Sound off if you think AAP is BS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Newsflash-- any gifted program (or 4 year college, or travel sports team, or private school class or the Mormon Tabernacle choir or anything else with selection standards or a capped number of participants) has a cohort who were admitted last/least qualified/ "by the seat of their pants." If those people had not been admitted at all, then the cohort who had been admitted second/second to least qualified/ second lowest scores would become the "seat of their pants" crew. This is not unique to AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think anyone would say that being in an AAP center program is a bad thing for a student who is identified as gifted, via the usual tests and observation.

I don't think anyone would say that special programs are a bad thing for kids with learning disabilities, autism, or who don't speak much English.

So leave those programs alone, as they are doing the job in helping meet those students' needs.

Change your focus to the kids in gen ed who desperately need the attention and more differentiation and more challenging work. Stop trying to blame the one program you can blame and still feel PC. It's misguided.

This is a great point. ELL has to have as many kids as AAP, and certainly makes huge demands on the resources. Special Ed is smaller, but again, is very resource intensive. AAP cost nothing extra except busing. And certainly there is an argument to be made that it brings in tax dollars that more than offset it's cost if parents and business move here, instead of MD, Alington, DC, Loudon, PW County, etc because of AAP. As the Arlington vs FCPS NMSF debate on the other thread (why is FCPS so much more successful than Arlington at having kids get NMSFs?). AAP also creates a successful pipeline to TJ and produces students who make the whole school system look good. Nevertheless, it's the program GE parents want to target-- because it looks bad to gripe about Special Ed and ELL. And because they aren't jealous of the kids in Special Ed and ELL.

Uh, no. The reason AAP is such a target is because ALL taxpayers are funding this program, but unlike Special Ed, most kids admitted to AAP are not gifted and don't need special services. No one is arguing that we need to do away with programs like Special Ed - obviously, there's a tremendous need for those kids to receive services. Taxpayers are happy to help. What we're not happy to do, however, is spend money on frivolous programs for enormous groups of mostly average kids who don't need special intervention at all. In fact, that "enrichment" we're paying for could easily benefit ALL kids, but isn't. If calling inequity "jealousy" makes you feel better, then so be it. But as long as we're all footing the bill for your kid's extra (and unnecessary) enrichment, expect some push back by those of us who realize this is a PUBLIC school system, not an exclusive private school within a school for some but not all.

oh well! Get over it, it's not going anywhere. Thank God!

Glad you're appreciative of my tax dollars benefitting your child.

NP here - Oh please...if your child was in it, you'd not say a peep.

And if your child wasn't, but was virtually identical in ability to those who were, you'd be singing a different tune.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

It would certainly be nice if that were the case-- because the rest of us have to live here, and it would be great to think the crazies lived in MoCo, or APS, or the Deal/Wilson zone of DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think anyone would say that being in an AAP center program is a bad thing for a student who is identified as gifted, via the usual tests and observation.

I don't think anyone would say that special programs are a bad thing for kids with learning disabilities, autism, or who don't speak much English.

So leave those programs alone, as they are doing the job in helping meet those students' needs.

Change your focus to the kids in gen ed who desperately need the attention and more differentiation and more challenging work. Stop trying to blame the one program you can blame and still feel PC. It's misguided.

This is a great point. ELL has to have as many kids as AAP, and certainly makes huge demands on the resources. Special Ed is smaller, but again, is very resource intensive. AAP cost nothing extra except busing. And certainly there is an argument to be made that it brings in tax dollars that more than offset it's cost if parents and business move here, instead of MD, Alington, DC, Loudon, PW County, etc because of AAP. As the Arlington vs FCPS NMSF debate on the other thread (why is FCPS so much more successful than Arlington at having kids get NMSFs?). AAP also creates a successful pipeline to TJ and produces students who make the whole school system look good. Nevertheless, it's the program GE parents want to target-- because it looks bad to gripe about Special Ed and ELL. And because they aren't jealous of the kids in Special Ed and ELL.

Uh, no. The reason AAP is such a target is because ALL taxpayers are funding this program, but unlike Special Ed, most kids admitted to AAP are not gifted and don't need special services. No one is arguing that we need to do away with programs like Special Ed - obviously, there's a tremendous need for those kids to receive services. Taxpayers are happy to help. What we're not happy to do, however, is spend money on frivolous programs for enormous groups of mostly average kids who don't need special intervention at all. In fact, that "enrichment" we're paying for could easily benefit ALL kids, but isn't. If calling inequity "jealousy" makes you feel better, then so be it. But as long as we're all footing the bill for your kid's extra (and unnecessary) enrichment, expect some push back by those of us who realize this is a PUBLIC school system, not an exclusive private school within a school for some but not all.

oh well! Get over it, it's not going anywhere. Thank God!

