Washington Post Slams FCPS for Racist Magnet School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the WaPo editorial was really odd - they never address the elephant in the room, namely that white students (the largest racial group in FCPS at 38.5%) are also underrepresented at 19.6% in TJ while another minority group, Asians (who only comprise 19.48% of FCPS) make up 71.5% at TJ.

To write an editorial about racism at TJ while only mentioning the appalling lack of black and Hispanic kids but not even mentioning the unusual racial makeup of TJ just seemed incomplete.


DCUM is hyper sensitized to the TJ racial dynamics, but the average reader of the editorial would not have gotten an accurate impression.

White kids are under-represented at TJ but not nearly to the same degree as Black and Hispanic kids.

The number of white students applying to TJ has declined quite dramatically over the years. TJ is not as desirable anymore for some.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the WaPo editorial was really odd - they never address the elephant in the room, namely that white students (the largest racial group in FCPS at 38.5%) are also underrepresented at 19.6% in TJ while another minority group, Asians (who only comprise 19.48% of FCPS) make up 71.5% at TJ.

To write an editorial about racism at TJ while only mentioning the appalling lack of black and Hispanic kids but not even mentioning the unusual racial makeup of TJ just seemed incomplete.


DCUM is hyper sensitized to the TJ racial dynamics, but the average reader of the editorial would not have gotten an accurate impression.

White kids are under-represented at TJ but not nearly to the same degree as Black and Hispanic kids.

The number of white students applying to TJ has declined quite dramatically over the years. TJ is not as desirable anymore for some.

The growth in the FCPS enrollment in recent decades is due primarily to the increase in the Hispanic and Asian populations. The Black enrollment has only increased modestly and the White enrollment has declined significantly in FCPS while increasing in APS and LCPS.

[Anonymous]

I’m Asian and have no skin in this game. My kids have never been interested nor have I about TJ.

What I don’t understand is why is the only way considered ‘fair’ is if there is basically affirmative action for the high school?

Why wouldn’t it make more sense to target blacks and Hispanics in elementary and middle schools? Do outreach at theses schools, get TJ students involved. Offer free TJ prep classes on Saturdays or after school.

This would do more to level the playing field than lowering the standards. The reason TJ is known nationwide is because of it’s student body. They are there only because of ability. Meritocracy is the most fair standard across the board.

And one of the things I often hear about Asian kids regarding college admissions is that they should apply to other schools outside of the big name ones if they are so concerned about quotas. That they will do fine elsewhere and not expect this to change to include more of them. Well, I’m sure the kids that do not get into TJ will also do fine elsewhere and should also not expect the school to change to include more of them.

I know my kids will do fine even if they aren’t going to TJ. They are Asian males so they will likely have a harder time with college admissions since they are pretty regular gen ed students and colleges will expect more from them than other applicants. It’s upsetting since this is purely race based not a matter of their aptitude. But we are trying to stay positive and expand our school search despite the blatant race based discrimination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m Asian and have no skin in this game. My kids have never been interested nor have I about TJ.

What I don’t understand is why is the only way considered ‘fair’ is if there is basically affirmative action for the high school?

Why wouldn’t it make more sense to target blacks and Hispanics in elementary and middle schools? Do outreach at theses schools, get TJ students involved. Offer free TJ prep classes on Saturdays or after school.

This would do more to level the playing field than lowering the standards. The reason TJ is known nationwide is because of it’s student body. They are there only because of ability. Meritocracy is the most fair standard across the board.

And one of the things I often hear about Asian kids regarding college admissions is that they should apply to other schools outside of the big name ones if they are so concerned about quotas. That they will do fine elsewhere and not expect this to change to include more of them. Well, I’m sure the kids that do not get into TJ will also do fine elsewhere and should also not expect the school to change to include more of them.

I know my kids will do fine even if they aren’t going to TJ. They are Asian males so they will likely have a harder time with college admissions since they are pretty regular gen ed students and colleges will expect more from them than other applicants. It’s upsetting since this is purely race based not a matter of their aptitude. But we are trying to stay positive and expand our school search despite the blatant race based discrimination.

