Recent suicides at Langley HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sick people on here trying to take cheap shots at the best school in the area. Has anyone stopped and gathered the facts? The issues had nothing to do with the school. Nice try trolls.

Please do tell.
What ARE the facts, according to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The adults need to set limits.

Kids should be limited to 2 AP courses a year. And they should get rid of adding grade bumps for AP/Honors courses. Then the AP classes will be used of what they were intended, learning college level information and kids that are truly interested in AP classes will take them, it will not be the parents trying to game the GPA system.

Aren't the adults supposed to set the limits for our children????

Why do we continue to allow the school system to let kids be pushed to take these overloaded schedules due to peer pressure.

Excellent advice for LHS and FC school board.

So the speculation is that the great majority of students at Langley are feeling so much pressure that the curriculum needs to be dumbed down so that the ones who struggle in AP classes can be made to feel better? Are we really back to the "everyone should get a ribbon mentality"? What about the countless number of well balanced, organized, achieving students who can easily handle 3-5 AP Classes? We should tell them that we are afraid you may feel too much pressure and therefore we are capping your upside achievement because one or two out of 20 may feel overwhelmed if they over extend themselves? How will this prepare the good students for college where the workload will be even more demanding? Furthermore, changing the weighting of the grade bumps for AP will only serve to drive kids into no AP classes in order to pad their GPAs. Then the real gaming of the system and resentment will start for those taking the harder AP workload who rank behind those purposely taking the easier classes.

The real question here is, is there really a systemic problem at the school? How many kids are unhappy and stressed out of the total group (I would bet a lot less than it would appear on this board)? In fact, I want to a very marginal high school, and there were also unhappy kids, stressed, doing drugs, depressed, etc. Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water before a system wide problem is even clearly established and defined.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The adults need to set limits.

Kids should be limited to 2 AP courses a year. And they should get rid of adding grade bumps for AP/Honors courses. Then the AP classes will be used of what they were intended, learning college level information and kids that are truly interested in AP classes will take them, it will not be the parents trying to game the GPA system.

Aren't the adults supposed to set the limits for our children????

Why do we continue to allow the school system to let kids be pushed to take these overloaded schedules due to peer pressure.

Excellent advice for LHS and FC school board.

So the speculation is that the great majority of students at Langley are feeling so much pressure that the curriculum needs to be dumbed down so that the ones who struggle in AP classes can be made to feel better? Are we really back to the "everyone should get a ribbon mentality"? What about the countless number of well balanced, organized, achieving students who can easily handle 3-5 AP Classes? We should tell them that we are afraid you may feel too much pressure and therefore we are capping your upside achievement because one or two out of 20 may feel overwhelmed if they over extend themselves? How will this prepare the good students for college where the workload will be even more demanding? Furthermore, changing the weighting of the grade bumps for AP will only serve to drive kids into no AP classes in order to pad their GPAs. Then the real gaming of the system and resentment will start for those taking the harder AP workload who rank behind those purposely taking the easier classes.

The real question here is, is there really a systemic problem at the school? How many kids are unhappy and stressed out of the total group (I would bet a lot less than it would appear on this board)? In fact, I want to a very marginal high school, and there were also unhappy kids, stressed, doing drugs, depressed, etc. Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water before a system wide problem is even clearly established and defined.

Please give us a picture of what the life of your 5 AP student looks like. Basic daily/weekly routine, including sleep and meals.
Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The adults need to set limits.

Kids should be limited to 2 AP courses a year. And they should get rid of adding grade bumps for AP/Honors courses. Then the AP classes will be used of what they were intended, learning college level information and kids that are truly interested in AP classes will take them, it will not be the parents trying to game the GPA system.

Aren't the adults supposed to set the limits for our children????

Why do we continue to allow the school system to let kids be pushed to take these overloaded schedules due to peer pressure.

Excellent advice for LHS and FC school board.

So the speculation is that the great majority of students at Langley are feeling so much pressure that the curriculum needs to be dumbed down so that the ones who struggle in AP classes can be made to feel better? Are we really back to the "everyone should get a ribbon mentality"? What about the countless number of well balanced, organized, achieving students who can easily handle 3-5 AP Classes? We should tell them that we are afraid you may feel too much pressure and therefore we are capping your upside achievement because one or two out of 20 may feel overwhelmed if they over extend themselves? How will this prepare the good students for college where the workload will be even more demanding? Furthermore, changing the weighting of the grade bumps for AP will only serve to drive kids into no AP classes in order to pad their GPAs. Then the real gaming of the system and resentment will start for those taking the harder AP workload who rank behind those purposely taking the easier classes.

The real question here is, is there really a systemic problem at the school? How many kids are unhappy and stressed out of the total group (I would bet a lot less than it would appear on this board)? In fact, I want to a very marginal high school, and there were also unhappy kids, stressed, doing drugs, depressed, etc. Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water before a system wide problem is even clearly established and defined.

