Please be aware of what is about to go away:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give me a break. The Blair magnet serves more than 400 students, it has served thousands of moco families well over the years, stabilized and improved the largest and most diverse high school in Maryland (Go Blazers), and brought national rep to the school district. Pretty good ROI. I would care about that collateral damage.

400 a year is not very much, given the need. That's 100 per grade.

Well, even the 400 is a little bit of a "hide the ball" situation. Of the 100 kids per grade, only a handful are taking the massively accelerated courses that might not be sustainable when the program is duplicated.

When people talk about the "gem" that is SMCS, they don't actually mean that 400 kids per year are taking Linear Algebra or Organic Chemistry. Most Blair magnet kids are taking a normal math progression, ending with Multivariable or AP Statistics, and a normal math progression ending with Physics C (or whatever).

A very small number of kids are doing much more, and there is a critical mass of ES and MS parents who are convinced their children will be in that group, and who are lamenting what they perceive to be a loss of programs.

But it actually doesn't make sense to stand up a magnet around 15 kids per year, and I credit Taylor for being willing to walk away from the madness.

This is what doesn't make sense. If they aren't doing anything really accelerated, what's the point of it beyond bragging rights? I'd expect these kids to complete MV and Linear Algebra. It doesn't seem to make sense financially.

See my comments below. You are responding to a post full of inaccurate numbers. At least 80% of the kids reach the MVC/Diff Eqn level by graduation and take advantage of this program.

Ok, and the point is that many of these kids can do it in their home schools so why do we need to bus them cross country and not save those spots for kids who don't have access at their home schools? Many of our kids take those classes... its nothing to brag about.

No, they cannot do it at their home schools. That's why they chose to go to Blair.
DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give me a break. The Blair magnet serves more than 400 students, it has served thousands of moco families well over the years, stabilized and improved the largest and most diverse high school in Maryland (Go Blazers), and brought national rep to the school district. Pretty good ROI. I would care about that collateral damage.

400 a year is not very much, given the need. That's 100 per grade.

Well, even the 400 is a little bit of a "hide the ball" situation. Of the 100 kids per grade, only a handful are taking the massively accelerated courses that might not be sustainable when the program is duplicated.

When people talk about the "gem" that is SMCS, they don't actually mean that 400 kids per year are taking Linear Algebra or Organic Chemistry. Most Blair magnet kids are taking a normal math progression, ending with Multivariable or AP Statistics, and a normal math progression ending with Physics C (or whatever).

A very small number of kids are doing much more, and there is a critical mass of ES and MS parents who are convinced their children will be in that group, and who are lamenting what they perceive to be a loss of programs.

But it actually doesn't make sense to stand up a magnet around 15 kids per year, and I credit Taylor for being willing to walk away from the madness.

This is what doesn't make sense. If they aren't doing anything really accelerated, what's the point of it beyond bragging rights? I'd expect these kids to complete MV and Linear Algebra. It doesn't seem to make sense financially.

See my comments below. You are responding to a post full of inaccurate numbers. At least 80% of the kids reach the MVC/Diff Eqn level by graduation and take advantage of this program.

Ok, and the point is that many of these kids can do it in their home schools so why do we need to bus them cross country and not save those spots for kids who don't have access at their home schools? Many of our kids take those classes... its nothing to brag about.

No, they cannot do it at their home schools. That's why they chose to go to Blair.
DP

Yes, many of them can. Look at the course guides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give me a break. The Blair magnet serves more than 400 students, it has served thousands of moco families well over the years, stabilized and improved the largest and most diverse high school in Maryland (Go Blazers), and brought national rep to the school district. Pretty good ROI. I would care about that collateral damage.

400 a year is not very much, given the need. That's 100 per grade.

Well, even the 400 is a little bit of a "hide the ball" situation. Of the 100 kids per grade, only a handful are taking the massively accelerated courses that might not be sustainable when the program is duplicated.

When people talk about the "gem" that is SMCS, they don't actually mean that 400 kids per year are taking Linear Algebra or Organic Chemistry. Most Blair magnet kids are taking a normal math progression, ending with Multivariable or AP Statistics, and a normal math progression ending with Physics C (or whatever).

