Bad News for Test Prep Parents

[Anonymous]

Todd Marinovich was prepped extensively.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher, coach, and employer I find nothing negative about students, athletes, or employees who prepare and work hard. This my opinion and preferred traits.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher, coach, and employer I find nothing negative about students, athletes, or employees who prepare and work hard. This is my opinion and preferred traits. This is no guarantee for success but chance does favor the prepared mind and body.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The Peyton stuff just needs to stop. It is sooo creepy. Isn't there a fan site somewhere so the Peyton poster can discuss him all day with other fans?
The analogy of an adult man working on his athletic abilities is just nowhere near on point to young children prepping for AAP identification tests.

It's creepy because the traits some abhor in Asians are precisely the drivers in the outstanding performances of people your children worship in Brady, Phelps, and Peyton. These guys are talented, driven, hard workers, tireless preppers and high performers.

Good ahead and squirm. It will do your conscious some good

I wonder who all you think is out there debating with you here? The post you quoted said nothing about Asians and I do believe you like to throw that out there so you can make comments about race. How do you know that I or any of the other posters here are not Asian? You are making some big assumptions here.
And I don't know whose kids you are talking about that are so into these sports guys. I don't know any kids who "worship" these folks. My own kids know who Phelps is because we watched the Olympics, but we don't really watch much of other sports. They've probably heard of Peyton, but even I don't know who this Brady guy is. My children are involved in sports, but they don't spend a lot of time watching sports. If we could stick with the subject of the thread instead of throwing in all this off-topic stuff, that would be great. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yes, isn't he/she awful?
But still, I don't see the big problem with prepping either if you want an "edge" for something desireable like getting into AAP. Isn't that what it's all about, getting an edge over other people?

No. It shouldn't have to be about getting an edge over other 7 year-olds in a public school system. Particularly, if it is detrimental to other children. But alas, this appears to be the way it is going to be in this area now. Take a look at NYC and get ready to start drilling your children with worksheets and puzzles at 3. And God forbid, that doesn't fit in with your philosophy of childhood. Both you and your kids will be deemed as lazy and entitled. That's where this is heading.

[Anonymous]

Once someone claims it's all about "getting an edge over others," I exit the conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once someone claims it's all about "getting an edge over others," I exit the conversation.

Oh, what a good point!
Especially when we are talking about 7-year-olds, or any children, for that matter.

But, sadly, that appears to be how Peyton Poster sees the world: he is in a constant effort to get an edge over others, so as to impede them from getting an edge over him. He really cannot comprehend how limiting that view is. And I am sure he'll be back to tell us how wrong we are and to exhort us to just work hard and prep, so that other people won't be able to get ahead of us and we will attain the sought-after prize of AAP for our children.

[Anonymous]

Idols, Peyton, Brady and Phelps sees the world the same way, don't you think? ...or am I worng.
Why do 7-year-olds and their parents hire educational consultants to get into pre-K and some later for high schools and prestigious colleges?
Does such practices in our County represent getting an edge?
I wonder what types of Fairfax families hire educational consultants to prepare admissions to prestigious high schools and colleges? ..or even private coaches for lacrosse, soccer, crew and tennis?
I am from another part of the country and I find this behavior very interesting.

[Anonymous]

I am certain it is not real Americans doing these types of activities ... like private coaches, tutors and educational consultants. Real Americans use these services for noble reasons and the love for their children, I think. At least, that's my opinion.

+1

[Anonymous]

He's baaack!


I don't know what part of the country you're from, or even what part of the county, but I haven't seen any one hiring educational consultants around where I live or any of the other places I've lived. I hear that's more of a New York City thing, possibly ritzy areas of Bethesda and Potomac, but no one I know hires educational consultants. I have researched colleges on my own for my children and had conversations with other parents where we have shared information, but never dealt with a hired consultant.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps I am in error and that doesn't happen in Fairfax County. My mistake.

[Anonymous]

And I don't know of kids around here with private sports coaches. The kids I know play on a high school or community league teams and have one or a few coaches for the entire team. Middle schools don't have sports here, so that age group plays on community leagues that their parents pay for, but I would not consider that private, one-on-one coaching. Many of those coaches are parent volunteers.

Dance and gymnastics are through independent studios or gyms, where kids are part of a class or a team. I see a lot of kids with private teachers for their musical instruments, but I believe that is pretty standard for music lessons.

[Anonymous]

I don't know what part of the country you're from, or even what part of the county, but I haven't seen any one hiring educational consultants around where I live or any of the other places I've lived. I hear that's more of a New York City thing, possibly ritzy areas of Bethesda and Potomac, but no one I know hires educational consultants. I have researched colleges on my own for my children and had conversations with other parents where we have shared information, but never dealt with a hired consultant.

...pardon me, i have one more question if you please...have you used tutors for your children or used prep courses for SAT or ACT and the like for your kids ...or is this a NYC, Bethesda or Potomac thing. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don't know what part of the country you're from, or even what part of the county, but I haven't seen any one hiring educational consultants around where I live or any of the other places I've lived. I hear that's more of a New York City thing, possibly ritzy areas of Bethesda and Potomac, but no one I know hires educational consultants. I have researched colleges on my own for my children and had conversations with other parents where we have shared information, but never dealt with a hired consultant.

...pardon me, i have one more question if you please...have you used tutors for your children or used prep courses for SAT or ACT and the like for your kids ...or is this a NYC, Bethesda or Potomac thing. Thanks.

I have never hired a tutor for my child. There are tutors in FCPS, but I think it is a minority of people that do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps I am in error and that doesn't happen in Fairfax County. My mistake.

I have read articles in the New York Times about crazy New York City parents hiring consultants for preschools, but haven't heard about that happening here. I helped my kids find colleges and have helped some of their friends with researching colleges and universities, but never got paid.