Please give us a picture of what the life of your 5 AP student looks like. Basic daily/weekly routine, including sleep and meals.
Thank you.

Mom, you and your kid signed the AP Contract, right? The high schools force non of this on the kids. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I note that people are quick to say it was depression but keep denying that the atmosphere of the school contributed. I have heard quite a number of parents complain about the way this school is run. Not a healthy atmosphere the administration needs to do more than stage a pep rally prayer vigil and think harder about how teens are being affected by the policies and unfairness of the school. Two suicides in one week sends a pretty strong message

I'm wondering why everyone is blaming Langley (or any one reason or one school) for these deaths, when other schools in the area have also had students who committed suicide. Woodson had 4 (2013 and 2011), Woodbridge had 1 (2013), and South Lakes (2009). Not to mention the many teens nationwide who have died this way. Why should Langley be the scapegoat? Because a few vocal DCUM-ers want to air their past problems here and make it sound like everyone at the school must be unhappy? Take a look around whatever school your own child goes to before throwing stones at Langley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I note that people are quick to say it was depression but keep denying that the atmosphere of the school contributed. I have heard quite a number of parents complain about the way this school is run. Not a healthy atmosphere the administration needs to do more than stage a pep rally prayer vigil and think harder about how teens are being affected by the policies and unfairness of the school. Two suicides in one week sends a pretty strong message

I'm wondering why everyone is blaming Langley (or any one reason or one school) for these deaths, when other schools in the area have also had students who committed suicide. Woodson had 4 (2013 and 2011), Woodbridge had 1 (2013), and South Lakes (2009). Not to mention the many teens nationwide who have died this way. Why should Langley be the scapegoat? Because a few vocal DCUM-ers want to air their past problems here and make it sound like everyone at the school must be unhappy? Take a look around whatever school your own child goes to before throwing stones at Langley.

Precisely this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The adults need to set limits.

Kids should be limited to 2 AP courses a year. And they should get rid of adding grade bumps for AP/Honors courses. Then the AP classes will be used of what they were intended, learning college level information and kids that are truly interested in AP classes will take them, it will not be the parents trying to game the GPA system.

Aren't the adults supposed to set the limits for our children????

Why do we continue to allow the school system to let kids be pushed to take these overloaded schedules due to peer pressure.

Excellent advice for LHS and FC school board.

So the speculation is that the great majority of students at Langley are feeling so much pressure that the curriculum needs to be dumbed down so that the ones who struggle in AP classes can be made to feel better? Are we really back to the "everyone should get a ribbon mentality"? What about the countless number of well balanced, organized, achieving students who can easily handle 3-5 AP Classes? We should tell them that we are afraid you may feel too much pressure and therefore we are capping your upside achievement because one or two out of 20 may feel overwhelmed if they over extend themselves? How will this prepare the good students for college where the workload will be even more demanding? Furthermore, changing the weighting of the grade bumps for AP will only serve to drive kids into no AP classes in order to pad their GPAs. Then the real gaming of the system and resentment will start for those taking the harder AP workload who rank behind those purposely taking the easier classes.

The real question here is, is there really a systemic problem at the school? How many kids are unhappy and stressed out of the total group (I would bet a lot less than it would appear on this board)? In fact, I want to a very marginal high school, and there were also unhappy kids, stressed, doing drugs, depressed, etc. Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water before a system wide problem is even clearly established and defined.

Completely agree. No one is forcing anyone to take AP classes. Students can take as many or as few as they'd like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I note that people are quick to say it was depression but keep denying that the atmosphere of the school contributed. I have heard quite a number of parents complain about the way this school is run. Not a healthy atmosphere the administration needs to do more than stage a pep rally prayer vigil and think harder about how teens are being affected by the policies and unfairness of the school. Two suicides in one week sends a pretty strong message

I'm wondering why everyone is blaming Langley (or any one reason or one school) for these deaths, when other schools in the area have also had students who committed suicide. Woodson had 4 (2013 and 2011), Woodbridge had 1 (2013), and South Lakes (2009). Not to mention the many teens nationwide who have died this way. Why should Langley be the scapegoat? Because a few vocal DCUM-ers want to air their past problems here and make it sound like everyone at the school must be unhappy? Take a look around whatever school your own child goes to before throwing stones at Langley.

Start dealing with the problems, or STFU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sick people on here trying to take cheap shots at the best school in the area. Has anyone stopped and gathered the facts? The issues had nothing to do with the school. Nice try trolls.

Please do tell.
What ARE the facts, according to you?

Silence speaks for itself. Thanks for your concern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I note that people are quick to say it was depression but keep denying that the atmosphere of the school contributed. I have heard quite a number of parents complain about the way this school is run. Not a healthy atmosphere the administration needs to do more than stage a pep rally prayer vigil and think harder about how teens are being affected by the policies and unfairness of the school. Two suicides in one week sends a pretty strong message

I'm wondering why everyone is blaming Langley (or any one reason or one school) for these deaths, when other schools in the area have also had students who committed suicide. Woodson had 4 (2013 and 2011), Woodbridge had 1 (2013), and South Lakes (2009). Not to mention the many teens nationwide who have died this way. Why should Langley be the scapegoat? Because a few vocal DCUM-ers want to air their past problems here and make it sound like everyone at the school must be unhappy? Take a look around whatever school your own child goes to before throwing stones at Langley.

