TJ Parents and Alumni - Time to Get On Board

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I am a realist.

The status quo is changing. You can either be a part of that change - help FCPS and TJ figure out how to implement - or you can keep complaining.

I wrote my SB member suggesting that each MS identify a handful of students - no more than 10 per MS - of the truly gifted in STEM - as my experience with TJ has been that while there are a handful of kids in each class who are truly head and shoulders above the rest, the rest of the kids are generally interchangeable and could have been replaced by other kids who applied and were not accepted. She wrote back that this was the kind of concrete suggestion they needed - not just saying "no lottery."

Um, that's half the class right there.

I suspect McLaughlin, Pekarsky and Tholen will go through the motions of raising concerns given how many current TJ kids come from Dranesville and Sully, but the rest of the woke mob will approve Brabrand's proposal.

And this is just TJ. They'll come after the good "regular" schools next. Buckle up, Langley.

I am curious why the "woke mob" picked TJ first instead of Langley? Is that because politically Asians are the weak minority?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I am a realist.

The status quo is changing. You can either be a part of that change - help FCPS and TJ figure out how to implement - or you can keep complaining.

I wrote my SB member suggesting that each MS identify a handful of students - no more than 10 per MS - of the truly gifted in STEM - as my experience with TJ has been that while there are a handful of kids in each class who are truly head and shoulders above the rest, the rest of the kids are generally interchangeable and could have been replaced by other kids who applied and were not accepted. She wrote back that this was the kind of concrete suggestion they needed - not just saying "no lottery."

Um, that's half the class right there.

I suspect McLaughlin, Pekarsky and Tholen will go through the motions of raising concerns given how many current TJ kids come from Dranesville and Sully, but the rest of the woke mob will approve Brabrand's proposal.

And this is just TJ. They'll come after the good "regular" schools next. Buckle up, Langley.

I am curious why the "woke mob" picked TJ first instead of Langley? Is that because politically Asians are the weak minority?

"Picked Langley" for WHAT, exactly?

With TJ, you can buy the cheap house in the district where you are likely to get picked - THEN attend TJ for free! Nice country, America.

Not anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are comparing the best high school in Region 1 with a not-too-good high school in Region 2. Let's look at South Lakes (Region 1) and Mclean (Region 2). Do you honestly think that kids in South Lakes are more affluent or have better opportunities than kids slated for Mclean? Yet, kids in region 1 (including those in the South Lakes pyramid) will have a lower chance of admission to TJ because they are competing with many more students. This lottery, as it is now, separates by regions, not pyramids and will not guarantee an even spread in opportunities according to socioeconomic class. Just my 2 cents.

OP here - fair point. Will be interesting to see if the "holistic review" ends up with every kid from Region 1 coming from the same middle school or some similarly severe imbalance. Do you have specific suggestions for redistributing the regions? My sense was they were trying to break up the feeder school system at TJ - is that what you see?

If the board keeps the GPA and math level as only requirements for lottery , there will still be a severe imbalance on which middle schools produce more TJ hopefuls. Carson or Longfellow will still be at the top but with Longfellow students having a higher chance of making it through lottery because of less competition. A less affluent student in region 1 (not at Carson) is all of the sudden being penalized for their address and not given the same chance as a more affluent student from region 2, which really defeats the purpose of the admission change. region 3 would be the only one that would help with diversity, but why would a student of low socioeconomic background from region 3 be given preference over a student of low socioeconomic background that happens to live in region1?

This lottery also does not do anything for the truly gifted (of any race or socioeconomic background).

Maybe the "holistic review" will take these factors into account, but I am not holding my breath. Nobody knows what it entails and truthfully I don't think Brabrand has even thought that far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, not sure why you are telling is what to do or how to feel?

This is a seriously flawed proposal with key details missing. No one has explained what factors are considered before placing someone in the lottery pool other than 3.5 GPA. They allude to an essay but gave no information about its impact on being placed in the pool. Are they considering other factors to be in the pool? Race?

It’s pretty shocking that you claim to be a TJ parent and are fine with this proposal that is pretty much a totally secret arrangement.

Why do people insist on leaving off a 3.5 GPA and completing Algebra 1 by the end of eighth grade. It is not fully clear if the kids will need to get letters of recommendation or not. It would be better if they laid out what the exact process would look like but they have already posted two major requirements which will greatly reduce the number of kids who are eligible.

