TC Williams High School - shocked

[Anonymous]

I prefered (sic) they be in an environment where college was a universal goal, rather than one for just a small cohort of elite students.

Sorry, can't let your misrepresentations stand. Have you spoken to Patricia Braun, college counselor at TC? Her PRIMARY goal is to get as many kids as possible at TC into college -- particularly those for whom the process is unfamiliar and somewhat frightening. She has been invaluable in helping students who are not familiar with the college application process figure it out and find the money to make it happen (and the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, based at TC, awards money to every single TC graduate who applies who is going to college -- including NVCC, etc.).

By the way, your tone is quite rude. To suggest that we are whitewashing the truth, (and then to say "have at it," as though your comment is the last legitimate one) is unfair. I am still waiting to hear you describe the specific complaints that the TC students that you know have about the school. Your broad generalizations are not worth passing on to Mrs. Maxey, who has worked tirelessly to improve morale at our constantly-bashed school.

[Anonymous]

do you mean "said my peace." dumbass

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:do you mean "said my peace." dumbass

Isn't it "said my piece?"

[Anonymous]

Sigh. Does this help?

http://grammar.about.com/od/alightersideofwriting/a/peacegloss.htm

[Anonymous]

Arlington, you've continuously brought up the teen pregnancy center as it if is a bad thing to make an effort to try to keep such kids in school. Quite frankly, it leads me to believe that this is a politics issue with you, which totally underminds your creditability. On my street, several of the families sent their kids to TC, and all had positive experencies. Two of the kids went to UVA (in recent years), so I'm guessing they did well. And it is blantantly unfair to make is seem like all schools don't have some kids that aren't left behind.

Alexandria, I have zero qualms about my credibility. I've said nothing that is factually incorrect. You can put a pollyana spin on it all you want, but it doesn't change the cold, hard facts. I'm done with this thread now in any case. I'm sure you'll come back with some more whitewash and rose-colored paint, however. Have at it. I've said my piece.

Maybe you can "pray on" why you are such a conservative asshole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Eh. I'm sitting this one out

For someone who is sitting something out, you sure have a lot to say!

Also, please, please learn how to use the quote function correctly. It makes your posts really difficult to read.

[Anonymous]

I find Alexandria's efforts to improve TC Williams (which include the recognition that APS cannot simply praise the accomplishments of TC's best students, while ignoring the failures of its students who struggle) far more laudible than what happens in Arlington. Wakefield HS has the highest dropout rate in NoVa, but people there constantly come with excuses and allow the school to remain underenrolled, even as W-L is overcrowded.

I really wish "Arlington" would STFU and turn his attention to the problems in his own county.

[Anonymous]

There is a teen pregnancy center in Arlington, too. It shares the building with the daycare for Arlington school teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if your kids aren't math/science types?

They should be since DH majored in science and I majored in math.

Yet neither of you learned about genetics. Interesting that you think this is a foregone conclusion.

I believe in hard work and discipline. I don't necessarily want or expect our kids to follow in our footsteps. I do expect them to excel in all subjects in secondary school regardless of whether it interests them or not. Mathematics and science are core subjects in high school.

I may never have studied genetics in school but DH probably studied it in med school. He graduated at the top of his class in high school, college and med school. His academic expectations for our children are higher than mine. He doesn't go on this forum so he won't bother defending his position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I believe in hard work and discipline. I don't necessarily want or expect our kids to follow in our footsteps. I do expect them to excel in all subjects in secondary school regardless of whether it interests them or not. Mathematics and science are core subjects in high school.

I may never have studied genetics in school but DH probably studied it in med school. He graduated at the top of his class in high school, college and med school. His academic expectations for our children are higher than mine. He doesn't go on this forum so he won't bother defending his position.

It's like Temple Grandin got married and moved to NoVa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I believe in hard work and discipline. I don't necessarily want or expect our kids to follow in our footsteps. I do expect them to excel in all subjects in secondary school regardless of whether it interests them or not. Mathematics and science are core subjects in high school.

I may never have studied genetics in school but DH probably studied it in med school. He graduated at the top of his class in high school, college and med school. His academic expectations for our children are higher than mine. He doesn't go on this forum so he won't bother defending his position.

It's like Temple Grandin got married and moved to NoVa.

lol if you say so...

Perhaps you have low academic expectations of your children. There is no reason to be critical of others who have high expectations for theirs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

lol if you say so...

Perhaps you have low academic expectations of your children. There is no reason to be critical of others who have high expectations for theirs.

I hope your children live up to your expectations because, if they do not, it will not be pretty.

On the bright side, you could do worse than to have Claire Danes portray you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

lol if you say so...

Perhaps you have low academic expectations of your children. There is no reason to be critical of others who have high expectations for theirs.

I hope your children live up to your expectations because, if they do not, it will not be pretty.

On the bright side, you could do worse than to have Claire Danes portray you.

I can't believe I keep returning to this post.

I just wanted to end by saying that I felt insulted by a random anonymous poster suggesting that my children would not be smart enough to test into TJ. I felt the need to defend my children. I don't even necessarily want them to go to TJ. DH and I did do well academically and wish for our children to also be academically and professionally successful. I don't think that is a sin.

I love my children and would want them to do what makes them happy. At the same time, I would still expect them to do well academically. If one day my son wants to be an artist or chef, that is fine with me. I would still expect them to have taken calculus in high school.

Good night.

[Anonymous]

22:03 I'm the pp that said tc's chances of increasing its test scores are greater than any kid's chances of getting into tj. I was not talking specifically about your kids or op's kids. I'm sorry that I made you think that.

[Anonymous]

I have argued that the environment in totality is not a positive one or conducive to learning -- education simply isn't valued by a large segment of the student body. With a dropout rate of around 30%, a teen pregnancy clinic in the building, gang-related fights on a daily basis (at least that was the case two years ago -- Sherman says it's basically the same five or six families every time -- a Hatfield and McCoys thing, but whatever) and a chaotic culture where kids roamed the hallways freely between classes, I decided it wasn't the right environment for my kids.

Sounds like quite a lovely school even if only 1/3 of this is true.

Since my husband and I both did not get 800s on our math SATs (with almost certainly guaranteed admission to TJ for their genius children) like the PP, I am quite happy that my children will not be going anywhere near TC Williams!