A very small number of kids are doing much more, and there is a critical mass of ES and MS parents who are convinced their children will be in that group, and who are lamenting what they perceive to be a loss of programs.

But it actually doesn't make sense to stand up a magnet around 15 kids per year, and I credit Taylor for being willing to walk away from the madness.

This is what doesn't make sense. If they aren't doing anything really accelerated, what's the point of it beyond bragging rights? I'd expect these kids to complete MV and Linear Algebra. It doesn't seem to make sense financially.

See my comments below. You are responding to a post full of inaccurate numbers. At least 80% of the kids reach the MVC/Diff Eqn level by graduation and take advantage of this program.

Ok, and the point is that many of these kids can do it in their home schools so why do we need to bus them cross country and not save those spots for kids who don't have access at their home schools? Many of our kids take those classes... its nothing to brag about.

No, they cannot do it at their home schools. That's why they chose to go to Blair.
DP

Yes, many of them can. Look at the course guides.

They wouldn’t be going to Blair if they can at their home schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give me a break. The Blair magnet serves more than 400 students, it has served thousands of moco families well over the years, stabilized and improved the largest and most diverse high school in Maryland (Go Blazers), and brought national rep to the school district. Pretty good ROI. I would care about that collateral damage.

400 a year is not very much, given the need. That's 100 per grade.

Well, even the 400 is a little bit of a "hide the ball" situation. Of the 100 kids per grade, only a handful are taking the massively accelerated courses that might not be sustainable when the program is duplicated.

When people talk about the "gem" that is SMCS, they don't actually mean that 400 kids per year are taking Linear Algebra or Organic Chemistry. Most Blair magnet kids are taking a normal math progression, ending with Multivariable or AP Statistics, and a normal math progression ending with Physics C (or whatever).

A very small number of kids are doing much more, and there is a critical mass of ES and MS parents who are convinced their children will be in that group, and who are lamenting what they perceive to be a loss of programs.

But it actually doesn't make sense to stand up a magnet around 15 kids per year, and I credit Taylor for being willing to walk away from the madness.

This is what doesn't make sense. If they aren't doing anything really accelerated, what's the point of it beyond bragging rights? I'd expect these kids to complete MV and Linear Algebra. It doesn't seem to make sense financially.

See my comments below. You are responding to a post full of inaccurate numbers. At least 80% of the kids reach the MVC/Diff Eqn level by graduation and take advantage of this program.

Ok, and the point is that many of these kids can do it in their home schools so why do we need to bus them cross country and not save those spots for kids who don't have access at their home schools? Many of our kids take those classes... its nothing to brag about.

No, they cannot do it at their home schools. That's why they chose to go to Blair.
DP

Yes, many of them can. Look at the course guides.

Look at the courses actually held at schools [/i]across the county, realize that there is a non-zero number of students [i]across the county wishing to take (and capable of taking) courses that are only offered at a few of the schools due to a lumpy distribution (largely fed by differential family circumstance rather than differential innate ability) combined with a misguided "community pull" philosophy when an individual school's administration elects to hold such courses, and get out of your "many of them can," privilege-centric bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give me a break. The Blair magnet serves more than 400 students, it has served thousands of moco families well over the years, stabilized and improved the largest and most diverse high school in Maryland (Go Blazers), and brought national rep to the school district. Pretty good ROI. I would care about that collateral damage.

400 a year is not very much, given the need. That's 100 per grade.

Well, even the 400 is a little bit of a "hide the ball" situation. Of the 100 kids per grade, only a handful are taking the massively accelerated courses that might not be sustainable when the program is duplicated.

When people talk about the "gem" that is SMCS, they don't actually mean that 400 kids per year are taking Linear Algebra or Organic Chemistry. Most Blair magnet kids are taking a normal math progression, ending with Multivariable or AP Statistics, and a normal math progression ending with Physics C (or whatever).

A very small number of kids are doing much more, and there is a critical mass of ES and MS parents who are convinced their children will be in that group, and who are lamenting what they perceive to be a loss of programs.

But it actually doesn't make sense to stand up a magnet around 15 kids per year, and I credit Taylor for being willing to walk away from the madness.