Dude, you seriously just described every second idiot who went to my high school in Kentucky. Everybody had a 3.5 and half of them took Algebra by the 8th grade. I guess half of Kentucky should be in the TJ lottery! Man this. school is going to crash and burn so hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I am a realist.

The status quo is changing. You can either be a part of that change - help FCPS and TJ figure out how to implement - or you can keep complaining.

I wrote my SB member suggesting that each MS identify a handful of students - no more than 10 per MS - of the truly gifted in STEM - as my experience with TJ has been that while there are a handful of kids in each class who are truly head and shoulders above the rest, the rest of the kids are generally interchangeable and could have been replaced by other kids who applied and were not accepted. She wrote back that this was the kind of concrete suggestion they needed - not just saying "no lottery."

Um, that's half the class right there.

I suspect McLaughlin, Pekarsky and Tholen will go through the motions of raising concerns given how many current TJ kids come from Dranesville and Sully, but the rest of the woke mob will approve Brabrand's proposal.

And this is just TJ. They'll come after the good "regular" schools next. Buckle up, Langley.

I am curious why the "woke mob" picked on TJ first instead of Langley? Is that because politically Asians are the weak minority?

"Picked Langley" for WHAT, exactly?

With TJ, you can buy the cheap house in the district where you are likely to get picked - THEN attend TJ for free! Nice country, America.

Not anymore.

There has been a long running problem of Langley being under capacity while the surrounding more diverse schools are crowded. The woke mob could have addressed the boundary issue of Langley first. But they singled out TJ first for the least political damage.

[Anonymous]

Real question: If the "teach to the test" theory 'works' in China - who says it is supposed to work here - where is that written?

TJ is trying to get away from students who only know how to memorize and take tests. Why is that so "wrong" in Asian parents' eyes? Surely you know how to teach your children something else than "teach to the test"?

[Anonymous]

The TJ Alumni Action Group (TJAAG) endorses the merit lottery system. There are many alumni who are on board

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Real question: If the "teach to the test" theory 'works' in China - who says it is supposed to work here - where is that written?

TJ is trying to get away from students who only know how to memorize and take tests. Why is that so "wrong" in Asian parents' eyes? Surely you know how to teach your children something else than "teach to the test"?

Are you also against any private coaching for entry into competitive sports, performance arts, and other coveted spots?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Real question: If the "teach to the test" theory 'works' in China - who says it is supposed to work here - where is that written?

TJ is trying to get away from students who only know how to memorize and take tests. Why is that so "wrong" in Asian parents' eyes? Surely you know how to teach your children something else than "teach to the test"?

Are you also against any private coaching for entry into competitive sports, performance arts, and other coveted spots?

https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-academy-preschool-oracle-walmart-funding-trump-curriculum-tiktok-2020-9?amp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Real question: If the "teach to the test" theory 'works' in China - who says it is supposed to work here - where is that written?

TJ is trying to get away from students who only know how to memorize and take tests. Why is that so "wrong" in Asian parents' eyes? Surely you know how to teach your children something else than "teach to the test"?

Are you also against any private coaching for entry into competitive sports, performance arts, and other coveted spots?

Brabrand used the word ethical in his Town Hall. FCPS has been too hyper focused on TJ as The STEM Resource for decades. There was NO reason to remove Bio 1 as an 8th grade course option except for IBET. Private coaching in competitive sports and performance arts? What are you talking about? Figure skating choreography? Ballet YAGP variations? Violin pre Julliard audition? Kids at those levels are the equivalent of profoundly gifted which can't be reached via prep. Nurture can't replace nature but that natural ability does need consistent training for years to reach the point of needing the coach.

Those 3 examples of private coaching are way beyond tutor/test prep to get a high average kid into AAP and then keep up the momentum going with the goal of TJ. Brabrand also had a caller- AA woman alum - who was made to feel out of place by her peers at TJ. Not a member of the "club" so to speak.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Real question: If the "teach to the test" theory 'works' in China - who says it is supposed to work here - where is that written?

TJ is trying to get away from students who only know how to memorize and take tests. Why is that so "wrong" in Asian parents' eyes? Surely you know how to teach your children something else than "teach to the test"?

Are you also against any private coaching for entry into competitive sports, performance arts, and other coveted spots?

