Does AAP create unhelpful elitism and separation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If OP really wants an honest answer, I grew up in an AAP type program myself, and I didn't grow up to be an elitist or a person who wanted to be separated from others economically or racially. Largely because it's not AAP that teaches you to think that way -- it's your family that does. So long as you are one that believes in those values yourself, you'll be able to share them with your children.

Bingo! Since so many parents view AAP as a prize to be sought or a badge of honor, and then push and prep their kids into the program, it's hardly surprising that these parents would pass elitist views onto their children. IME, the people who have been the snobbiest about AAP were the ones with exceptionally borderline kids who could have just as easily been rejected from the program. They're the ones who seem to think that their 120s Larla is gifted, "needs AAP", and is better than 120s Carla, who got rejected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If OP really wants an honest answer, I grew up in an AAP type program myself, and I didn't grow up to be an elitist or a person who wanted to be separated from others economically or racially. Largely because it's not AAP that teaches you to think that way -- it's your family that does. So long as you are one that believes in those values yourself, you'll be able to share them with your children.

Bingo! Since so many parents view AAP as a prize to be sought or a badge of honor, and then push and prep their kids into the program, it's hardly surprising that these parents would pass elitist views onto their children. IME, the people who have been the snobbiest about AAP were the ones with exceptionally borderline kids who could have just as easily been rejected from the program. They're the ones who seem to think that their 120s Larla is gifted, "needs AAP", and is better than 120s Carla, who got rejected.

Yep yep. +1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The kids are wasting time switching classes over and over. Kids are being shuffled to and from teacher to teacher, and are not able to form solid relationships with any of the teachers. Kids get lost in the shuffle.

At my local elementary, the second graders switch classrooms for math, reading pullouts, and word study with no problems at all. If regular 7 year olds are capable of handling this, I imagine that most AAP qualified 3rd-6th graders would be fine as well.

Second grade is too young for that. The second graders absolutely have problems with that switching -- they may not have voiced those problems to you or even realized. But it's not best practice for 2nd graders to switch classrooms because they're not old enough for that yet.

No its not. My kid did that in 2nd grade (in 8th now)... and it was great! The 2nd gr teachers were all well organized and had good system.
In fact, I found it better as my kid got to know kids outside his class and had more friends at recess.
The kids are definitely not too young for this. They switch for 1 or 2 subjects and rest in their home classroom.

My kids are fairly anxious, and they had no problems at all with class switching in lower elementary. It was exciting for them to meet new teachers and socialize with more of their classmates. Are people here actually arguing that it's too disruptive for a 7 year old who is advanced in math to switch classrooms and take a more advanced math class, but it's somehow not disruptive to have the same child completely switch schools, perhaps leaving behind many friends, one year later?

Switching schools is not the same as switching classes. Work on your logic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell me again how AAP is different from travel sports? No one complains about that.

Travel sports teams would be akin to having advanced math classes or leveled reading groups. No one is arguing against those. AAP is more like having your kid be declared to be "gifted" in sports in general as a 7 year old, automatically getting a seat on any and all sports teams through middle school, and not having to play on the same fields ever as the non "sports gifted" kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
They are not. At the AAP centers the AAP and non-AAP kids do lunch, PE, and specials together.

It depends on the school.

Then its not AAP policy to keep them separated... I had 2 kids at 3 different AAP center schools (due to rezoning and MS)... and we not seen it.
So AAP and non-AAP kids do get classes together (non-academic ones).

In some schools. It's all school specific determined by the principal and the makeup of the kids in each year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
My kids are fairly anxious, and they had no problems at all with class switching in lower elementary. It was exciting for them to meet new teachers and socialize with more of their classmates. Are people here actually arguing that it's too disruptive for a 7 year old who is advanced in math to switch classrooms and take a more advanced math class, but it's somehow not disruptive to have the same child completely switch schools, perhaps leaving behind many friends, one year later?

Switching schools is not the same as switching classes. Work on your logic.
Switching schools is much more stressful. Grabbing your math binder and heading to the classroom next door is no big deal at all. Again, both of my kids have anxiety issues. Going to the AAP center was a major source of stress. Switching classes isn't even a blip on their radars.

