Do unmotivated kids get into HGC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Um. no.. I'm one of those PP's, and my DC is now in 7th grade, so I could care less if OP's or your PP's DC goes to HGC. Anyone can try for HGC. No one can stop a parent from applying to one. My point really was that there is such a limited space, and tons of more motivated "gifted" kids. So why not reserve it for those kids. Those kids are the ones who would suffer by not going to HGC. OP's kid is doing "fine" at the home school.

That's up to OP to decide, isn't it?

My kids did fine (or "fine") at the home school too. They also did fine (or "fine") at the HGCs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Oh please. Quit your pearl clutching. I’m sure that at some point you’ll come across one of those bratty kids and you’ll think the very same thing. Doesn’t mean the kid will end up a bratty adult. Or a terrible person. But when your kid comes home complaining about the non-motivated kid in his group who not only does not contribute, but actively disrupts the rest of the group.... you’ll think the same thing.

This happened to me, and I thought (and said), "Well, Kid, you're going to have to learn how to deal with this, and better sooner than later."

Really? You must have a pretty crappy job if your co-workers are unmotivated. I guess I’m pretty fortunate because o have a job where unmotivated people don’t get very far and I don’t really have to deal with them. I’m a scientist and pretty much everyone on my team pulls his/her weight. Or else, they can be replaced.
That’s how many adults ‘deal with it’. I certainly am not going to put in extra time and effort for an unmotivated co-worker. Are you?

How do you suggest that your kid ‘deal with it’? It’s a completely dynamic for an adult versus a child in a classroom.

[Anonymous]

As a parent of "unmotivated" HGC candidate, we choose not to go that route. But once he hit 5th grade and had a teacher who has worked with ADHD-Inattentive students our whole world changed. He diagnosed with a mild case ADHD inattentive but that is enough to across as unmotivated. When a child is "smart" but unmotivated sometimes there are other factors to look at. Barnsley HGC program is wonderful for children who fit into this realm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The HGCs are no place for a disrputive, unmotivated student who will ruin the experience for other children.

That is for the regular easy county classes that we opt out of

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of "unmotivated" HGC candidate, we choose not to go that route. But once he hit 5th grade and had a teacher who has worked with ADHD-Inattentive students our whole world changed. He diagnosed with a mild case ADHD inattentive but that is enough to across as unmotivated. When a child is "smart" but unmotivated sometimes there are other factors to look at. Barnsley HGC program is wonderful for children who fit into this realm.

I might be wrong but this PP may be referring to the specific Barnsley GT/LD program. Not the regular HGC.

Barnsley has a separate program for kids with learning disabilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I was merely asking if HGC was a possibility for a kid like him. It's frustrating being the parent of an unmotivated kid, but it's still my job to find him the best and most appropriate education. I can appreciate that other posters are trying to do the exact same for their motivated children. That said, there are unmotivated people in all walks of life... elite colleges, companies, etc. Your kids will have to work with or around them in many other settings. My hope is that he finds his motivation. He is enrolled in other enrichment activities and is very motivated there, but of course no one can predict whether an HGC would solve the problem. And again, my question was whether kids like this ever get into an HGC. I'm not saying I'm sending him or that he deserves a spot more than any other child. I assure you that no one who knows him thinks he's a "ratty snot".

OP, you are not selfish and your child is not ratty snot. Ignore all the hateful posts.

There are many children who are not type-A personality type and do not develop a competitive spirit that is seen as motivation by many. HGC/magnet programs may motivate him with interesting peer group and in depth topic. It may not. However you must try. There is no motivation rating in the application - One of my kid went through the magnet path all the way to HS and two are in the same path in HS, so I know.