Brabrand used the word ethical in his Town Hall. FCPS has been too hyper focused on TJ as The STEM Resource for decades. There was NO reason to remove Bio 1 as an 8th grade course option except for IBET. Private coaching in competitive sports and performance arts? What are you talking about? Figure skating choreography? Ballet YAGP variations? Violin pre Julliard audition? Kids at those levels are the equivalent of profoundly gifted which can't be reached via prep. Nurture can't replace nature but that natural ability does need consistent training for years to reach the point of needing the coach.

Those 3 examples of private coaching are way beyond tutor/test prep to get a high average kid into AAP and then keep up the momentum going with the goal of TJ. Brabrand also had a caller- AA woman alum - who was made to feel out of place by her peers at TJ. Not a member of the "club" so to speak.

This is not directly regarding TJ admissions, but what is it with the idea that test prepping is somehow considered cheating, whereas coaching for tryouts into similarly competitive and limited slots in sports or the arts is not?
As for the bolded, (since I don't have direct experience or knowledge in the other fields you listed) I have to disagree. I know a handful of people (of different races if that matters) who got into Julliard through extensive and extremely dedicated practice, not that they were deemed profoundly gifted or such from an early age.

[Anonymous]

The admission proposal has some potential flaws but is a great start. Fcps has become a segregated school system and TJ is just one example of that.

TJ is a PUBLIC school and should strive to roughly represent the county. A school of all Asian and whites is short changing the students of a well rounded education and not serving the whole county.

For those complaining about changes, private schools will better serve your needs and keep your children safely surrounded by like minded families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are comparing the best high school in Region 1 with a not-too-good high school in Region 2. Let's look at South Lakes (Region 1) and Mclean (Region 2). Do you honestly think that kids in South Lakes are more affluent or have better opportunities than kids slated for Mclean? Yet, kids in region 1 (including those in the South Lakes pyramid) will have a lower chance of admission to TJ because they are competing with many more students. This lottery, as it is now, separates by regions, not pyramids and will not guarantee an even spread in opportunities according to socioeconomic class. Just my 2 cents.

OP here - fair point. Will be interesting to see if the "holistic review" ends up with every kid from Region 1 coming from the same middle school or some similarly severe imbalance. Do you have specific suggestions for redistributing the regions? My sense was they were trying to break up the feeder school system at TJ - is that what you see?

If the board keeps the GPA and math level as only requirements for lottery , there will still be a severe imbalance on which middle schools produce more TJ hopefuls. Carson or Longfellow will still be at the top but with Longfellow students having a higher chance of making it through lottery because of less competition. A less affluent student in region 1 (not at Carson) is all of the sudden being penalized for their address and not given the same chance as a more affluent student from region 2, which really defeats the purpose of the admission change. region 3 would be the only one that would help with diversity, but why would a student of low socioeconomic background from region 3 be given preference over a student of low socioeconomic background that happens to live in region1?

This lottery also does not do anything for the truly gifted (of any race or socioeconomic background).

Maybe the "holistic review" will take these factors into account, but I am not holding my breath. Nobody knows what it entails and truthfully I don't think Brabrand has even thought that far.

"Holistic review" is to facilitate backdoor entry for persons of privilege. They did this in the 1920s at HYPSM too - "Not coincidentally, this was also the era when the Big Three became concerned by “the Jewish problem” and began instituting interviews, essays, and judgements of “character” into the admissions process" - The Origins of Selective Admissions, 1900-1933, Karabel

[Anonymous]

https://www.businessinsider.com/the-ivy-leagues-history-of-discriminating-against-jews-2014-12 - By 1926, Harvard moved away from admissions based strictly on academics to evaluating potential students on a number of qualifiers meant to reveal their "character."

http://250.browndailyherald.com/how-1920s-anti-semitism-inspired-the-modern-day-admission-system/ - The University, along with many of its peers at the time, adopted certain admission practices still in use today — including holistic assessment of applicants and alumni interviews — in part from a desire in the early 20th century to keep Jewish students out of Brown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.businessinsider.com/the-ivy-leagues-history-of-discriminating-against-jews-2014-12 - By 1926, Harvard moved away from admissions based strictly on academics to evaluating potential students on a number of qualifiers meant to reveal their "character."

http://250.browndailyherald.com/how-1920s-anti-semitism-inspired-the-modern-day-admission-system/ - The University, along with many of its peers at the time, adopted certain admission practices still in use today — including holistic assessment of applicants and alumni interviews — in part from a desire in the early 20th century to keep Jewish students out of Brown.

Now they are doing it to Asians.