Sound off if you think AAP is BS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:14 pages in, it's striking that GE parents hate AAP, but they can't really string together a rational reason. AAP helps the kids in AAP, is good for FCPS, is good for the county, probably brings in more money than it costs to bus the kids, takes nothing away from GE kids, except a subset of the students that the GE parents loudly disparage as unexceptional at best and socially awkward disruptive troublemakers at worst. And, in general, the FCPS GE curriculum is very good-- stronger than most of the country and comparable to APS. So the problem is???

It seems like lots of DCUM over privileged helicopter type parents have bumped up against a major area where they can't buy or do "the best" for Larla for the first time ever. With AAP in play, they have to settle for something less prestigious for Larla in the area of education. And it's not that they need FCPS GE to be better for their kid (or they would focus on that). They just don't want there to be something perceived as "better" they don't get. Even if it's not better for their specific kid-- they still have live with their friends and neighbors knowing that they were not invited to the party.

And it's sad-- because the kids really don't care who has the harder spelling list or math worksheet. But it eats the parents alive, and they turn around and make their kids miserable.

I would agree with this but for the fact that you don't shy away at all from ascribing a uniform set of views to "GE parents," as if all GE parents think and act the same. It creates the impression that you'd be more than happy to band together with all the other AAP parents and have a good laugh about the angst-ridden, bummed-out GE parents whose kids didn't quite make the cut.

A more nuanced view would allow for the possibility that, DCUM diatribes notwithstanding, most parents of GE kids are find with their kids being in the GE program and that, conversely, there are more than a handful of AAP parents who bend every rule in the book just so that their own Larlas can be part of the AAP program and afford them local bragging rights.

Mic drop. Best post ever.

Yawn, you have very low standards.

[Anonymous]

If you want to play referee (and why would you??? It's a lost cause), you should at least read the whole thread. The GE parents have a world of nasty going on as well. Starting with the title/ premise of the thread. This was not designed to be a thoughtful, rational discussion about the weaknesses of the system, and how to make improvements. Although there are some thoughtful posts about how improve the system from both sides, they got quickly over run with personal insults. This thread was started to bash AAP, and early posters complied. After 7-8 pages of AAP bashing, AAP parents started pushing back. It's hard to believe someone would read the title and a handful of posts at the end and decide that AAP parents are bullies. At this point in the thread, both sides are pretty equally culpable.

Out of curiosity I went back and the first personal insults were thrown by an AAP booster. I caught on a few pages later, but some of the earlier sentiments were quoted. It also looks like the thread started somewhere else and was moved to AAP. Guess that interfered with OP's intentions of a non-aap discussion/vent session. Too many emotions on the line for all sides to have a rational discussion here.

I also noticed that FCC and APS have had some unflattering posts recently too. Guess they all have downsides.

Anyway, back to the real estate posts - plenty of drama there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've only been here for a few years, & I think I've decided that this area is a little nuts. Outside of math, there is no reason why a good teacher can't teach a heterogeneous class all the while challenging the kids who need it while supporting the kids who need support. It's being done all over the country. This district has the resources to ensure it would be done well here. Dedicate good professional development to differentiation - support it - create teachers who are really good at it. I'm a former administrator (different state) - I've seen it done really well. What this district has created is not a gifted program anymore anyway... It has created the "prep" culture & has added to the pressure that is put on kids. They've encouraged everyone to read "How to Raise an Adult," but have created a culture that feeds exactly the opposite of what the book suggests!! Crazy. Figure out how to accelerate math for the kids who need it & create excellent teachers who can teach everything else to ANY child. Before I'm accused of being anti-AAP - I am the parent of an AAP student at a center & a GE student at a base school. I've been through a different style GT program myself, & I have an older child out of school (was not in this district) & out in the real world. I don't at all wish she had gone through school here...

If you're saying that AAP is the cause of this area's craziness, I think you've got it backwards. The craziness over AAP is the result of this area's craziness. They are crazy over the inclusiveness of the gifted program in Arlington, and the lack of a gifted program in DC, etc. Everyone's crazy here, and some of it comes out whenever anyone talks about AAP. If Fairfax had a different gifted program, people would be crazy about that program, too.

I wasn't really saying AAP was the cause of the crazy - lol. Haven't been here long enough to come to that conclusion. I was just calling the whole thing crazy, I guess. I get the desire for math acceleration for a child who is talented in that area, but there is something wrong when kids are prepping for academics at age 7 or 8. What happened to doing something in an area of interest after school? But... If you try to resist this culture, do you put your own child at a disadvantage? Is that how this perpetuates?