Glad you're appreciative of my tax dollars benefitting your child.

NP here - Oh please...if your child was in it, you'd not say a peep.

And if your child wasn't, but was virtually identical in ability to those who were, you'd be singing a different tune.

+1

[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.

OMG. It's unbelievable that you felt it so necessary to go back and document said what.

[Anonymous]

^^who said what^^^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OMG. It's unbelievable that you felt it so necessary to go back and document said what.

Is safe to assume you were one of the quoted?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think anyone would say that being in an AAP center program is a bad thing for a student who is identified as gifted, via the usual tests and observation.

I don't think anyone would say that special programs are a bad thing for kids with learning disabilities, autism, or who don't speak much English.

So leave those programs alone, as they are doing the job in helping meet those students' needs.

Change your focus to the kids in gen ed who desperately need the attention and more differentiation and more challenging work. Stop trying to blame the one program you can blame and still feel PC. It's misguided.

This is a great point. ELL has to have as many kids as AAP, and certainly makes huge demands on the resources. Special Ed is smaller, but again, is very resource intensive. AAP cost nothing extra except busing. And certainly there is an argument to be made that it brings in tax dollars that more than offset it's cost if parents and business move here, instead of MD, Alington, DC, Loudon, PW County, etc because of AAP. As the Arlington vs FCPS NMSF debate on the other thread (why is FCPS so much more successful than Arlington at having kids get NMSFs?). AAP also creates a successful pipeline to TJ and produces students who make the whole school system look good. Nevertheless, it's the program GE parents want to target-- because it looks bad to gripe about Special Ed and ELL. And because they aren't jealous of the kids in Special Ed and ELL.

Uh, no. The reason AAP is such a target is because ALL taxpayers are funding this program, but unlike Special Ed, most kids admitted to AAP are not gifted and don't need special services. No one is arguing that we need to do away with programs like Special Ed - obviously, there's a tremendous need for those kids to receive services. Taxpayers are happy to help. What we're not happy to do, however, is spend money on frivolous programs for enormous groups of mostly average kids who don't need special intervention at all. In fact, that "enrichment" we're paying for could easily benefit ALL kids, but isn't. If calling inequity "jealousy" makes you feel better, then so be it. But as long as we're all footing the bill for your kid's extra (and unnecessary) enrichment, expect some push back by those of us who realize this is a PUBLIC school system, not an exclusive private school within a school for some but not all.

oh well! Get over it, it's not going anywhere. Thank God!

Glad you're appreciative of my tax dollars benefitting your child.

NP here - Oh please...if your child was in it, you'd not say a peep.

And if your child wasn't, but was virtually identical in ability to those who were, you'd be singing a different tune.

I might be doing what I could to ensure my kid was admitted in the next admission cycle, if I felt they would do well with the program. I would not be on DCUM insulting the parents and kids in the program, or saying all the kids in the program should lose the opportunity to participate. Because I would have enough insight to realize that I was disappointed my kid had missed an opportunity, and worried that it would affect them down the road. Neither of which was the fault of the parents and kids who were admitted. Just like if my kid missed selection for travel sports, I don't come on DCUM and rant about how all travel sports should be eliminated. Instead, I help my kid get the skills they need to be competitive the next time. It's how kids learn resilience.

[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.

You'll never see those statistics because that would prove how completely overblown and unnecessary AAP in its current bloated state is. FCPS and the rabid AAP boosters would never allow that.

You don't even have to wait until age 25 to compare. Take a look at any high school class; prior AAP participation has nothing to do with success in high school, college, and beyond.

[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

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!

Hmm. Not the PP, but you don't seem to recognize satire when you see it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OMG. It's unbelievable that you felt it so necessary to go back and document said what.

Is safe to assume you were one of the quoted?

No, actually, it's not. And you know what happens when you assume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You'll never see those statistics because that would prove how completely overblown and unnecessary AAP in its current bloated state is. FCPS and the rabid AAP boosters would never allow that.

You don't even have to wait until age 25 to compare. Take a look at any high school class; prior AAP participation has nothing to do with success in high school, college, and beyond.

Right, because that's not the point of AAP.

[Anonymous]

OMG. It's unbelievable that you felt it so necessary to go back and document said what.

What grade are you in kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OMG. It's unbelievable that you felt it so necessary to go back and document said what.

What grade are you in kid?

Pardon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You'll never see those statistics because that would prove how completely overblown and unnecessary AAP in its current bloated state is. FCPS and the rabid AAP boosters would never allow that.

You don't even have to wait until age 25 to compare. Take a look at any high school class; prior AAP participation has nothing to do with success in high school, college, and beyond.

Right, because that's not the point of AAP.

I agree, but some parents claim their kids won't be "prepared for the rigors of high school and college" unless they get into AAP. Which is ludicrous.