This is what doesn't make sense. If they aren't doing anything really accelerated, what's the point of it beyond bragging rights? I'd expect these kids to complete MV and Linear Algebra. It doesn't seem to make sense financially.

See my comments below. You are responding to a post full of inaccurate numbers. At least 80% of the kids reach the MVC/Diff Eqn level by graduation and take advantage of this program.

Ok, and the point is that many of these kids can do it in their home schools so why do we need to bus them cross country and not save those spots for kids who don't have access at their home schools? Many of our kids take those classes... its nothing to brag about.

No, they cannot do it at their home schools. That's why they chose to go to Blair.
DP

Yes, many of them can. Look at the course guides.

Why do they want to go to Blair if everything can be taken in their home schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Programs need to be increased and spread out. All programs(Local and Central managed) need to have the same general basis of setup(e.g Coordinator, criteria, evaluation, knowledgeable staff, training, curriculum, appropriate funding allocation for the entirety of the program, etc). AND rigor and expectations need to be increased and leveled for all students/staff/administrators at all schools and CO. Not all kids need or want to go to college, BUT all students need be educated such that they can make that choice for themselves and have the option. If folks are socially promoting kids in ES and they get to HS not reading, the HS teachers give the appropriate grade and recommendations for moving classes to appropriate level classes. Then we investigate who failed that kid and hold them accountable.

Folks need to stop kicking the can and being afraid of the boss or CO or whatever excuse. Have some integrity. If teachers are experts in their fields then they should harness that and act like it. Clearly define what grades or comments mean and go forth. If administrators have different ideas then they are welcome to come back to the classroom to teach and grade. Heck, they are welcome to change grades so long as they are willing to bare the consequences

Nothing that you recommend to happen is happening right now. The vast expansion without well planning, budgeting, resource acquisition, teacher training, etc. will only end up in killing reputable existing programs built and maintained with multi-years or even multi-decades of efforts, and local students will receive nothing but losing opportunities that would otherwise exist.

Increasing accessibility is good intention. Implementation-wise this is absolutely a disaster. Prove me that I'm wrong.

How could I prove you wrong when it’s not been implemented yet nor has the full implementation been done. Right now it’s only been about determining what programs, where, and ideas about things that need to be top of mind with the implementation like cross training.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give me a break. The Blair magnet serves more than 400 students, it has served thousands of moco families well over the years, stabilized and improved the largest and most diverse high school in Maryland (Go Blazers), and brought national rep to the school district. Pretty good ROI. I would care about that collateral damage.

400 a year is not very much, given the need. That's 100 per grade.

Well, even the 400 is a little bit of a "hide the ball" situation. Of the 100 kids per grade, only a handful are taking the massively accelerated courses that might not be sustainable when the program is duplicated.

When people talk about the "gem" that is SMCS, they don't actually mean that 400 kids per year are taking Linear Algebra or Organic Chemistry. Most Blair magnet kids are taking a normal math progression, ending with Multivariable or AP Statistics, and a normal math progression ending with Physics C (or whatever).

A very small number of kids are doing much more, and there is a critical mass of ES and MS parents who are convinced their children will be in that group, and who are lamenting what they perceive to be a loss of programs.

But it actually doesn't make sense to stand up a magnet around 15 kids per year, and I credit Taylor for being willing to walk away from the madness.

This is what doesn't make sense. If they aren't doing anything really accelerated, what's the point of it beyond bragging rights? I'd expect these kids to complete MV and Linear Algebra. It doesn't seem to make sense financially.

See my comments below. You are responding to a post full of inaccurate numbers. At least 80% of the kids reach the MVC/Diff Eqn level by graduation and take advantage of this program.

Ok, and the point is that many of these kids can do it in their home schools so why do we need to bus them cross country and not save those spots for kids who don't have access at their home schools? Many of our kids take those classes... its nothing to brag about.

No, they cannot do it at their home schools. That's why they chose to go to Blair.
DP

Yes, many of them can. Look at the course guides.

Why do they want to go to Blair if everything can be taken in their home schools?

