Sound off if you think AAP is BS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a question for those of you who are dead set against making AAP the general curriculum for most kids:

How, exactly, would it harm your child if AAP became an open program, used for any child capable of doing the work? Please explain to us why it matters so much that AAP remain a closed/admission only program and why it would affect you or your child in any way if AAP supplanted GE, and a new - far more challenging curriculum - was produced for highly gifted kids.

It'll be interesting to hear your responses, especially from those of you claiming that no one can know what the abilities of all kids are. That goes for you too, right? You certainly don't know the abilities of any child other than yours, right?

It would not affect my family in any way as long as a new - far more challenging curriculum - was produced for highly gifted kids. But I suspect, there is always a line and those on the outs will be upset so right now the line is 132 for in pool. Those who score 125-131 cry foul that they too should be included. Move the line and the same thing will happen. My child's IQ was a 148. If the line was 145, people who score 140-144 will cry foul. If the line was 150, I would. My child does not belong in a class with kids who's IQ is 128, sorry!

Oh my. You do realize that plenty of parents successfully appeal to get their kids in, with yes, 128 or even below? Because remember: as has been repeated ad nauseum, the scores are only "part of the picture." Your Larlo has probably been in class all along with tons of kids whose scores are in the mid-120s. You can't have it both ways - either scores are the biggest thing the committee bases their decision on, or they're not. Sorry about that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a question for those of you who are dead set against making AAP the general curriculum for most kids:

How, exactly, would it harm your child if AAP became an open program, used for any child capable of doing the work? Please explain to us why it matters so much that AAP remain a closed/admission only program and why it would affect you or your child in any way if AAP supplanted GE, and a new - far more challenging curriculum - was produced for highly gifted kids.

It'll be interesting to hear your responses, especially from those of you claiming that no one can know what the abilities of all kids are. That goes for you too, right? You certainly don't know the abilities of any child other than yours, right?

It would not affect my family in any way as long as a new - far more challenging curriculum - was produced for highly gifted kids. But I suspect, there is always a line and those on the outs will be upset so right now the line is 132 for in pool. Those who score 125-131 cry foul that they too should be included. Move the line and the same thing will happen. My child's IQ was a 148. If the line was 145, people who score 140-144 will cry foul. If the line was 150, I would. My child does not belong in a class with kids who's IQ is 128, sorry! [/quote]

With an attitude like yours, your child certainly could benefit from being in a class with someone whose IQ is 128 -- which is pretty darn bright, btw. If you think otherwise, I feel sorry for your kids.

How did we get to the point in FCPS when people would even be comfortable voicing this kind of ridiculous and misguided entitlement? Honestly, I tested gifted and my best and dearest friends growing up could barely manage C's. But I learned more from them about life than so many people on this thread seemed to have learned in their bubbles. In college, iI had a peer group who was more like me academically, but so what? That was college.

Repeat after me folks: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS NOT COLLEGE! And if you think the only way your kids are going to get into a good one is by their being sequestered with other kids who "test" like they do, you are sorely mistaken.

+1000
I'm so glad my kids are almost in high school, where this nonsense ends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has advanced academic level 4, level 3, and level 2 advanced math groups and kids can be brought into any of these levels at any given year. How many more levels do people want for advanced academics?

People (aap haters) don't want to say that they're child receives some advanced services. It's not enough. They want to say "my child is in AAP" and if they can't, then they don't want anyone to be able to.

Waa!!! Waa!!

I'm a PP who wrote critically about AAP earlier and I had a son in the program -- it's not waah, waah, trust me. It's sensible people looking at a program that's driven a wedge into the FCPS community because of how it's been implemented and wondering how did we get here?

Honestly, the only place I see a "wedge" is on DCUM. People IRL are sensible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a question for those of you who are dead set against making AAP the general curriculum for most kids:

How, exactly, would it harm your child if AAP became an open program, used for any child capable of doing the work? Please explain to us why it matters so much that AAP remain a closed/admission only program and why it would affect you or your child in any way if AAP supplanted GE, and a new - far more challenging curriculum - was produced for highly gifted kids.

It'll be interesting to hear your responses, especially from those of you claiming that no one can know what the abilities of all kids are. That goes for you too, right? You certainly don't know the abilities of any child other than yours, right?