[Anonymous]

AAP is a sham

I demand facts on emotional iq, college acceptance rates and income at 25, 40 and 55

I want to see if there is any difference between AAP vs non AAP kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If you want to play referee (and why would you??? It's a lost cause), you should at least read the whole thread. The GE parents have a world of nasty going on as well. Starting with the title/ premise of the thread. This was not designed to be a thoughtful, rational discussion about the weaknesses of the system, and how to make improvements. Although there are some thoughtful posts about how improve the system from both sides, they got quickly over run with personal insults. This thread was started to bash AAP, and early posters complied. After 7-8 pages of AAP bashing, AAP parents started pushing back. It's hard to believe someone would read the title and a handful of posts at the end and decide that AAP parents are bullies. At this point in the thread, both sides are pretty equally culpable.

Out of curiosity I went back and the first personal insults were thrown by an AAP booster. I caught on a few pages later, but some of the earlier sentiments were quoted. It also looks like the thread started somewhere else and was moved to AAP. Guess that interfered with OP's intentions of a non-aap discussion/vent session. Too many emotions on the line for all sides to have a rational discussion here.

I also noticed that FCC and APS have had some unflattering posts recently too. Guess they all have downsides.

Anyway, back to the real estate posts - plenty of drama there.

Actually, if you read the thread from the first page, insults started from post #1 by OP and others against AAP.

Post #1 referred to AAP parents as overbearing parents who push and steal AAP spots for their undeserving kids.

Post #2 referred to AAP parents as being narcissistic parents who cheat, prep, do all sorts of "bullshit" and make their unprepared and undeserving kids miserable and crying so the parents can have bragging rights over their little "geniuses: (first insult towards AAP kids, 8 year olds, in post two).

Post #4 referred to AAP classes as a "circus"

Post #5 referred to AAP kids as only being admitted because their parents "brown nose" administrations

The insults continue post after post against AAP parents or even worse, against the kids (elementary, 7-11 year olds). Classy.

The first insult by an AAP parent was somewhere down page 3 where they said that fcps AAP runs circles around other districts in the area's gifted programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've only been here for a few years, & I think I've decided that this area is a little nuts. Outside of math, there is no reason why a good teacher can't teach a heterogeneous class all the while challenging the kids who need it while supporting the kids who need support. It's being done all over the country. This district has the resources to ensure it would be done well here. Dedicate good professional development to differentiation - support it - create teachers who are really good at it. I'm a former administrator (different state) - I've seen it done really well. What this district has created is not a gifted program anymore anyway... It has created the "prep" culture & has added to the pressure that is put on kids. They've encouraged everyone to read "How to Raise an Adult," but have created a culture that feeds exactly the opposite of what the book suggests!! Crazy. Figure out how to accelerate math for the kids who need it & create excellent teachers who can teach everything else to ANY child. Before I'm accused of being anti-AAP - I am the parent of an AAP student at a center & a GE student at a base school. I've been through a different style GT program myself, & I have an older child out of school (was not in this district) & out in the real world. I don't at all wish she had gone through school here...

If you're saying that AAP is the cause of this area's craziness, I think you've got it backwards. The craziness over AAP is the result of this area's craziness. They are crazy over the inclusiveness of the gifted program in Arlington, and the lack of a gifted program in DC, etc. Everyone's crazy here, and some of it comes out whenever anyone talks about AAP. If Fairfax had a different gifted program, people would be crazy about that program, too.

I wasn't really saying AAP was the cause of the crazy - lol. Haven't been here long enough to come to that conclusion. I was just calling the whole thing crazy, I guess. I get the desire for math acceleration for a child who is talented in that area, but there is something wrong when kids are prepping for academics at age 7 or 8. What happened to doing something in an area of interest after school? But... If you try to resist this culture, do you put your own child at a disadvantage? Is that how this perpetuates?

Most parents in the vast majority of fcps do not jump on this prepping bandwagon, and most parents of most gen ed kids are not thos obsessed and bitter about AAP.

It is only in a handful of TJ obsessed areas and on dcum where you see this level of bitteress, jealousy, fixation and obsession.

Please don't take the crazy posts (from either side) as representative of AAP. It simply is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AAP is a sham

I demand facts on emotional iq, college acceptance rates and income at 25, 40 and 55

I want to see if there is any difference between AAP vs non AAP kids

Yes!!! Preach!