Take a look at small liberal arts colleges. Many of them are looking to have a diverse student population in a number of categories. Being boys and of Asian background could be helpful in admissions at schools like this for your sons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Asian and have no skin in this game. My kids have never been interested nor have I about TJ.

What I don’t understand is why is the only way considered ‘fair’ is if there is basically affirmative action for the high school?

Why wouldn’t it make more sense to target blacks and Hispanics in elementary and middle schools? Do outreach at theses schools, get TJ students involved. Offer free TJ prep classes on Saturdays or after school.

This would do more to level the playing field than lowering the standards. The reason TJ is known nationwide is because of it’s student body. They are there only because of ability. Meritocracy is the most fair standard across the board.

And one of the things I often hear about Asian kids regarding college admissions is that they should apply to other schools outside of the big name ones if they are so concerned about quotas. That they will do fine elsewhere and not expect this to change to include more of them. Well, I’m sure the kids that do not get into TJ will also do fine elsewhere and should also not expect the school to change to include more of them.

I know my kids will do fine even if they aren’t going to TJ. They are Asian males so they will likely have a harder time with college admissions since they are pretty regular gen ed students and colleges will expect more from them than other applicants. It’s upsetting since this is purely race based not a matter of their aptitude. But we are trying to stay positive and expand our school search despite the blatant race based discrimination.

Take a look at small liberal arts colleges. Many of them are looking to have a diverse student population in a number of categories. Being boys and of Asian background could be helpful in admissions at schools like this for your sons.

Yes, thanks this is what we keep getting told, regardless of the fact that my incredibly extroverted son that is into computers really does not want to attend a small, liberal arts school with less diversity and not great sports.

But thanks for making my point for me. People tell Asians to look elsewhere, so why not tell kids that aren't cut out for TJ to look elsewhere? Why is it racist if they are excluded by merit based system but not racist when Asians are excluded and held to a different standard on a race based system?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Asian and have no skin in this game. My kids have never been interested nor have I about TJ.

What I don’t understand is why is the only way considered ‘fair’ is if there is basically affirmative action for the high school?

Why wouldn’t it make more sense to target blacks and Hispanics in elementary and middle schools? Do outreach at theses schools, get TJ students involved. Offer free TJ prep classes on Saturdays or after school.

This would do more to level the playing field than lowering the standards. The reason TJ is known nationwide is because of it’s student body. They are there only because of ability. Meritocracy is the most fair standard across the board.

And one of the things I often hear about Asian kids regarding college admissions is that they should apply to other schools outside of the big name ones if they are so concerned about quotas. That they will do fine elsewhere and not expect this to change to include more of them. Well, I’m sure the kids that do not get into TJ will also do fine elsewhere and should also not expect the school to change to include more of them.

I know my kids will do fine even if they aren’t going to TJ. They are Asian males so they will likely have a harder time with college admissions since they are pretty regular gen ed students and colleges will expect more from them than other applicants. It’s upsetting since this is purely race based not a matter of their aptitude. But we are trying to stay positive and expand our school search despite the blatant race based discrimination.

Take a look at small liberal arts colleges. Many of them are looking to have a diverse student population in a number of categories. Being boys and of Asian background could be helpful in admissions at schools like this for your sons.

Yes, thanks this is what we keep getting told, regardless of the fact that my incredibly extroverted son that is into computers really does not want to attend a small, liberal arts school with less diversity and not great sports.

But thanks for making my point for me. People tell Asians to look elsewhere, so why not tell kids that aren't cut out for TJ to look elsewhere? Why is it racist if they are excluded by merit based system but not racist when Asians are excluded and held to a different standard on a race based system?

Please stop addressing the sustained under-enrollment of Black and Hispanic students at TJ by centering the discussion on the experience of Asian kids who, at least in NoVa, come from quite privileged backgrounds. The FARMS rate at TJ is about 2%, and the school is in a county where about 30% of the kids receive FARMS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Asian and have no skin in this game. My kids have never been interested nor have I about TJ.

What I don’t understand is why is the only way considered ‘fair’ is if there is basically affirmative action for the high school?