It's also not like middle school, where they're constantly switching. They switch for math every day. They switch for word study once/week. Advanced kids do pull out reading group twice per week. Everything else is with their homeroom. 2nd graders are more than capable of handling this. Just as AAP 3rd-6th graders would be capable of switching for math and language arts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My kids are fairly anxious, and they had no problems at all with class switching in lower elementary. It was exciting for them to meet new teachers and socialize with more of their classmates. Are people here actually arguing that it's too disruptive for a 7 year old who is advanced in math to switch classrooms and take a more advanced math class, but it's somehow not disruptive to have the same child completely switch schools, perhaps leaving behind many friends, one year later?

Switching schools is not the same as switching classes. Work on your logic.

Switching schools is much more stressful. Grabbing your math binder and heading to the classroom next door is no big deal at all. Again, both of my kids have anxiety issues. Going to the AAP center was a major source of stress. Switching classes isn't even a blip on their radars.

It's also not like middle school, where they're constantly switching. They switch for math every day. They switch for word study once/week. Advanced kids do pull out reading group twice per week. Everything else is with their homeroom. 2nd graders are more than capable of handling this. Just as AAP 3rd-6th graders would be capable of switching for math and language arts.

Second grade is too young for switching classes. In your experience, third grade is. Why are you arguing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Second grade is too young for switching classes. In your experience, third grade is. Why are you arguing?

What argument are you even trying to make? Second grade is not too young for switching classes. Neither is third. The 2nd graders who switch classes are "thriving" with the acceleration. A PP argued that third is too young for switching classes, so advanced kids "need" a full time gifted classroom. That's flat out ridiculous. If AAP kids can handle completely switching schools and leaving behind familiar teachers and friends, they will hardly be traumatized by needing to head to the classroom next door for reading or math class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell me again how AAP is different from travel sports? No one complains about that.

Travel sports teams would be akin to having advanced math classes or leveled reading groups. No one is arguing against those. AAP is more like having your kid be declared to be "gifted" in sports in general as a 7 year old, automatically getting a seat on any and all sports teams through middle school, and not having to play on the same fields ever as the non "sports gifted" kids.

Well they do get separate coaches and field times in travel. And the number of kids who move into travel is fairly small. AAP also lets in kids after 2nd grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell me again how AAP is different from travel sports? No one complains about that.

Travel sports teams would be akin to having advanced math classes or leveled reading groups. No one is arguing against those. AAP is more like having your kid be declared to be "gifted" in sports in general as a 7 year old, automatically getting a seat on any and all sports teams through middle school, and not having to play on the same fields ever as the non "sports gifted" kids.

Well they do get separate coaches and field times in travel. And the number of kids who move into travel is fairly small. AAP also lets in kids after 2nd grade.

Not "ever". It's only for 4 years (3rd through 6th) during which time other kids can qualify to join. Things start leveling out in MS and at HS there's no difference in choices available..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell me again how AAP is different from travel sports? No one complains about that.

Travel sports teams would be akin to having advanced math classes or leveled reading groups. No one is arguing against those. AAP is more like having your kid be declared to be "gifted" in sports in general as a 7 year old, automatically getting a seat on any and all sports teams through middle school, and not having to play on the same fields ever as the non "sports gifted" kids.

Well they do get separate coaches and field times in travel. And the number of kids who move into travel is fairly small. AAP also lets in kids after 2nd grade.

Not "ever". It's only for 4 years (3rd through 6th) during which time other kids can qualify to join. Things start leveling out in MS and at HS there's no difference in choices available..

AAP runs through 8th grade. In MS, AAP kids take special AAP Honors classes that are completely separate from regular Honors Classes. In travel sports, spots are decided on a yearly basis, and kids who aren't up to par are cut from the team. In AAP, the designation and special status last through 8th grade for all kids who are so designated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell me again how AAP is different from travel sports? No one complains about that.

Travel sports teams would be akin to having advanced math classes or leveled reading groups. No one is arguing against those. AAP is more like having your kid be declared to be "gifted" in sports in general as a 7 year old, automatically getting a seat on any and all sports teams through middle school, and not having to play on the same fields ever as the non "sports gifted" kids.

Funny but I don't see anywhere FCPS AAP website has used word "gifted" except in GBRS! Where did you learn AAP is for gifted children?