No idea why. The W schools and BCC have advanced classes, other schools do not. In the DCC, only Wheaton and Blair have advanced classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give me a break. The Blair magnet serves more than 400 students, it has served thousands of moco families well over the years, stabilized and improved the largest and most diverse high school in Maryland (Go Blazers), and brought national rep to the school district. Pretty good ROI. I would care about that collateral damage.

400 a year is not very much, given the need. That's 100 per grade.

Well, even the 400 is a little bit of a "hide the ball" situation. Of the 100 kids per grade, only a handful are taking the massively accelerated courses that might not be sustainable when the program is duplicated.

When people talk about the "gem" that is SMCS, they don't actually mean that 400 kids per year are taking Linear Algebra or Organic Chemistry. Most Blair magnet kids are taking a normal math progression, ending with Multivariable or AP Statistics, and a normal math progression ending with Physics C (or whatever).

A very small number of kids are doing much more, and there is a critical mass of ES and MS parents who are convinced their children will be in that group, and who are lamenting what they perceive to be a loss of programs.

But it actually doesn't make sense to stand up a magnet around 15 kids per year, and I credit Taylor for being willing to walk away from the madness.

This is what doesn't make sense. If they aren't doing anything really accelerated, what's the point of it beyond bragging rights? I'd expect these kids to complete MV and Linear Algebra. It doesn't seem to make sense financially.

See my comments below. You are responding to a post full of inaccurate numbers. At least 80% of the kids reach the MVC/Diff Eqn level by graduation and take advantage of this program.

Ok, and the point is that many of these kids can do it in their home schools so why do we need to bus them cross country and not save those spots for kids who don't have access at their home schools? Many of our kids take those classes... its nothing to brag about.

No, they cannot do it at their home schools. That's why they chose to go to Blair.
DP

Yes, many of them can. Look at the course guides.

Why do they want to go to Blair if everything can be taken in their home schools?

No idea why. The W schools and BCC have advanced classes, other schools do not. In the DCC, only Wheaton and Blair have advanced classes.

You clearly have no idea how magnetic programming differs from regular programming. MVC at Blair, for example, is much more rigorous than what is offered at Ws/B-CC. Having a course on the topic does not make it the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give me a break. The Blair magnet serves more than 400 students, it has served thousands of moco families well over the years, stabilized and improved the largest and most diverse high school in Maryland (Go Blazers), and brought national rep to the school district. Pretty good ROI. I would care about that collateral damage.

400 a year is not very much, given the need. That's 100 per grade.

Well, even the 400 is a little bit of a "hide the ball" situation. Of the 100 kids per grade, only a handful are taking the massively accelerated courses that might not be sustainable when the program is duplicated.

When people talk about the "gem" that is SMCS, they don't actually mean that 400 kids per year are taking Linear Algebra or Organic Chemistry. Most Blair magnet kids are taking a normal math progression, ending with Multivariable or AP Statistics, and a normal math progression ending with Physics C (or whatever).

A very small number of kids are doing much more, and there is a critical mass of ES and MS parents who are convinced their children will be in that group, and who are lamenting what they perceive to be a loss of programs.

But it actually doesn't make sense to stand up a magnet around 15 kids per year, and I credit Taylor for being willing to walk away from the madness.

This is what doesn't make sense. If they aren't doing anything really accelerated, what's the point of it beyond bragging rights? I'd expect these kids to complete MV and Linear Algebra. It doesn't seem to make sense financially.

See my comments below. You are responding to a post full of inaccurate numbers. At least 80% of the kids reach the MVC/Diff Eqn level by graduation and take advantage of this program.

Ok, and the point is that many of these kids can do it in their home schools so why do we need to bus them cross country and not save those spots for kids who don't have access at their home schools? Many of our kids take those classes... its nothing to brag about.

No, they cannot do it at their home schools. That's why they chose to go to Blair.
DP

Yes, many of them can. Look at the course guides.

Why do they want to go to Blair if everything can be taken in their home schools?

No idea why. The W schools and BCC have advanced classes, other schools do not. In the DCC, only Wheaton and Blair have advanced classes.