Why wouldn’t it make more sense to target blacks and Hispanics in elementary and middle schools? Do outreach at theses schools, get TJ students involved. Offer free TJ prep classes on Saturdays or after school.

This would do more to level the playing field than lowering the standards. The reason TJ is known nationwide is because of it’s student body. They are there only because of ability. Meritocracy is the most fair standard across the board.

And one of the things I often hear about Asian kids regarding college admissions is that they should apply to other schools outside of the big name ones if they are so concerned about quotas. That they will do fine elsewhere and not expect this to change to include more of them. Well, I’m sure the kids that do not get into TJ will also do fine elsewhere and should also not expect the school to change to include more of them.

I know my kids will do fine even if they aren’t going to TJ. They are Asian males so they will likely have a harder time with college admissions since they are pretty regular gen ed students and colleges will expect more from them than other applicants. It’s upsetting since this is purely race based not a matter of their aptitude. But we are trying to stay positive and expand our school search despite the blatant race based discrimination.

Take a look at small liberal arts colleges. Many of them are looking to have a diverse student population in a number of categories. Being boys and of Asian background could be helpful in admissions at schools like this for your sons.

Yes, thanks this is what we keep getting told, regardless of the fact that my incredibly extroverted son that is into computers really does not want to attend a small, liberal arts school with less diversity and not great sports.

But thanks for making my point for me. People tell Asians to look elsewhere, so why not tell kids that aren't cut out for TJ to look elsewhere? Why is it racist if they are excluded by merit based system but not racist when Asians are excluded and held to a different standard on a race based system?

Please stop addressing the sustained under-enrollment of Black and Hispanic students at TJ by centering the discussion on the experience of Asian kids who, at least in NoVa, come from quite privileged backgrounds. The FARMS rate at TJ is about 2%, and the school is in a county where about 30% of the kids receive FARMS.

Please don't act concerned about racism if you are myopic and exclusionary. You are either anti-racist or you are not. Picking and choosing some minorities over others is not anti-racism.
And if you don't have an actual real answer to my question and seek to rather distract than please move along.

TJ is not a regular neighborhood school, it requires an entrance exam. My own kid would not pass this exam and I'm not breaking down the doors saying take him anyway. It's not discriminating over race, it's merit based. Are they discriminating against my son because he's not been prepped? If the field is to be leveled than free TJ prep exams in every school, county wide would be an excellent way to do so. Give informational talks to parents and students county wide starting in elementary.

And as for your assumption that Asian kids come from privileged backgrounds in this county, well I would say so are the black kids in this county. Blacks in Fairfax County are a pretty well educated bunch. See, how assumptions work? Many Asians in this county are either first or second generation with parents working in gas stations, dry cleaners, grocery stores, salons, etc. This is not about privelege, this is about priorities.

If we took only the most poor kids in the county and the schools started FREE Saturday schools for TJ prep, would you like to take a stab at the races of which families would make the effort to get their kids there? Would make their kid skip basketball or soccer to attend? (Personally, my kids would revolt rather than miss sports, yet another reason I wouldn't expect them to aim for TJ) Would demand their kids to go to school on Saturday? If the priority is there then the playing field is more level and they will be more on par with the kids going to PAID Saturday schools.

It just makes no sense to lower the bar in order to even out the bar. This is why the primary and secondary education in this country are atrocious and we end up with uneducated masses that believe everything they hear on Fox news.

[Anonymous]

One more thread already! It hasn't been a month since the admin locked the previous thread..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Asian and have no skin in this game. My kids have never been interested nor have I about TJ.

What I don’t understand is why is the only way considered ‘fair’ is if there is basically affirmative action for the high school?

Why wouldn’t it make more sense to target blacks and Hispanics in elementary and middle schools? Do outreach at theses schools, get TJ students involved. Offer free TJ prep classes on Saturdays or after school.

This would do more to level the playing field than lowering the standards. The reason TJ is known nationwide is because of it’s student body. They are there only because of ability. Meritocracy is the most fair standard across the board.

And one of the things I often hear about Asian kids regarding college admissions is that they should apply to other schools outside of the big name ones if they are so concerned about quotas. That they will do fine elsewhere and not expect this to change to include more of them. Well, I’m sure the kids that do not get into TJ will also do fine elsewhere and should also not expect the school to change to include more of them.

