an unfair advantage to some but not other.

Yes, there may be prep centers that operate unethically. Then they should be investigated and shut down. Making "test prep" a dirty word is what the SB ended up doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If its a public school that is supposed to be open to all children, then why are they discriminating against dumb kids with bad grades?

Just wait for the day the SB decides studying for a final exam this not longer ok because that gives an unfair advantage to some but not other.

Yes, there may be prep centers that operate unethically. Then they should be investigated and shut down. Making "test prep" a dirty word is what the SB ended up doing.

They will come up with a system to use a lottery to distribute grades for each class because they want “equity”.

[Anonymous]

We should also get rid of medical school admissions test and use a lottery system for admissions to medical schools because not all test takers can prep equally for that test. Lottery for all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“ Why is preparing for a test a dirty word? How is this different from preparing for any standardized test? How is this different from training for a sport or a music competition, where parents do spend a lot of money?”

Because I thought the intent of TJ was to serve the kids that “need” that crazy tough program not that have won a prize by preparing hard enough to get there.

As to the quotas approach - something specifically race based like that is illegal.

Mainly because it unfairly benefits the wealthy, not the gifted. It also leans more to admitting kids whose parents care more about them going to TJ rather than the kids.

Yes, exactly. Unfortunately, we will never even become aware of many gifted students due to the wealth disparity. I have actually experienced this first hand as a student. Many of my wealthier classmates paid for every prep class under the sun, and as a result most were accepted into the colleges, law schools, and grad schools of their choices. Growing up, I was not wealthy, I never took a prep course and still ended up fairly successful, though not as successful as my wealthy classmates. Most who prepped honestly weren’t exceptional students in any way, but are now attorneys or PhDs. Even as a HS student , I felt sadness envy that my friends were able to afford prep classes, while I had to just study my ass off and hope for the best. The prepping obviously gave them an edge over everyone who didn’t have the same advantages. It’s completely unfair, and anyone who fails to realize this either has their head in the sand or simply doesn’t care because it will never affect them. Well, just realize that you are basically paying to excel at these standardized tests. I would just love to see the results without any prep courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“ Why is preparing for a test a dirty word? How is this different from preparing for any standardized test? How is this different from training for a sport or a music competition, where parents do spend a lot of money?”

Because I thought the intent of TJ was to serve the kids that “need” that crazy tough program not that have won a prize by preparing hard enough to get there.

As to the quotas approach - something specifically race based like that is illegal.

Mainly because it unfairly benefits the wealthy, not the gifted. It also leans more to admitting kids whose parents care more about them going to TJ rather than the kids.

Yes, exactly. Unfortunately, we will never even become aware of many gifted students due to the wealth disparity. I have actually experienced this first hand as a student. Many of my wealthier classmates paid for every prep class under the sun, and as a result most were accepted into the colleges, law schools, and grad schools of their choices. Growing up, I was not wealthy, I never took a prep course and still ended up fairly successful, though not as successful as my wealthy classmates. Most who prepped honestly weren’t exceptional students in any way, but are now attorneys or PhDs. Even as a HS student , I felt sadness envy that my friends were able to afford prep classes, while I had to just study my ass off and hope for the best. The prepping obviously gave them an edge over everyone who didn’t have the same advantages. It’s completely unfair, and anyone who fails to realize this either has their head in the sand or simply doesn’t care because it will never affect them. Well, just realize that you are basically paying to excel at these standardized tests. I would just love to see the results without any prep courses.

Whites are the most wealthy in this country by a mile. Not even close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you all are so focused on admissions that you don’t understand the real impact of lack of diversity on the TJ experience. A lottery takes out the “you only got in because you’re black or Hispanic” AND the “you are a cheating, prepping Asian if you got in”. TJ has a lot of issues involving race, and the approaches over the years have not worked. It’s time to try something else.

No it will now be you ruined the best high school the country and you only got in through lottery because you can’t get in through the front door on merit.

Sunshine, the lottery will be the front door.

· Of 68 reported job categories, 49 job classifications have been at least 90% white at least once since 2008. That’s roughly 72% of all job classifications.

· In 2020 the New Bedford Public Schools reported 18 mainly supervisory job classifications that were 100% white.

· 51% of all African American employees work in lower-level positions


· 40% of all Hispanics work in lower level positions.”

The NAACP New Bedford Branch requested hiring and firing data on July 2, 2020 and staffing data on July 13 from Heather Emsley, executive director of the New Bedford schools’ Human Capital Services. To date it has not receive a response to this request, the NAACP press statement said.

[Anonymous]

Read Shaker Heights Study.

[Anonymous]

Harvard is racist it should be all Asian.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest a quick move to Prince Georges County Schools for those wishing to engage in diversity. But you wont.

[Anonymous]

I suggest Darwin as a quick and easy read.

[Anonymous]

In the end all the complaining parents are the ones who's children watch to much TV, play to many sports, and are generally lazy.

[Anonymous]

Look at the bright side they will no have a completive football team.

[Anonymous]

Some may say it’s not only the wealthy students who are taking prep courses, and that may be true, but at least those students have parents who are willing and able to encourage and somehow afford these courses. What about the kids whose parents don’t give a hoot? They may be gifted, but no one cares! They are unfairly competing with mediocre kids who have been prepping since kindergarten. Don’t you get it?! You are paying to play, you are fooling yourself if you believe your kids could achieve much, if any, of this without prepping. Yes, very similar to some athletes, which is equally as toxic and disgusting. I think over the past 20 or so years we have taken on a different type of attitude regarding education. In the not so distant past, there was more integrity revolving around academics, this prepping nonsense would have been frowned upon and rightfully so. This is not how our educational system should function, it’s dishonest and ruthless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the end all the complaining parents are the ones who's children watch to much TV, play to many sports, and are generally lazy.

Nope, my kids have zero screen time, play very few sports, and only do so for exercise, and are far from lazy. Oh, and it’s too not to. Hopefully, your genius kid knows the difference.