Define “advanced classes” please

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give me a break. The Blair magnet serves more than 400 students, it has served thousands of moco families well over the years, stabilized and improved the largest and most diverse high school in Maryland (Go Blazers), and brought national rep to the school district. Pretty good ROI. I would care about that collateral damage.

400 a year is not very much, given the need. That's 100 per grade.

Well, even the 400 is a little bit of a "hide the ball" situation. Of the 100 kids per grade, only a handful are taking the massively accelerated courses that might not be sustainable when the program is duplicated.

When people talk about the "gem" that is SMCS, they don't actually mean that 400 kids per year are taking Linear Algebra or Organic Chemistry. Most Blair magnet kids are taking a normal math progression, ending with Multivariable or AP Statistics, and a normal math progression ending with Physics C (or whatever).

A very small number of kids are doing much more, and there is a critical mass of ES and MS parents who are convinced their children will be in that group, and who are lamenting what they perceive to be a loss of programs.

But it actually doesn't make sense to stand up a magnet around 15 kids per year, and I credit Taylor for being willing to walk away from the madness.

This is what doesn't make sense. If they aren't doing anything really accelerated, what's the point of it beyond bragging rights? I'd expect these kids to complete MV and Linear Algebra. It doesn't seem to make sense financially.

See my comments below. You are responding to a post full of inaccurate numbers. At least 80% of the kids reach the MVC/Diff Eqn level by graduation and take advantage of this program.

Ok, and the point is that many of these kids can do it in their home schools so why do we need to bus them cross country and not save those spots for kids who don't have access at their home schools? Many of our kids take those classes... its nothing to brag about.

No, they cannot do it at their home schools. That's why they chose to go to Blair.
DP

Yes, many of them can. Look at the course guides.

Why do they want to go to Blair if everything can be taken in their home schools?

No idea why. The W schools and BCC have advanced classes, other schools do not. In the DCC, only Wheaton and Blair have advanced classes.

You clearly have no idea how magnetic programming differs from regular programming. MVC at Blair, for example, is much more rigorous than what is offered at Ws/B-CC. Having a course on the topic does not make it the same.

You clearly have an idea how magnetic programming differs. What makes you more informed than me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Programs need to be increased and spread out. All programs(Local and Central managed) need to have the same general basis of setup(e.g Coordinator, criteria, evaluation, knowledgeable staff, training, curriculum, appropriate funding allocation for the entirety of the program, etc). AND rigor and expectations need to be increased and leveled for all students/staff/administrators at all schools and CO. Not all kids need or want to go to college, BUT all students need be educated such that they can make that choice for themselves and have the option. If folks are socially promoting kids in ES and they get to HS not reading, the HS teachers give the appropriate grade and recommendations for moving classes to appropriate level classes. Then we investigate who failed that kid and hold them accountable.

Folks need to stop kicking the can and being afraid of the boss or CO or whatever excuse. Have some integrity. If teachers are experts in their fields then they should harness that and act like it. Clearly define what grades or comments mean and go forth. If administrators have different ideas then they are welcome to come back to the classroom to teach and grade. Heck, they are welcome to change grades so long as they are willing to bare the consequences

Nothing that you recommend to happen is happening right now. The vast expansion without well planning, budgeting, resource acquisition, teacher training, etc. will only end up in killing reputable existing programs built and maintained with multi-years or even multi-decades of efforts, and local students will receive nothing but losing opportunities that would otherwise exist.

Increasing accessibility is good intention. Implementation-wise this is absolutely a disaster. Prove me that I'm wrong.

How could I prove you wrong when it’s not been implemented yet nor has the full implementation been done. Right now it’s only been about determining what programs, where, and ideas about things that need to be top of mind with the implementation like cross training.

Be transparent about the implementation plan. Show us how you do the math about cost estimates. Show your step-by-step implementation plan, show which steps that community feedbacks are going to be collected and used, show your evaluation metrics and timeline to evaluate, and most importantly, designate people (in their names or titles) of who should be responsible for which function. Haven't you written any proposal before?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Programs need to be increased and spread out. All programs(Local and Central managed) need to have the same general basis of setup(e.g Coordinator, criteria, evaluation, knowledgeable staff, training, curriculum, appropriate funding allocation for the entirety of the program, etc). AND rigor and expectations need to be increased and leveled for all students/staff/administrators at all schools and CO. Not all kids need or want to go to college, BUT all students need be educated such that they can make that choice for themselves and have the option. If folks are socially promoting kids in ES and they get to HS not reading, the HS teachers give the appropriate grade and recommendations for moving classes to appropriate level classes. Then we investigate who failed that kid and hold them accountable.

