Prepping/Scamming the Cogat

[Anonymous]

One aspect of high intelligence is the ability to encounter a never-before-seen problem and solve it.

When a child is shown practice tests over and over again to the point where the child has essentially memorized all the different types of problems that could possibly be seen on the test, the test results show how well the child can memorize, not how well the child can solve a new problem.

Is being able to memorize a good quality? Sure, but it is not the same as having the ability to solve problems. And doing well on the test by memorizing will not have any true effect in making the child more intelligent. Will being able to memorize and figure out what the county is looking for get kids into AAP and eventually TJ? Yes, but it does not change the underlying intelligence of the child. Memorizing can only take you so far in life. I have seen parents on message boards looking for regular, weekly tutors for their TJ students and I wonder why a child who is qualified for TJ would be in need of extra help on a regular basis.

Underlying intelligence is similar to underlying physical strength. Both are malleable, plastic and change with loading conditions. If you use your brain this can be measured by improvement in intelligence. Similarly, if you use your muscle this can be measured by improvement in strength. Of course, both intelligence and strength are not infinite quantities. Both change throughout the life cycle and with aging. Both are subject to atrophy of disuse.

I know this is too abstract and difficult for laypeople to grasp let alone comprehend. You need to go to school and study to find out!

[Anonymous]

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I prepped my child, and I am glad I did. He is in the pool and he will be admitted based upon his other academic credentials. He will be challenged and get better teachers and be among better, more serious classmates. He will learn good study habits and more material. He will then be better prepared for AP classes and high school. This will advance him in his class ranking, grades, and SATs. He will do better as a result, get into a better college and then get a better job and career. He will make more money, live in a bigger house, attract a prettier wife, and join a nice country club. He will learn the value of being prepared and teach this to his children by prepping them when they are in second grade. As a result they will be admitted to AAP and will repeat their in their fathers success.

I have to assume this passage is a parody.

I love trolls, especially on DCUM. Only problem is its hard, and probably sad, that some may really not be trolls. This thread is living up to the entertainment I enjoy here. Carry on!

OP of the passage here. I am no troll. Don't kid yourself, all opportunities build on prior opportunity. I know, not in all cases, there are great success stories from those who came from no opportunity or who came from bad circumstance, but the majority of success stories are the result of good breaks and the best learning environment. Do you not think that those who do best in high school in Fairfax County come from AAP? Do you not think that those who do best in High School do best in college admission and go to the best universities? Do you not think that those who go to the best universities get the best jobs or go on to become doctors, lawyers, or academics? I realize that AAP students are inately smart, but the rigors of the program make all the kids better students in the long run, better than those in the general program. Yes it is parody, but it is true. I want my DC to have the best opportunity to succeed and I will do whatever I can to provide that path to her.

I thought a John Lennon quote might be appropriate here -- “When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bravo to the one poster who actually told her DC's teacher that they prepped. If you talk the talk, walk the walk.

The rest of you are just making excuses for what you know is dishonest behavior: it's none of their business; I would if they told ME how they scored the GBRS; teachers don't know anything, etc.

Not every situation is covered by a legal statute. Given the intensity of some parents, the school system could never withstand being dragged through court if they made prepping an actionable offense.

Straight from the Fairfax County AAP FAQ:

"How can I prepare my child to take the tests? Can I see sample questions or practice sheets?

Sample questions are practiced by students as part of the test preparation. Sample tests are not commercially available. The best test preparation is a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast."

I see nothing about Kumon, Mercer, or any other program. If the county found those acceptable, they would not write "sample tests are not commercially available." Again, they open a huge legal can of worms if they straight-out tell you you cannot prep, and I don't want a county legal team on retainer just to fight these cases. But the fact is, if you prep, you screw up the results for everyone else, to the point where they had to change the test. And let me assure you, we ALL paid for that process.

Hear Hear. Well said. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

More gibberish from empty blue bottles sitting on the wall.

[Anonymous]

I thought a John Lennon quote might be appropriate here -- “When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”

I am afraid no one here is interested in living your life. We prefer ours. Studying and preparation are happy habits for us. We are certainly glad you and your life are happy.

[Anonymous]

I see nothing about Kumon, Mercer, or any other program. If the county found those acceptable, they would not write "sample tests are not commercially available." Again, they open a huge legal can of worms if they straight-out tell you you cannot prep, and I don't want a county legal team on retainer just to fight these cases. But the fact is, if you prep, you screw up the results for everyone else, to the point where they had to change the test. And let me assure you, we ALL paid for that process.

But, how can this be so, if intelligence and performance is fixed no amount of prepping will screw up any results. Does going to the best school in a fancy neighborhood with in house and year round fancy tutors also screw-up the results? Or is the latter different from prep.

You sound like a big old cheating cry baby. Boo hoo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I thought a John Lennon quote might be appropriate here -- “When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”

I am afraid no one here is interested in living your life. We prefer ours. Studying and preparation are happy habits for us. We are certainly glad you and your life are happy.

