Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It just seems unfair that my kid hears about this stuff and asks if they can do it, and I have to tell them no. Then when they ask why, I have to tell them that it's not our fault. Essentially though, its discrimination.
My kid could absolutely benefit from cool STEM trips.
So can mine, which is why we did a sleep in at the Maryland Science Center with a bunch of kids in his STEM Club. I can provide him those opportunities but the kids in Young Scholars come from backgrounds where they are not likely to have those type of opportunities, even participating in a STEM.
Does your child have the opportunity to participate in extra curricular activities or visit museums or participate in enrichment because of where you are as a family? If so, then provide those options for you child. If not, then I would conduct further investigation into the Young Scholars program. My family can provide those opportunities for my kid and we choose to do so. I am glad that FCPS has a program to try and provide similar, but probably not the same quality of opportunities I can provide my kid, for kids who don't have access to those programs through their parents.
we are a pretty busy and do the best we can to provide those kinds of opportunities but when their friends get to do this stuff, they'd like to join. It's always great to be part of a peer group when exploring these things. If they're enrichment that the school can provide, then it should be an option for all. why not open this program to everyone? All kids rich or poor can benefit from exploring these topics together.
You're too busy to do it yourself but you want the school to do it for your kid. That is what I am hearing. I have the money to provide those opportunities for my child and it is important to me so I make the time. The kids in Young Scholars are supposed to be kids who don't have the money or support at home and who are interested and who could benefit from the challenge. It is a way to help bridge the education gap that exists, mainly due to income difference, lack of information about programs, and a lack of family support for enrichment.
If you are in a position to provide that, then do so. There are clubs and programs that it sounds like you could provide if you decide to prioritize it. My kid loves STEM so we found clubs and programs that he enjoys. He likes them because he is with other kids who enjoy STEM as well. So we make the time. Your response says to me "it sounds great but we are busy with other things so we don't prioritize it but he should be able to participate through the school program because it sounds cool and will save us the time in doing it on our own."
well yeah. the school is doing something cool and my kid would like to participate in the event with some of their friends. Is that bad?
You could ask your kid if they want to do things like that and then find those programs and enroll your kid in them. There are kids at your kids school who can’t afford those programs or don’t have the support to do it other then their parents being “too busy” or your family being “too busy.” Essentially you sound like you have a choice and choose to prioritize other things. The kids in Young Scholars are supposed to be kids who have obstacles that prevent them from participating.
It sounds like you could even organize an outing with your kid and his friends, which is what we do.
Do you complain that the kid who is a grade level or two behind has extra time with a reading Teacher? Or that the kid who has dyslexia works with a reading specialist at school? Or the kid who is behind in math has someone spend extra time with them on math?
Young Scholars is supposed to be for bright kids who are traditionally under represented in AAP to develop the skills and curiosity to be able to participate in a program like AAP. it is supposed to help kids from backgrounds with less catch up with kids who have more opportunities.
It is not for my kid who goes to science club and RSM on the weekends because he likes STEM. We can afford the club and RSM, he enjoys it, so we make the time for it. We don’t go and look for extra math time at school or to participate in Young Scholars.