Letters sent to minority ES student encouraging them to apply to MS HCG

[Anonymous]

DD in 5th grade said that letter was given to two minority students in her class encouraging them to apply to HGC Middle School. DD said these were the only students in the class given letters. The two students were not top students---and before I hear the moans--DD has been in class with kids since K. The kid are not in high reading groups, not in Compacted Math and very clearly not in the top caliber academically in the class. Kids know the smart kids in their class by 5th grade. Now to add to the mix, DD and several other students were given letter by home middle school inviting them to check out classes and basically encouraging them to go to home middle school. I find this offensive. DD not sure if she wants to apply to magnet even before letter but even less so now that other were asked to apply and she wasn't picked. Does this happen at every school?

[Anonymous]

At 2 in the morning, you should be sleeping, not concocting inflammatory posts.

[Anonymous]

Let me get this straight. Your 9 year old daughter comes to you and tells you a story about which kids in her class were given certain letters and not only do you trust her story without verifying and lend credence to the entire back story of which kids in her class are "smart" and which aren't since K, you find it OFFENSIVE? And you want this "fact" to determine her entire educational path. I'm gobsmacked.

[Anonymous]

Will she have the same attitude when her classmates receive letters from colleges?
"Rutgers must not be so great if they want Larla to apply!"

[Anonymous]

The magnets are reaching out to schools that typically haven't had applicants but they do not take race into account in admissions.

[Anonymous]

Maybe teach your daughter to make decisions based on what's right for her, not what other people are doing? Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The magnets are reaching out to schools that typically haven't had applicants but they do not take race into account in admissions.

I.e. waste of time/money, but at least they can say they're trying. They won't be able to significantly boost URM enrollment unless they eliminate the test or somehow significantly reduce the number of high scoring white and Asian kids that apply.

[Anonymous]

It's probably time for you to teach your daughter to mind her own business--if she was doing this, you two wouldn't have to be so angsty over things that aren't your business.

See how that works?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD in 5th grade said that letter was given to two minority students in her class encouraging them to apply to HGC Middle School. DD said these were the only students in the class given letters. The two students were not top students---and before I hear the moans--DD has been in class with kids since K. The kid are not in high reading groups, not in Compacted Math and very clearly not in the top caliber academically in the class. Kids know the smart kids in their class by 5th grade. Now to add to the mix, DD and several other students were given letter by home middle school inviting them to check out classes and basically encouraging them to go to home middle school. I find this offensive. DD not sure if she wants to apply to magnet even before letter but even less so now that other were asked to apply and she wasn't picked. Does this happen at every school?

Minority students are underrepresented in applications to HGC. White students are overrepresented in applications to HGC. The school sent letters asking minority parents to consider applying to the HGC and asking white parents to consider attending the home middle school. That's not offensive. That is the school district making sure that all parents are considering all options. They're not telling you to what to do. They're just asking you to consider all of the options.

[Anonymous]

Many people know about HGC and magnets and do not even want to apply based on their own reasons. Many a times there kids are very bright but they are not interested because they do not know all the facts.


I understand why the teachers gave the minority students letters, it is because they are underrepresented. I understand why OP is annoyed, it is because it is creating a rift in the classroom since this act is seen as preferential.

If I was a teacher - I would give these letters to ALL the students in the classroom and then I would phone these 2 parents and also reinforce the benefits of HGC for their kids to them. I think this would be more effective and less preferential, more politically correct too.

[Anonymous]

I think this post is not real and was created by the same race baiting troll that is constantly posting in this forum.

[Anonymous]

Maybe these letters should be mailed directly to parents rather than handed without envelopes to students. Not exactly the most reliable way to communicate with parents!

[Anonymous]

Minorities need more help than whites/Asians. HCG should reflect general population of MCPS - 30% white, 30 Asian, 30 AA, and 10% Hispanics.

[Anonymous]

HGC should represent the general population of the gifted population of MCPS. If fewer gifted minorities are applying than MCPS should work on encouraging them. If they take race into account more than ability to have a gifted center is diminished.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HGC should represent the general population of the gifted population of MCPS. If fewer gifted minorities are applying than MCPS should work on encouraging them. If they take race into account more than ability to have a gifted center is diminished.

You mean it should be merit based?