[Anonymous]

They have to keep up their grades in middle school though. Any child who can't cut it first quarter is usually asked to change classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, do you know which neighborhood OP is looking to move into? Can you speak for all of FX County?

I'm curious if OP will move to some schools rated as 1-5 on great schools, or is she looking to move to a neighborhood with school ratings more comparable to FCC. Maybe, since OP loves diversity so much she should move her kids to some school where 90% of the students don't speak English. That will provide her true diversity, and a chance to do a lot of good.

PP, also, if your kids are in HS, that means that they would have been part of the old program which was truly GT, and not expanded like today's program. And what's your school rating? From the way you speak, I bet it is 8-10.

OP here. Because of commuting proximity to our work, we are looking at the Pimmit Hills area, specifically, Westgate Elementary, Lemon Road Elementary, Kilmer MS, and Marshall HS. We are open to other suggestions/ideas. (need to be able to drive into NW DC). We are also looking at Arlington, but housing prices are harder for us there.

Wait - you are looking for a diverse school, and work in DC? And yet you are intent on staying in VA? Why not move to DC? DCPS and DCPCS are diverse.

Oh, I get it - you're opposed to elitism, and want diversity, but not THAT much diversity.

OP here. I have no fears of "too much diversity". I work in Falls Church VA (7 corners), my husband in NW DC (near American University). We used to live in NW - it is too expensive for us. Hence looking in Arlington and Fairfax. Don't want McLean or N. Arlington because that wouldn't help our efforts to be in a more diverse community. Gees....people on this forum are so suspicious of motives and seem to want to question everyone's intentions. Why is it so incomprehensible to be genuinely interested in diversity, non-elitism and Fairfax schools (because of the price of home and commuting benefits)?

FCC is closer to NW DC than the Pimmit area. So you are not leaving because of commute. Whatever your reasons for moving are, you are afraid that your kid, who is getting top services now and has access to all kinds of peers, will no longer receive those services and access those peers in the new school, and you are picking up an ethical argument.

Also as the second quoted poster suggested, you can move to NW DC. Schools are very diverse there. Or is that kind of diversity too much for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, do you know which neighborhood OP is looking to move into? Can you speak for all of FX County?

I'm curious if OP will move to some schools rated as 1-5 on great schools, or is she looking to move to a neighborhood with school ratings more comparable to FCC. Maybe, since OP loves diversity so much she should move her kids to some school where 90% of the students don't speak English. That will provide her true diversity, and a chance to do a lot of good.

PP, also, if your kids are in HS, that means that they would have been part of the old program which was truly GT, and not expanded like today's program. And what's your school rating? From the way you speak, I bet it is 8-10.

OP here. Because of commuting proximity to our work, we are looking at the Pimmit Hills area, specifically, Westgate Elementary, Lemon Road Elementary, Kilmer MS, and Marshall HS. We are open to other suggestions/ideas. (need to be able to drive into NW DC). We are also looking at Arlington, but housing prices are harder for us there.

Wait - you are looking for a diverse school, and work in DC? And yet you are intent on staying in VA? Why not move to DC? DCPS and DCPCS are diverse.

Oh, I get it - you're opposed to elitism, and want diversity, but not THAT much diversity.

FCC is closer to NW DC than the Pimmit area. So you are not leaving because of commute. Whatever your reasons for moving are, you are afraid that your kid, who is getting top services now and has access to all kinds of peers, will no longer receive those services and access those peers in the new school, and you are picking up an ethical argument.

Also as the second quoted poster suggested, you can move to NW DC. Schools are very diverse there. Or is that kind of diversity too much for you?

OP here. I have no fears of "too much diversity". I work in Falls Church VA (7 corners), my husband works in NW DC (near American University). Want to be in VA because I have the more flexible work schedule and can run and get them if they get sick. Hence looking in Arlington and Fairfax. Don't want McLean or N. Arlington because that wouldn't help our efforts to be in a more diverse community. Gees....people on this forum are so suspicious of motives and seem to want to question everyone's intentions. Why is it so incomprehensible to be genuinely interested in diversity, non-elitism and Fairfax schools (because of the price of homes and commuting benefits)? The attitudes of the parents on this forum (which I assume are largely in Fairfax AAP) are making Arlington look more attractive. I have posed questions about Arlington on a different forum and they actually nicely answer with out questioning the reasons for the question.