It would not affect my family in any way as long as a new - far more challenging curriculum - was produced for highly gifted kids. But I suspect, there is always a line and those on the outs will be upset so right now the line is 132 for in pool. Those who score 125-131 cry foul that they too should be included. Move the line and the same thing will happen. My child's IQ was a 148. If the line was 145, people who score 140-144 will cry foul. If the line was 150, I would. My child does not belong in a class with kids who's IQ is 128, sorry!

Oh my. You do realize that plenty of parents successfully appeal to get their kids in, with yes, 128 or even below? Because remember: as has been repeated ad nauseum, the scores are only "part of the picture." Your Larlo has probably been in class all along with tons of kids whose scores are in the mid-120s. You can't have it both ways - either scores are the biggest thing the committee bases their decision on, or they're not. Sorry about that!

It is a matter of fact, not opinion, that scores are only one piece of the overall file. The only part where scores matter the most is getting kids automatically in the pool to be considered. So if your kid doesn't make the cut off, you can parent refer - and then you can appeal - you can get private testing - you can appeal again. Every year. How anyone complains about not having access is beyond me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has advanced academic level 4, level 3, and level 2 advanced math groups and kids can be brought into any of these levels at any given year. How many more levels do people want for advanced academics?

People (aap haters) don't want to say that they're child receives some advanced services. It's not enough. They want to say "my child is in AAP" and if they can't, then they don't want anyone to be able to.

Waa!!! Waa!!

I'm a PP who wrote critically about AAP earlier and I had a son in the program -- it's not waah, waah, trust me. It's sensible people looking at a program that's driven a wedge into the FCPS community because of how it's been implemented and wondering how did we get here?

And what in particular do you find wrong with it and in your opinion can it be fixed? To me there are a couple of issues at certain schools, but I don't see an issue across the board within FCPS. I have yet to find a school system where advanced academics isn't an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has advanced academic level 4, level 3, and level 2 advanced math groups and kids can be brought into any of these levels at any given year. How many more levels do people want for advanced academics?

People (aap haters) don't want to say that they're child receives some advanced services. It's not enough. They want to say "my child is in AAP" and if they can't, then they don't want anyone to be able to.

Waa!!! Waa!!

I'm a PP who wrote critically about AAP earlier and I had a son in the program -- it's not waah, waah, trust me. It's sensible people looking at a program that's driven a wedge into the FCPS community because of how it's been implemented and wondering how did we get here?

And what in particular do you find wrong with it and in your opinion can it be fixed? To me there are a couple of issues at certain schools, but I don't see an issue across the board within FCPS. I have yet to find a school system where advanced academics isn't an issue.

It is too inclusive. It is too exclusive. It is not really a highly challenging curriculum but a bunch of kids that are in it can't handle it. BUT, all or most of the kids in GE can handle it. The AAP program is busting the school budget (not sure how and don't really have any idea how much it costs, but it sounds good) It makes a lot of parents feel badly. .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has advanced academic level 4, level 3, and level 2 advanced math groups and kids can be brought into any of these levels at any given year. How many more levels do people want for advanced academics?

People (aap haters) don't want to say that they're child receives some advanced services. It's not enough. They want to say "my child is in AAP" and if they can't, then they don't want anyone to be able to.

Waa!!! Waa!!

I'm a PP who wrote critically about AAP earlier and I had a son in the program -- it's not waah, waah, trust me. It's sensible people looking at a program that's driven a wedge into the FCPS community because of how it's been implemented and wondering how did we get here?

And what in particular do you find wrong with it and in your opinion can it be fixed? To me there are a couple of issues at certain schools, but I don't see an issue across the board within FCPS. I have yet to find a school system where advanced academics isn't an issue.

It is too inclusive. It is too exclusive. It is not really a highly challenging curriculum but a bunch of kids that are in it can't handle it. BUT, all or most of the kids in GE can handle it. The AAP program is busting the school budget (not sure how and don't really have any idea how much it costs, but it sounds good) It makes a lot of parents feel badly. .