Great! I''m happy...hopefully it all works out for you and your loved ones. Although, one fine day you might be surprised to find that after all that precious work ('happy habits") you did just for them - they're not happy; especially with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I thought a John Lennon quote might be appropriate here -- “When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”

I am afraid no one here is interested in living your life. We prefer ours. Studying and preparation are happy habits for us. We are certainly glad you and your life are happy.

Great! I''m happy...hopefully it all works out for you and your loved ones. Although, one fine day you might be surprised to find that after all that precious work ('happy habits") you did just for them - they're not happy; especially with you.

P.S. did I neglect to mention that DC is in the pool; no prepping -- still happy.

[Anonymous]

I see nothing about Kumon, Mercer, or any other program. If the county found those acceptable, they would not write "sample tests are not commercially available." Again, they open a huge legal can of worms if they straight-out tell you you cannot prep, and I don't want a county legal team on retainer just to fight these cases. But the fact is, if you prep, you screw up the results for everyone else, to the point where they had to change the test. And let me assure you, we ALL paid for that process.

What should the County do? What a legal predicament for her majesty? If her majesty told her subjects they can't study and prepare for her tests and examinations then why is her majesty in the business of education. This betrays her mission of ensuring children reach their full academic potential. Why should her majesty endorse any study habit: Kumon, Mercer, private tutors, school teachers tutoring their favorite pupils on the side for extra doe, online educational instruction, summer school academic instruction or a couple of sample questions on their web site? How on earth can another child screw up the results of another unless the other child feels entitled even if she came in dead last on the test and didn't get a trophy? Baby, that's life. Deal with it or get your child off the pot if you are incapable of providing guidance and mentorship for your children.

Other parents are able to guide and motivate their children without inadequate parents with gifted children thinking these parents are somehow cheating because their own brilliant children can't compete. If your children are gifted and brilliant why worry over dark bubbles on a worksheet. What's her majesty, the County to do without the D.C. lawyers coming after them?

[Anonymous]

P.S. did I neglect to mention that DC is in the pool; no prepping -- still happy.

Irrelevant, no one cares whether DC swims. Just don't drown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

P.S. did I neglect to mention that DC is in the pool; no prepping -- still happy.

Irrelevant, no one cares whether DC swims. Just don't drown.

Yikes. You are dangerous. I take back my good wishes for you and your loved ones. I do hope that your DC figures out how shallow you are. Signing off...not to return.

[Anonymous]

Be careful. You are right.
Diving in shallow waters is quite dangerous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

One aspect of high intelligence is the ability to encounter a never-before-seen problem and solve it.

When a child is shown practice tests over and over again to the point where the child has essentially memorized all the different types of problems that could possibly be seen on the test, the test results show how well the child can memorize, not how well the child can solve a new problem.

Is being able to memorize a good quality? Sure, but it is not the same as having the ability to solve problems. And doing well on the test by memorizing will not have any true effect in making the child more intelligent. Will being able to memorize and figure out what the county is looking for get kids into AAP and eventually TJ? Yes, but it does not change the underlying intelligence of the child. Memorizing can only take you so far in life. I have seen parents on message boards looking for regular, weekly tutors for their TJ students and I wonder why a child who is qualified for TJ would be in need of extra help on a regular basis.

Underlying intelligence is similar to underlying physical strength. Both are malleable, plastic and change with loading conditions. If you use your brain this can be measured by improvement in intelligence. Similarly, if you use your muscle this can be measured by improvement in strength. Of course, both intelligence and strength are not infinite quantities. Both change throughout the life cycle and with aging. Both are subject to atrophy of disuse.

I know this is too abstract and difficult for laypeople to grasp let alone comprehend. You need to go to school and study to find out!

Yes, but some start out stronger than others. Two people doing exactly the same workouts are not going to have the same increases in strength. One could become much stronger than the other, even lifting the same weights the same number of times.

Everyone is capable of learning and increasing their knowledge base. Some will learn faster than others and have the capacity for deeper understanding than others. Children who grasp concepts and deal with new ideas more quickly that others need the AAP classroom. Kids who need the AAP classroom will not need tutoring and outside help. I wouldn't be surprised if the kids at TJ who needed extra math help last year were among the children prepping for the CoGAT way back in second grade.

[Anonymous]

Most people can benefit from extra help, even though they may not needed. I wish I had prepared my elder kid when she was little. I trusted her intelligence and thought she would be fine on her own for everything - which she did. When other parents hired tutors, I refused to even think about it because my daughter was doing great in class. Guess what, she missed TJ by a hair. She was in the pool but did not have extra-curriculum math-science activities to show "genuine interest" in science and technology! My daughter regretted even to this day which makes me feel guilty. She did ask for a few Johns Hopkins talented youth summer programs but I never signed her up for any for various reasons.
So my advice for young parents: do all you can when your kids want them!