In the meantime, talk to your pediatrician - sometime kids have other challenges that we do not identify until it is late. Gifted kids are known to hide mental health issue behind their intellectual giftedness until much later. I am not assuming that your kids has any issue, your pediatrician can check that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Um. no.. I'm one of those PP's, and my DC is now in 7th grade, so I could care less if OP's or your PP's DC goes to HGC. Anyone can try for HGC. No one can stop a parent from applying to one. My point really was that there is such a limited space, and tons of more motivated "gifted" kids. So why not reserve it for those kids. Those kids are the ones who would suffer by not going to HGC. OP's kid is doing "fine" at the home school.

That's up to OP to decide, isn't it?

My kids did fine (or "fine") at the home school too. They also did fine (or "fine") at the HGCs.

And I can express my opinion on it, too, as you and everyone else on this forum can as well.

[Anonymous]

Here's what I managed to decipher, having read the MCPS letter on new HGC admission procedures. Someone, somewhere, out there at MCPS offices, will review your child's test scores and put his name on the list of kids who will be taking the gifted assessment, just based on his MAP and Inview scores; no teacher input required. Your child will, most likely, ace the test and then all bets are off for actual admission, since the test is short these days, more kids will do well on it, and the whole new system is really about 'closing the achievement gap' other than anything else. Then someone, somewhere, out there at MCPS offices, will select the attendees -- and there's a very high probability your kid will not be accepted, anyway, since the acceptance rate is so low.

My understanding is, schools have zero saying in the admission process under the new system. For a 'motivated' student, it's a drawback, for someone like your child it's an advantage. FWIW, my child is bright and 'motivated' and will, most likely, be selected for testing, but I'm not holding my breath.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the above. Why the heck should a child that doesn't care about school be given a prized spot at an HGC? Would suggest that OP goes to a private school that can help a boy that doesn't really care about much of anything, and allow his spot to go to a boy or girl that would die for a chance.

Because the people who make the admissions decisions (who are not you, me, or the OP) decided that the child met the criteria for admission.

It's the Center for Enriched Studies, not the Center for Highly Motivated Children.

NP. But since there are limited spots I think it makes sense that students who have already demonstrated that they care about and will make the most of their studies should be given the spots to engage in enriched studies. Everyone needs to earn what they want to benefit from.

[Anonymous]

Students who do well on the test should get into HGC. They should continue to perform well at the HGC. I don't care about their motivation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's what I managed to decipher, having read the MCPS letter on new HGC admission procedures. Someone, somewhere, out there at MCPS offices, will review your child's test scores and put his name on the list of kids who will be taking the gifted assessment, just based on his MAP and Inview scores; no teacher input required. Your child will, most likely, ace the test and then all bets are off for actual admission, since the test is short these days, more kids will do well on it, and the whole new system is really about 'closing the achievement gap' other than anything else. Then someone, somewhere, out there at MCPS offices, will select the attendees -- and there's a very high probability your kid will not be accepted, anyway, since the acceptance rate is so low.

My understanding is, schools have zero saying in the admission process under the new system. For a 'motivated' student, it's a drawback, for someone like your child it's an advantage. FWIW, my child is bright and 'motivated' and will, most likely, be selected for testing, but I'm not holding my breath.

This is probably the most important aspect if you're in MCPS.

OP, if your kid is an unmotivated, but smart kid who is either Latino or AA, he will have a decent chance of getting in. An unmotivated Asian or White kid - highly unlikely. MCPS has been very clear that they are trying to get more URM kids into these centers.

[Anonymous]

Unbelievable. Making judgments about the future of a seven or eight year old? Sitting here shaking my head at the nastiess.

OP, your kid should apply. If your child gets in, go to the open house, listen to what they have to say, and make a decision with the best information you have on hand. If it works out fantastic. If it doesn't, pull the mid out, bring them back to their home school, and one of the kids from the waitlist get in.

IGNORE THE HATERS!!