This exactly is what makes me confused about all the complaining. Plus the whole GE kids can handle it speech while at the same time there are parents on this board all complaining about too much homework, tutoring needs, special ed needs, farm and esol students not keeping up, etc. At this point with all the contradictory arguments I just turn a deaf ear to all the complaining either pro or against AAP. If you have suggestions how to improve the situation while addressing the contradictory argument I'm all ears and I hope our school board would be too. But I'm not interested in listening to grips about this issue any longer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a question for those of you who are dead set against making AAP the general curriculum for most kids:

How, exactly, would it harm your child if AAP became an open program, used for any child capable of doing the work? Please explain to us why it matters so much that AAP remain a closed/admission only program and why it would affect you or your child in any way if AAP supplanted GE, and a new - far more challenging curriculum - was produced for highly gifted kids.

It'll be interesting to hear your responses, especially from those of you claiming that no one can know what the abilities of all kids are. That goes for you too, right? You certainly don't know the abilities of any child other than yours, right?

It would not affect my family in any way as long as a new - far more challenging curriculum - was produced for highly gifted kids. But I suspect, there is always a line and those on the outs will be upset so right now the line is 132 for in pool. Those who score 125-131 cry foul that they too should be included. Move the line and the same thing will happen. My child's IQ was a 148. If the line was 145, people who score 140-144 will cry foul. If the line was 150, I would. My child does not belong in a class with kids who's IQ is 128, sorry!

You clearly have younger kids. NONE of this will matter by high school because, for the most part, kids even out as they get older and mature. What matters in HS is hard work. You will see kids with "high" IQ's burn out/have to study for the first time in their lives and get stressed out and you will see kids with "low" IQ's rise to the occasion and surpass their classmates with hard work and grit. I know this first hand because I have one of each and guess which one is an academic stand-out in high school? Also, please tell me you do not talk to your kid IQ's. You are the reason people are calling for an end to this AAP nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a question for those of you who are dead set against making AAP the general curriculum for most kids:

How, exactly, would it harm your child if AAP became an open program, used for any child capable of doing the work? Please explain to us why it matters so much that AAP remain a closed/admission only program and why it would affect you or your child in any way if AAP supplanted GE, and a new - far more challenging curriculum - was produced for highly gifted kids.

It'll be interesting to hear your responses, especially from those of you claiming that no one can know what the abilities of all kids are. That goes for you too, right? You certainly don't know the abilities of any child other than yours, right?

It would not affect my family in any way as long as a new - far more challenging curriculum - was produced for highly gifted kids. But I suspect, there is always a line and those on the outs will be upset so right now the line is 132 for in pool. Those who score 125-131 cry foul that they too should be included. Move the line and the same thing will happen. My child's IQ was a 148. If the line was 145, people who score 140-144 will cry foul. If the line was 150, I would. My child does not belong in a class with kids who's IQ is 128, sorry!

You clearly have younger kids. NONE of this will matter by high school because, for the most part, kids even out as they get older and mature. What matters in HS is hard work. You will see kids with "high" IQ's burn out/have to study for the first time in their lives and get stressed out and you will see kids with "low" IQ's rise to the occasion and surpass their classmates with hard work and grit. I know this first hand because I have one of each and guess which one is an academic stand-out in high school? Also, please tell me you do not talk to your kid IQ's. You are the reason people are calling for an end to this AAP nonsense.

I don't agree with PPs snotty statement at all, but you want to eliminate an entire academic program (mandated by the state and which follows most national norms) because of some ignorant, arrogant statements made on an anonymous forum? A few snotty parents don't make the entire program "nonsense". Get a tougher skin. Since you know first hand that AAP doesn't make or break anyone, than why get your hackles up about it anyway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you have 25 - 50% in AAP, the term "gifted" has lost all meaning.

It is not a gifted program. FCPS did away with its gifted program (in early 2000s??). Now it is Advanced Academics. There is a difference - AAP is intended to be more inclusive. It is not intended to be only for the gifted. So gifted still has its meaning - it just doesn't apply to FCPS AAP.

Last year it was 19% according to FCPS. I do agree that it could be 5-10% if they only based it on scores and people were allowed to appeal with a certain cut off WISC score.

[Anonymous]

Everyone's heard the same statements before. Unless you have a comment that addresses the entire school system comprehensively, you're covering no new ground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you have 25 - 50% in AAP, the term "gifted" has lost all meaning.