Folks need to stop kicking the can and being afraid of the boss or CO or whatever excuse. Have some integrity. If teachers are experts in their fields then they should harness that and act like it. Clearly define what grades or comments mean and go forth. If administrators have different ideas then they are welcome to come back to the classroom to teach and grade. Heck, they are welcome to change grades so long as they are willing to bare the consequences

Nothing that you recommend to happen is happening right now. The vast expansion without well planning, budgeting, resource acquisition, teacher training, etc. will only end up in killing reputable existing programs built and maintained with multi-years or even multi-decades of efforts, and local students will receive nothing but losing opportunities that would otherwise exist.

Increasing accessibility is good intention. Implementation-wise this is absolutely a disaster. Prove me that I'm wrong.

How could I prove you wrong when it’s not been implemented yet nor has the full implementation been done. Right now it’s only been about determining what programs, where, and ideas about things that need to be top of mind with the implementation like cross training.

Be transparent about the implementation plan. Show us how you do the math about cost estimates. Show your step-by-step implementation plan, show which steps that community feedbacks are going to be collected and used, show your evaluation metrics and timeline to evaluate, and most importantly, designate people (in their names or titles) of who should be responsible for which function. Haven't you written any proposal before?

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give me a break. The Blair magnet serves more than 400 students, it has served thousands of moco families well over the years, stabilized and improved the largest and most diverse high school in Maryland (Go Blazers), and brought national rep to the school district. Pretty good ROI. I would care about that collateral damage.

400 a year is not very much, given the need. That's 100 per grade.

Well, even the 400 is a little bit of a "hide the ball" situation. Of the 100 kids per grade, only a handful are taking the massively accelerated courses that might not be sustainable when the program is duplicated.

When people talk about the "gem" that is SMCS, they don't actually mean that 400 kids per year are taking Linear Algebra or Organic Chemistry. Most Blair magnet kids are taking a normal math progression, ending with Multivariable or AP Statistics, and a normal math progression ending with Physics C (or whatever).

A very small number of kids are doing much more, and there is a critical mass of ES and MS parents who are convinced their children will be in that group, and who are lamenting what they perceive to be a loss of programs.

But it actually doesn't make sense to stand up a magnet around 15 kids per year, and I credit Taylor for being willing to walk away from the madness.

This is what doesn't make sense. If they aren't doing anything really accelerated, what's the point of it beyond bragging rights? I'd expect these kids to complete MV and Linear Algebra. It doesn't seem to make sense financially.

See my comments below. You are responding to a post full of inaccurate numbers. At least 80% of the kids reach the MVC/Diff Eqn level by graduation and take advantage of this program.

Ok, and the point is that many of these kids can do it in their home schools so why do we need to bus them cross country and not save those spots for kids who don't have access at their home schools? Many of our kids take those classes... its nothing to brag about.

No, they cannot do it at their home schools. That's why they chose to go to Blair.
DP

Yes, many of them can. Look at the course guides.

Why do they want to go to Blair if everything can be taken in their home schools?

No idea why. The W schools and BCC have advanced classes, other schools do not. In the DCC, only Wheaton and Blair have advanced classes.

You clearly have no idea how magnetic programming differs from regular programming. MVC at Blair, for example, is much more rigorous than what is offered at Ws/B-CC. Having a course on the topic does not make it the same.

You clearly have an idea how magnetic programming differs. What makes you more informed than me?

Its the same track as other kids at their home school or dual enrollment.. doesn't sound special at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give me a break. The Blair magnet serves more than 400 students, it has served thousands of moco families well over the years, stabilized and improved the largest and most diverse high school in Maryland (Go Blazers), and brought national rep to the school district. Pretty good ROI. I would care about that collateral damage.

400 a year is not very much, given the need. That's 100 per grade.