Now those are some statistics I would love to see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I demand facts on emotional iq, college acceptance rates and income at 25, 40 and 55

I would like to see these stats on FCPS students compared to other districts. (Skip the AAP vs. Gen Ed part.)

We all know Success is based upon income levels at age 25, 40, and 55.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've only been here for a few years, & I think I've decided that this area is a little nuts. Outside of math, there is no reason why a good teacher can't teach a heterogeneous class all the while challenging the kids who need it while supporting the kids who need support. It's being done all over the country. This district has the resources to ensure it would be done well here. Dedicate good professional development to differentiation - support it - create teachers who are really good at it. I'm a former administrator (different state) - I've seen it done really well. What this district has created is not a gifted program anymore anyway... It has created the "prep" culture & has added to the pressure that is put on kids. They've encouraged everyone to read "How to Raise an Adult," but have created a culture that feeds exactly the opposite of what the book suggests!! Crazy. Figure out how to accelerate math for the kids who need it & create excellent teachers who can teach everything else to ANY child. Before I'm accused of being anti-AAP - I am the parent of an AAP student at a center & a GE student at a base school. I've been through a different style GT program myself, & I have an older child out of school (was not in this district) & out in the real world. I don't at all wish she had gone through school here...

If you're saying that AAP is the cause of this area's craziness, I think you've got it backwards. The craziness over AAP is the result of this area's craziness. They are crazy over the inclusiveness of the gifted program in Arlington, and the lack of a gifted program in DC, etc. Everyone's crazy here, and some of it comes out whenever anyone talks about AAP. If Fairfax had a different gifted program, people would be crazy about that program, too.

I wasn't really saying AAP was the cause of the crazy - lol. Haven't been here long enough to come to that conclusion. I was just calling the whole thing crazy, I guess. I get the desire for math acceleration for a child who is talented in that area, but there is something wrong when kids are prepping for academics at age 7 or 8. What happened to doing something in an area of interest after school? But... If you try to resist this culture, do you put your own child at a disadvantage? Is that how this perpetuates?

Most parents in the vast majority of fcps do not jump on this prepping bandwagon, and most parents of most gen ed kids are not thos obsessed and bitter about AAP.

It is only in a handful of TJ obsessed areas and on dcum where you see this level of bitteress, jealousy, fixation and obsession.

Please don't take the crazy posts (from either side) as representative of AAP. It simply is not.

Exactly, I sit here and read these "everyone's this" and "most are that" and wonder whether I'm even living in the same county. The nonsense that gets discussed most here as epitomizing AAP is not evident in our center. As a result, threads and posts supporting dismantling of AAP feel like unwarranted attacks on a program that actually works for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AAP is a sham

I demand facts on emotional iq, college acceptance rates and income at 25, 40 and 55

I want to see if there is any difference between AAP vs non AAP kids

Okay then. And what are you going to do when your demands are completely ignored? No one listens to a crazy person ranting and raving on an anonymous website. Especially one who has completely lost touch with reality. There is no such thing as an EQ score and the oldest kids who went through AAP in it's current form are probably in their mid twenties, not 55.

Are you going to stomp your feet and take your toy truck an go play in another sandbox? Buh-bye!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AAP is a sham

I demand facts on emotional iq, college acceptance rates and income at 25, 40 and 55

I want to see if there is any difference between AAP vs non AAP kids

Yes!!! Preach!

Now those are some statistics I would love to see.

but, you will have a friend to join you...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you want to play referee (and why would you??? It's a lost cause), you should at least read the whole thread. The GE parents have a world of nasty going on as well. Starting with the title/ premise of the thread. This was not designed to be a thoughtful, rational discussion about the weaknesses of the system, and how to make improvements. Although there are some thoughtful posts about how improve the system from both sides, they got quickly over run with personal insults. This thread was started to bash AAP, and early posters complied. After 7-8 pages of AAP bashing, AAP parents started pushing back. It's hard to believe someone would read the title and a handful of posts at the end and decide that AAP parents are bullies. At this point in the thread, both sides are pretty equally culpable.

Out of curiosity I went back and the first personal insults were thrown by an AAP booster. I caught on a few pages later, but some of the earlier sentiments were quoted. It also looks like the thread started somewhere else and was moved to AAP. Guess that interfered with OP's intentions of a non-aap discussion/vent session. Too many emotions on the line for all sides to have a rational discussion here.