In all seriousness, this used to be a place someone could come and get information. Now it's all whining, complaining, and bitching about everyone and everything ....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's what I managed to decipher, having read the MCPS letter on new HGC admission procedures. Someone, somewhere, out there at MCPS offices, will review your child's test scores and put his name on the list of kids who will be taking the gifted assessment, just based on his MAP and Inview scores; no teacher input required. Your child will, most likely, ace the test and then all bets are off for actual admission, since the test is short these days, more kids will do well on it, and the whole new system is really about 'closing the achievement gap' other than anything else. Then someone, somewhere, out there at MCPS offices, will select the attendees -- and there's a very high probability your kid will not be accepted, anyway, since the acceptance rate is so low.

My understanding is, schools have zero saying in the admission process under the new system. For a 'motivated' student, it's a drawback, for someone like your child it's an advantage. FWIW, my child is bright and 'motivated' and will, most likely, be selected for testing, but I'm not holding my breath.

Closing the achievement gap is a great thing. As long as the students are accepted on their MAP, InView and admission test scores...what is the problem? There should be no quota system or lack of transparency by MCPS. I do not care if FARMS, SPED, ESOL, AA, HI, AS, or WH students are selected, as long as it is based on the test scores. Why should teachers be giving recommendations anyways? None of them have been trained to specifically work with gifted students.

FWIW, my three kids have gone through the magnet route and one is in a magnet MS currently. They were selected not because they were Asians but because of their own merit. I am very happy if all students in MCPS were made to take these tests instead of only a few. I am confident that my children would have still gotten in the programs. And if they didn't? Then I would assume smarter kids than them got selected and rightfully so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I was merely asking if HGC was a possibility for a kid like him. It's frustrating being the parent of an unmotivated kid, but it's still my job to find him the best and most appropriate education. I can appreciate that other posters are trying to do the exact same for their motivated children. That said, there are unmotivated people in all walks of life... elite colleges, companies, etc. Your kids will have to work with or around them in many other settings. My hope is that he finds his motivation. He is enrolled in other enrichment activities and is very motivated there, but of course no one can predict whether an HGC would solve the problem. And again, my question was whether kids like this ever get into an HGC. I'm not saying I'm sending him or that he deserves a spot more than any other child. I assure you that no one who knows him thinks he's a "ratty snot".

NP here. I have a child who consistently scores 99% not only at his grade level, but two grade levels up. Honestly, he was happy getting a P last year. An ES was a bonus and something he wanted but he didn't care enough to go above and beyond to get those grades, unlike some of his peers. He was always placed in the highest reading/math/spelling groups but never really stood out as *that* brilliant kid because he just coast. He is at the HGC this year among cohorts who are not only motivated but very bright. The workload is heavy, both in class and at home. DS made the choice to go and we were supportive of whatever decision he made. In my humble opinion, if a child was not motivated and did not truly want to attend the HGC, I would not place him/her there. It would be miserable and unnecessary stress if a child was not motivated. My son was neither motivated or unmotivated so it was the flip of a coin. He is doing fine now but the verdict is still out if the program is a good fit for him (and our family!). That said, if your son was coasting, that would be different than being unmotivated. An ES grade isn't required or needed but he should at the least indicate some love and curiosity for learning if he were to seriously consider the HGC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's what I managed to decipher, having read the MCPS letter on new HGC admission procedures. Someone, somewhere, out there at MCPS offices, will review your child's test scores and put his name on the list of kids who will be taking the gifted assessment, just based on his MAP and Inview scores; no teacher input required. Your child will, most likely, ace the test and then all bets are off for actual admission, since the test is short these days, more kids will do well on it, and the whole new system is really about 'closing the achievement gap' other than anything else. Then someone, somewhere, out there at MCPS offices, will select the attendees -- and there's a very high probability your kid will not be accepted, anyway, since the acceptance rate is so low.

My understanding is, schools have zero saying in the admission process under the new system. For a 'motivated' student, it's a drawback, for someone like your child it's an advantage. FWIW, my child is bright and 'motivated' and will, most likely, be selected for testing, but I'm not holding my breath.

The whole new system is about removing barriers to access. I support this goal.