It is not a gifted program. FCPS did away with its gifted program (in early 2000s??). Now it is Advanced Academics. There is a difference - AAP is intended to be more inclusive. It is not intended to be only for the gifted. So gifted still has its meaning - it just doesn't apply to FCPS AAP.

Last year it was 19% according to FCPS. I do agree that it could be 5-10% if they only based it on scores and people were allowed to appeal with a certain cut off WISC score.

FCPS didn't just pull the identification system out of a hat. There is huge body of research that supports best practices. The problem with basing it only on scores is that there are bad test days, flukes, gifted but bad test taker, test anxiety, etc. To put it all on a score is too much weight on one single piece of data.

And the problem only allowing appeals or parent referrals with a WISC is that that would be limited to kids whose parents were savvy enough and affluent enough to do that...excluding a large number of kids. Then the program becomes one for only those who can afford it - if they didn't get in with the original test scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a question for those of you who are dead set against making AAP the general curriculum for most kids:

How, exactly, would it harm your child if AAP became an open program, used for any child capable of doing the work? Please explain to us why it matters so much that AAP remain a closed/admission only program and why it would affect you or your child in any way if AAP supplanted GE, and a new - far more challenging curriculum - was produced for highly gifted kids.

It'll be interesting to hear your responses, especially from those of you claiming that no one can know what the abilities of all kids are. That goes for you too, right? You certainly don't know the abilities of any child other than yours, right?

It would not affect my family in any way as long as a new - far more challenging curriculum - was produced for highly gifted kids. But I suspect, there is always a line and those on the outs will be upset so right now the line is 132 for in pool. Those who score 125-131 cry foul that they too should be included. Move the line and the same thing will happen. My child's IQ was a 148. If the line was 145, people who score 140-144 will cry foul. If the line was 150, I would. My child does not belong in a class with kids who's IQ is 128, sorry!

Oh my. You do realize that plenty of parents successfully appeal to get their kids in, with yes, 128 or even below? Because remember: as has been repeated ad nauseum, the scores are only "part of the picture." Your Larlo has probably been in class all along with tons of kids whose scores are in the mid-120s. You can't have it both ways - either scores are the biggest thing the committee bases their decision on, or they're not. Sorry about that!

It is a matter of fact, not opinion, that scores are only one piece of the overall file. The only part where scores matter the most is getting kids automatically in the pool to be considered. So if your kid doesn't make the cut off, you can parent refer - and then you can appeal - you can get private testing - you can appeal again. Every year. How anyone complains about not having access is beyond me.

Really? Somehow I just don't see low-income parents knowing anything about referrals, appeals, or private testing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has advanced academic level 4, level 3, and level 2 advanced math groups and kids can be brought into any of these levels at any given year. How many more levels do people want for advanced academics?

People (aap haters) don't want to say that they're child receives some advanced services. It's not enough. They want to say "my child is in AAP" and if they can't, then they don't want anyone to be able to.

Waa!!! Waa!!

I'm a PP who wrote critically about AAP earlier and I had a son in the program -- it's not waah, waah, trust me. It's sensible people looking at a program that's driven a wedge into the FCPS community because of how it's been implemented and wondering how did we get here?

And what in particular do you find wrong with it and in your opinion can it be fixed? To me there are a couple of issues at certain schools, but I don't see an issue across the board within FCPS. I have yet to find a school system where advanced academics isn't an issue.

It is too inclusive. It is too exclusive. It is not really a highly challenging curriculum but a bunch of kids that are in it can't handle it. BUT, all or most of the kids in GE can handle it. The AAP program is busting the school budget (not sure how and don't really have any idea how much it costs, but it sounds good) It makes a lot of parents feel badly. .

This exactly is what makes me confused about all the complaining. Plus the whole GE kids can handle it speech while at the same time there are parents on this board all complaining about too much homework, tutoring needs, special ed needs, farm and esol students not keeping up, etc. At this point with all the contradictory arguments I just turn a deaf ear to all the complaining either pro or against AAP. If you have suggestions how to improve the situation while addressing the contradictory argument I'm all ears and I hope our school board would be too. But I'm not interested in listening to grips about this issue any longer.

No one is forcing you to read or post on this thread, or any other. You're free to exit at any time.

[Anonymous]

Really? Somehow I just don't see low-income parents knowing anything about referrals, appeals, or private testing.

I imagine there is a lot you don't see.