I know my kids will do fine even if they aren’t going to TJ. They are Asian males so they will likely have a harder time with college admissions since they are pretty regular gen ed students and colleges will expect more from them than other applicants. It’s upsetting since this is purely race based not a matter of their aptitude. But we are trying to stay positive and expand our school search despite the blatant race based discrimination.

Take a look at small liberal arts colleges. Many of them are looking to have a diverse student population in a number of categories. Being boys and of Asian background could be helpful in admissions at schools like this for your sons.

Yes, thanks this is what we keep getting told, regardless of the fact that my incredibly extroverted son that is into computers really does not want to attend a small, liberal arts school with less diversity and not great sports.

But thanks for making my point for me. People tell Asians to look elsewhere, so why not tell kids that aren't cut out for TJ to look elsewhere? Why is it racist if they are excluded by merit based system but not racist when Asians are excluded and held to a different standard on a race based system?

+1000! Finally a new counterpoint! Let's see the pushback to this one (other than just calling this poster myopic or racist).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Asian and have no skin in this game. My kids have never been interested nor have I about TJ.

What I don’t understand is why is the only way considered ‘fair’ is if there is basically affirmative action for the high school?

Why wouldn’t it make more sense to target blacks and Hispanics in elementary and middle schools? Do outreach at theses schools, get TJ students involved. Offer free TJ prep classes on Saturdays or after school.

This would do more to level the playing field than lowering the standards. The reason TJ is known nationwide is because of it’s student body. They are there only because of ability. Meritocracy is the most fair standard across the board.

And one of the things I often hear about Asian kids regarding college admissions is that they should apply to other schools outside of the big name ones if they are so concerned about quotas. That they will do fine elsewhere and not expect this to change to include more of them. Well, I’m sure the kids that do not get into TJ will also do fine elsewhere and should also not expect the school to change to include more of them.

I know my kids will do fine even if they aren’t going to TJ. They are Asian males so they will likely have a harder time with college admissions since they are pretty regular gen ed students and colleges will expect more from them than other applicants. It’s upsetting since this is purely race based not a matter of their aptitude. But we are trying to stay positive and expand our school search despite the blatant race based discrimination.

Take a look at small liberal arts colleges. Many of them are looking to have a diverse student population in a number of categories. Being boys and of Asian background could be helpful in admissions at schools like this for your sons.

Yes, thanks this is what we keep getting told, regardless of the fact that my incredibly extroverted son that is into computers really does not want to attend a small, liberal arts school with less diversity and not great sports.

But thanks for making my point for me. People tell Asians to look elsewhere, so why not tell kids that aren't cut out for TJ to look elsewhere? Why is it racist if they are excluded by merit based system but not racist when Asians are excluded and held to a different standard on a race based system?

Please stop addressing the sustained under-enrollment of Black and Hispanic students at TJ by centering the discussion on the experience of Asian kids who, at least in NoVa, come from quite privileged backgrounds. The FARMS rate at TJ is about 2%, and the school is in a county where about 30% of the kids receive FARMS.

Please don't act concerned about racism if you are myopic and exclusionary. You are either anti-racist or you are not. Picking and choosing some minorities over others is not anti-racism.
And if you don't have an actual real answer to my question and seek to rather distract than please move along.

TJ is not a regular neighborhood school, it requires an entrance exam. My own kid would not pass this exam and I'm not breaking down the doors saying take him anyway. It's not discriminating over race, it's merit based. Are they discriminating against my son because he's not been prepped? If the field is to be leveled than free TJ prep exams in every school, county wide would be an excellent way to do so. Give informational talks to parents and students county wide starting in elementary.

And as for your assumption that Asian kids come from privileged backgrounds in this county, well I would say so are the black kids in this county. Blacks in Fairfax County are a pretty well educated bunch. See, how assumptions work? Many Asians in this county are either first or second generation with parents working in gas stations, dry cleaners, grocery stores, salons, etc. This is not about privelege, this is about priorities.

