O.K., some of the parents are liars; I'll grant you that. They encourage their kids to convince the school they're really into STEM when they are not. Sure stuff like that happens on college applications too. Pity, but it doesn't mean the whole process lacks merit. Those selected are by and large the most academically advanced and ambitious students. |
All I would ask for is that they drop the notion that students must have a demonstrated interest in STEM prior to the application process. These kids are 11, 12, 13 years old when they are nominally building that resume - they shouldn't be asked to declare their college major at that point. Sure, you'll have a few kids who are genuinely sure of what they want to do at that point, but the environment is toxic because you have too many kids who are trying to pursue too narrow a group of fields. TJ was a much more enjoyable place for students when they had a 400-student class of bright, hard-working students with strong STEM aptitude but diverse passions and interests that they could use to set themselves apart. |
I agree with you. What would you change in the application process? I've heard that nobody likes all the silly mini "essays" that kids have to write either math or non-math to "demonstrate" their passion for STEM. |
I think that's a very reasonable opinion - but... STEM is pretty broad: science, technology, engineering, and math. That really not that narrow. And I recall a time when Obama was saying publicly we need more people in the STEM field and was encouraging students to go into those fields. Now how you pick the attendees is a different story, The parents of those kids choose how they want to raise their kids. Bit of a culture clash I think in your comments about how the kids should live their life as 11, 12 and 13 year olds. |
Agreed, and that culture clash is precisely why the school is currently dominated by Asians and why white folks have largely disengaged with the application process. Go check the publicly available numbers - White applications have dropped by more than half since 10-12 years ago, when Dr. Glazer came on board and was very public about how the school would be STEM-focused and not for everyone. The school also went #1 for the first time at that point - and the culture clash that you're describing involves prestige and rankings as well. |
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Hey, parents of non-Asians: You want your kid to be able to compete with the Tiger mom-influenced strivers who get into TJ? Then get you kids off their asses, away from their screens and MAKE THEM STUDY! All the better if they're naturally gifted in math and science.
Magnet schools are a privilege, not a right and the ones who work hard are the ones who get rewarded with a challenging, excellent education. |
Parents of non-Asians increasingly do not want to send their kids to TJ, not because they're on their asses and screens, but because they're on the ballfields or the stage - and they correctly understand that in order to have the best chance to get into TJ, they will have to give those passions up (which have incredible value both inside and outside the classroom) to maximize their test prep and STEM activities. |
What, TJ doesn't have sports and drama? That's news to TJ. |
They absolutely do, but those programs do not enjoy nearly the level of participation that they had many years ago. Indeed, only a few years ago TJ was in danger of losing their football, softball, and curricular theatre programs due to lack of participation. And it is frequently a surprise to families who are interested in TJ that all of those things exist because the school and county don't promote them at all. |
There seems to be plenty of drama at TJ. TJ should get rid of most team sports. We have to pay transportation costs now so they can play football against the Sisters of Mercy, charter schools in DC with 150-200 kids, and homeschool leagues. Girls basketball is horrible (2-22). They can keep cross country. swim and dive, and tennis. |
yeah, but I doubt MIT, Cal Tech and the like have very good sports teams either. |
The team sports pay for those individual sports. |
I want non-Asians to recognize that the PP Asian does not represent all Asian, but this is how you perceive all Asians, and the PP just confirms your perception. But, remember, that is one person. We have to stop stereotyping people. |
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The arguments and stereotypes on this thread clearly show that more TJ's need to be built. Then we would not have all these negative comments like outrage, jealously, racism, etc, since there would be enough space to accomodate all who apply and are qualified. |