Not everyone is blaming Langley, but a vocal minority (some ex-Langley, and others who simply like to take shots at Langley because it's Langley) are doing so.

What I find offensive is that some of them are more than happy to make assumptions about the boys, their families, and their school experience in order to advance their own agenda. If they want to have a debate over whether FCPS should start later, cap the number of AP courses students can take and do more to mix up the demographics at Langley, fine. Do it in another thread, but don't claim, for example, that these boys had "no one to turn to" just because you want to bash a school that most kids are very proud to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I note that people are quick to say it was depression but keep denying that the atmosphere of the school contributed. I have heard quite a number of parents complain about the way this school is run. Not a healthy atmosphere the administration needs to do more than stage a pep rally prayer vigil and think harder about how teens are being affected by the policies and unfairness of the school. Two suicides in one week sends a pretty strong message

I'm wondering why everyone is blaming Langley (or any one reason or one school) for these deaths, when other schools in the area have also had students who committed suicide. Woodson had 4 (2013 and 2011), Woodbridge had 1 (2013), and South Lakes (2009). Not to mention the many teens nationwide who have died this way. Why should Langley be the scapegoat? Because a few vocal DCUM-ers want to air their past problems here and make it sound like everyone at the school must be unhappy? Take a look around whatever school your own child goes to before throwing stones at Langley.

Start dealing with the problems, or STFU.

We're trying to keep this thread respectful. Please, no profanity. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One change that would help reduce the stress. Limit all kids to only 2 AP classes.

These are only kids. Be responsible adults and put an upper limit on the workload. Lots of other tangible improvements that can be done but this simple limit seems to me to be core problem at Langley.

My kid was surprised to find out from the educational consultant we hired that AP classes are only important if you want college credit for that class, or you are hell-bent on attending an Ivy. He also said that the reason Langley students (and other high ranking schools) "need" so many APs is the quota systems, which punish students from high-ranking schools. He advised my kid to only take APs in subject that truly interested her since she is not interested in Ivy, despite her high GPA.

I agree. There are plenty - PLENTY - of great colleges out there, and the best college for any kid is the one that fits them academically, socially, and environmentally. Pursuing prestigious colleges for higher level degrees makes more sense, especially in competitive fields.

Was this a tutor or a specialized consultant? How old was your child at the time?

Yes, PhD. Consultant. Highly regarded. My child was a rising Sophomore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sick people on here trying to take cheap shots at the best school in the area. Has anyone stopped and gathered the facts? The issues had nothing to do with the school. Nice try trolls.

The schools want the rankings - at the expense of the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The adults need to set limits.

Kids should be limited to 2 AP courses a year. And they should get rid of adding grade bumps for AP/Honors courses. Then the AP classes will be used of what they were intended, learning college level information and kids that are truly interested in AP classes will take them, it will not be the parents trying to game the GPA system.

Aren't the adults supposed to set the limits for our children????

Why do we continue to allow the school system to let kids be pushed to take these overloaded schedules due to peer pressure.

Excellent advice for LHS and FC school board.

So the speculation is that the great majority of students at Langley are feeling so much pressure that the curriculum needs to be dumbed down so that the ones who struggle in AP classes can be made to feel better? Are we really back to the "everyone should get a ribbon mentality"? What about the countless number of well balanced, organized, achieving students who can easily handle 3-5 AP Classes? We should tell them that we are afraid you may feel too much pressure and therefore we are capping your upside achievement because one or two out of 20 may feel overwhelmed if they over extend themselves? How will this prepare the good students for college where the workload will be even more demanding? Furthermore, changing the weighting of the grade bumps for AP will only serve to drive kids into no AP classes in order to pad their GPAs. Then the real gaming of the system and resentment will start for those taking the harder AP workload who rank behind those purposely taking the easier classes.

The real question here is, is there really a systemic problem at the school? How many kids are unhappy and stressed out of the total group (I would bet a lot less than it would appear on this board)? In fact, I want to a very marginal high school, and there were also unhappy kids, stressed, doing drugs, depressed, etc. Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water before a system wide problem is even clearly established and defined.

Please give us a picture of what the life of your 5 AP student looks like. Basic daily/weekly routine, including sleep and meals.
Thank you.

Similar to the college curriculum that he will take next year. Thing is, my boy enjoys the challenge and learning -- go figure. Maybe we should tell him not to work so hard and slow his thirst for knowledge down. Guess he could be stressing the other kids out.

[Anonymous]

We're trying to keep this thread respectful. Please, no profanity. Thanks.

Thank you.