If we took only the most poor kids in the county and the schools started FREE Saturday schools for TJ prep, would you like to take a stab at the races of which families would make the effort to get their kids there? Would make their kid skip basketball or soccer to attend? (Personally, my kids would revolt rather than miss sports, yet another reason I wouldn't expect them to aim for TJ) Would demand their kids to go to school on Saturday? If the priority is there then the playing field is more level and they will be more on par with the kids going to PAID Saturday schools.

It just makes no sense to lower the bar in order to even out the bar. This is why the primary and secondary education in this country are atrocious and we end up with uneducated masses that believe everything they hear on Fox news.

Your post is deeply racist and full of embedded assumptions about the virtues of an ostensibly meritocratic process that, in fact, is heavily stacked in favor of one particular group and against others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One more thread already! It hasn't been a month since the admin locked the previous thread..

It’s interesting how some posters contrive to get threads that deal with education issues that have been the subject of WaPo editorials the very same week locked. You’d probably try to shut down the Post, too, if you could get away with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Asian and have no skin in this game. My kids have never been interested nor have I about TJ.

What I don’t understand is why is the only way considered ‘fair’ is if there is basically affirmative action for the high school?

Why wouldn’t it make more sense to target blacks and Hispanics in elementary and middle schools? Do outreach at theses schools, get TJ students involved. Offer free TJ prep classes on Saturdays or after school.

This would do more to level the playing field than lowering the standards. The reason TJ is known nationwide is because of it’s student body. They are there only because of ability. Meritocracy is the most fair standard across the board.

And one of the things I often hear about Asian kids regarding college admissions is that they should apply to other schools outside of the big name ones if they are so concerned about quotas. That they will do fine elsewhere and not expect this to change to include more of them. Well, I’m sure the kids that do not get into TJ will also do fine elsewhere and should also not expect the school to change to include more of them.

I know my kids will do fine even if they aren’t going to TJ. They are Asian males so they will likely have a harder time with college admissions since they are pretty regular gen ed students and colleges will expect more from them than other applicants. It’s upsetting since this is purely race based not a matter of their aptitude. But we are trying to stay positive and expand our school search despite the blatant race based discrimination.

Take a look at small liberal arts colleges. Many of them are looking to have a diverse student population in a number of categories. Being boys and of Asian background could be helpful in admissions at schools like this for your sons.

Yes, thanks this is what we keep getting told, regardless of the fact that my incredibly extroverted son that is into computers really does not want to attend a small, liberal arts school with less diversity and not great sports.

But thanks for making my point for me. People tell Asians to look elsewhere, so why not tell kids that aren't cut out for TJ to look elsewhere? Why is it racist if they are excluded by merit based system but not racist when Asians are excluded and held to a different standard on a race based system?

Please stop addressing the sustained under-enrollment of Black and Hispanic students at TJ by centering the discussion on the experience of Asian kids who, at least in NoVa, come from quite privileged backgrounds. The FARMS rate at TJ is about 2%, and the school is in a county where about 30% of the kids receive FARMS.

Please don't act concerned about racism if you are myopic and exclusionary. You are either anti-racist or you are not. Picking and choosing some minorities over others is not anti-racism.
And if you don't have an actual real answer to my question and seek to rather distract than please move along.

TJ is not a regular neighborhood school, it requires an entrance exam. My own kid would not pass this exam and I'm not breaking down the doors saying take him anyway. It's not discriminating over race, it's merit based. Are they discriminating against my son because he's not been prepped? If the field is to be leveled than free TJ prep exams in every school, county wide would be an excellent way to do so. Give informational talks to parents and students county wide starting in elementary.

And as for your assumption that Asian kids come from privileged backgrounds in this county, well I would say so are the black kids in this county. Blacks in Fairfax County are a pretty well educated bunch. See, how assumptions work? Many Asians in this county are either first or second generation with parents working in gas stations, dry cleaners, grocery stores, salons, etc. This is not about privelege, this is about priorities.

If we took only the most poor kids in the county and the schools started FREE Saturday schools for TJ prep, would you like to take a stab at the races of which families would make the effort to get their kids there? Would make their kid skip basketball or soccer to attend? (Personally, my kids would revolt rather than miss sports, yet another reason I wouldn't expect them to aim for TJ) Would demand their kids to go to school on Saturday? If the priority is there then the playing field is more level and they will be more on par with the kids going to PAID Saturday schools.