Well, even the 400 is a little bit of a "hide the ball" situation. Of the 100 kids per grade, only a handful are taking the massively accelerated courses that might not be sustainable when the program is duplicated.

When people talk about the "gem" that is SMCS, they don't actually mean that 400 kids per year are taking Linear Algebra or Organic Chemistry. Most Blair magnet kids are taking a normal math progression, ending with Multivariable or AP Statistics, and a normal math progression ending with Physics C (or whatever).

A very small number of kids are doing much more, and there is a critical mass of ES and MS parents who are convinced their children will be in that group, and who are lamenting what they perceive to be a loss of programs.

But it actually doesn't make sense to stand up a magnet around 15 kids per year, and I credit Taylor for being willing to walk away from the madness.

This is what doesn't make sense. If they aren't doing anything really accelerated, what's the point of it beyond bragging rights? I'd expect these kids to complete MV and Linear Algebra. It doesn't seem to make sense financially.

See my comments below. You are responding to a post full of inaccurate numbers. At least 80% of the kids reach the MVC/Diff Eqn level by graduation and take advantage of this program.

Ok, and the point is that many of these kids can do it in their home schools so why do we need to bus them cross country and not save those spots for kids who don't have access at their home schools? Many of our kids take those classes... its nothing to brag about.

No, they cannot do it at their home schools. That's why they chose to go to Blair.
DP

Yes, many of them can. Look at the course guides.

Why do they want to go to Blair if everything can be taken in their home schools?

No idea why. The W schools and BCC have advanced classes, other schools do not. In the DCC, only Wheaton and Blair have advanced classes.

You clearly have no idea how magnetic programming differs from regular programming. MVC at Blair, for example, is much more rigorous than what is offered at Ws/B-CC. Having a course on the topic does not make it the same.

You clearly have an idea how magnetic programming differs. What makes you more informed than me?

Its the same track as other kids at their home school or dual enrollment.. doesn't sound special at all.

Good grief. The casual disinformation you throw around to try to dismiss others' concerns. Terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give me a break. The Blair magnet serves more than 400 students, it has served thousands of moco families well over the years, stabilized and improved the largest and most diverse high school in Maryland (Go Blazers), and brought national rep to the school district. Pretty good ROI. I would care about that collateral damage.

400 a year is not very much, given the need. That's 100 per grade.

Well, even the 400 is a little bit of a "hide the ball" situation. Of the 100 kids per grade, only a handful are taking the massively accelerated courses that might not be sustainable when the program is duplicated.

When people talk about the "gem" that is SMCS, they don't actually mean that 400 kids per year are taking Linear Algebra or Organic Chemistry. Most Blair magnet kids are taking a normal math progression, ending with Multivariable or AP Statistics, and a normal math progression ending with Physics C (or whatever).

A very small number of kids are doing much more, and there is a critical mass of ES and MS parents who are convinced their children will be in that group, and who are lamenting what they perceive to be a loss of programs.

But it actually doesn't make sense to stand up a magnet around 15 kids per year, and I credit Taylor for being willing to walk away from the madness.

This is what doesn't make sense. If they aren't doing anything really accelerated, what's the point of it beyond bragging rights? I'd expect these kids to complete MV and Linear Algebra. It doesn't seem to make sense financially.

See my comments below. You are responding to a post full of inaccurate numbers. At least 80% of the kids reach the MVC/Diff Eqn level by graduation and take advantage of this program.

Ok, and the point is that many of these kids can do it in their home schools so why do we need to bus them cross country and not save those spots for kids who don't have access at their home schools? Many of our kids take those classes... its nothing to brag about.

No, they cannot do it at their home schools. That's why they chose to go to Blair.
DP

Yes, many of them can. Look at the course guides.

Why do they want to go to Blair if everything can be taken in their home schools?

No idea why. The W schools and BCC have advanced classes, other schools do not. In the DCC, only Wheaton and Blair have advanced classes.

You clearly have no idea how magnetic programming differs from regular programming. MVC at Blair, for example, is much more rigorous than what is offered at Ws/B-CC. Having a course on the topic does not make it the same.

I seriously doubt it’s more rigorous.