I also noticed that FCC and APS have had some unflattering posts recently too. Guess they all have downsides.

Anyway, back to the real estate posts - plenty of drama there.

Actually, if you read the thread from the first page, insults started from post #1 by OP and others against AAP.

Post #1 referred to AAP parents as overbearing parents who push and steal AAP spots for their undeserving kids.

Post #2 referred to AAP parents as being narcissistic parents who cheat, prep, do all sorts of "bullshit" and make their unprepared and undeserving kids miserable and crying so the parents can have bragging rights over their little "geniuses: (first insult towards AAP kids, 8 year olds, in post two).

Post #4 referred to AAP classes as a "circus"

Post #5 referred to AAP kids as only being admitted because their parents "brown nose" administrations

The insults continue post after post against AAP parents or even worse, against the kids (elementary, 7-11 year olds). Classy.

The first insult by an AAP parent was somewhere down page 3 where they said that fcps AAP runs circles around other districts in the area's gifted programs.

Sorry - I was looking at personal insults at other PPs, not generalizations. Yes, you're right. If you're looking at the overall tone those were negative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if those that are bashing the system would still bash it if their children were admitted by the seat of their pants.

You mean like so many of the current AAP kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've only been here for a few years, & I think I've decided that this area is a little nuts. Outside of math, there is no reason why a good teacher can't teach a heterogeneous class all the while challenging the kids who need it while supporting the kids who need support. It's being done all over the country. This district has the resources to ensure it would be done well here. Dedicate good professional development to differentiation - support it - create teachers who are really good at it. I'm a former administrator (different state) - I've seen it done really well. What this district has created is not a gifted program anymore anyway... It has created the "prep" culture & has added to the pressure that is put on kids. They've encouraged everyone to read "How to Raise an Adult," but have created a culture that feeds exactly the opposite of what the book suggests!! Crazy. Figure out how to accelerate math for the kids who need it & create excellent teachers who can teach everything else to ANY child. Before I'm accused of being anti-AAP - I am the parent of an AAP student at a center & a GE student at a base school. I've been through a different style GT program myself, & I have an older child out of school (was not in this district) & out in the real world. I don't at all wish she had gone through school here...

If you're saying that AAP is the cause of this area's craziness, I think you've got it backwards. The craziness over AAP is the result of this area's craziness. They are crazy over the inclusiveness of the gifted program in Arlington, and the lack of a gifted program in DC, etc. Everyone's crazy here, and some of it comes out whenever anyone talks about AAP. If Fairfax had a different gifted program, people would be crazy about that program, too.

I wasn't really saying AAP was the cause of the crazy - lol. Haven't been here long enough to come to that conclusion. I was just calling the whole thing crazy, I guess. I get the desire for math acceleration for a child who is talented in that area, but there is something wrong when kids are prepping for academics at age 7 or 8. What happened to doing something in an area of interest after school? But... If you try to resist this culture, do you put your own child at a disadvantage? Is that how this perpetuates?

Most parents in the vast majority of fcps do not jump on this prepping bandwagon, and most parents of most gen ed kids are not thos obsessed and bitter about AAP.

It is only in a handful of TJ obsessed areas and on dcum where you see this level of bitteress, jealousy, fixation and obsession.

Please don't take the crazy posts (from either side) as representative of AAP. It simply is not.

Exactly, I sit here and read these "everyone's this" and "most are that" and wonder whether I'm even living in the same county. The nonsense that gets discussed most here as epitomizing AAP is not evident in our center. As a result, threads and posts supporting dismantling of AAP feel like unwarranted attacks on a program that actually works for us.

+2. Ours too. I wonder if it's because DCUM just draws a handful of crazies, or if it's because GE parents know how unfounded their accusations are, and how bitter they sound, and would never rant on like this IRL?

[Anonymous]

I can't help but think there is a troll or two who do not have kids in fcps who jump onto the AAP threads when they pop up on recent topics just to try to stir the crazy and get emotions up.

Some of the posters clearly have such little understanding of AAP, its structure or the selection process that trolling is the only thing that makes sense.

Like the 50% poster, or the one who just posted about testimg stats of EQ (???) Vs income levels for 50 year olds who went througb AAP (good one, haha). Or the ones that are hurling insults and calling 8 year olds names.

These people cannot be real. Their posts are so outlandish and do not reflect anything factual.