It just makes no sense to lower the bar in order to even out the bar. This is why the primary and secondary education in this country are atrocious and we end up with uneducated masses that believe everything they hear on Fox news.

Your post is deeply racist and full of embedded assumptions about the virtues of an ostensibly meritocratic process that, in fact, is heavily stacked in favor of one particular group and against others.

Saying it's heavily stacked in favor of "one particular group" is incredibly racist. Believing that 'one particular group' is receiving benefits from a public school application based system of which they are not even the majority 'group' reviewing the applications and deciding on who gets in and who doesn't, is filled with embedded assumptions about this 'particular group' somehow not being actually being worthy but that are rather receiving special treatment.

Are you even aware of how racist you are? You outright stated that Asians are privledged without even acknowleging how racist that assumption is. And how completely hypocritical your racism diatribe is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m Asian and have no skin in this game. My kids have never been interested nor have I about TJ.

What I don’t understand is why is the only way considered ‘fair’ is if there is basically affirmative action for the high school?

Why wouldn’t it make more sense to target blacks and Hispanics in elementary and middle schools? Do outreach at theses schools, get TJ students involved. Offer free TJ prep classes on Saturdays or after school.

This would do more to level the playing field than lowering the standards. The reason TJ is known nationwide is because of it’s student body. They are there only because of ability. Meritocracy is the most fair standard across the board.

And one of the things I often hear about Asian kids regarding college admissions is that they should apply to other schools outside of the big name ones if they are so concerned about quotas. That they will do fine elsewhere and not expect this to change to include more of them. Well, I’m sure the kids that do not get into TJ will also do fine elsewhere and should also not expect the school to change to include more of them.

I know my kids will do fine even if they aren’t going to TJ. They are Asian males so they will likely have a harder time with college admissions since they are pretty regular gen ed students and colleges will expect more from them than other applicants. It’s upsetting since this is purely race based not a matter of their aptitude. But we are trying to stay positive and expand our school search despite the blatant race based discrimination.

Hear, hear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Asian and have no skin in this game. My kids have never been interested nor have I about TJ.

What I don’t understand is why is the only way considered ‘fair’ is if there is basically affirmative action for the high school?

Why wouldn’t it make more sense to target blacks and Hispanics in elementary and middle schools? Do outreach at theses schools, get TJ students involved. Offer free TJ prep classes on Saturdays or after school.

This would do more to level the playing field than lowering the standards. The reason TJ is known nationwide is because of it’s student body. They are there only because of ability. Meritocracy is the most fair standard across the board.

And one of the things I often hear about Asian kids regarding college admissions is that they should apply to other schools outside of the big name ones if they are so concerned about quotas. That they will do fine elsewhere and not expect this to change to include more of them. Well, I’m sure the kids that do not get into TJ will also do fine elsewhere and should also not expect the school to change to include more of them.

I know my kids will do fine even if they aren’t going to TJ. They are Asian males so they will likely have a harder time with college admissions since they are pretty regular gen ed students and colleges will expect more from them than other applicants. It’s upsetting since this is purely race based not a matter of their aptitude. But we are trying to stay positive and expand our school search despite the blatant race based discrimination.

Take a look at small liberal arts colleges. Many of them are looking to have a diverse student population in a number of categories. Being boys and of Asian background could be helpful in admissions at schools like this for your sons.

Yes, thanks this is what we keep getting told, regardless of the fact that my incredibly extroverted son that is into computers really does not want to attend a small, liberal arts school with less diversity and not great sports.

But thanks for making my point for me. People tell Asians to look elsewhere, so why not tell kids that aren't cut out for TJ to look elsewhere? Why is it racist if they are excluded by merit based system but not racist when Asians are excluded and held to a different standard on a race based system?

Please stop addressing the sustained under-enrollment of Black and Hispanic students at TJ by centering the discussion on the experience of Asian kids who, at least in NoVa, come from quite privileged backgrounds. The FARMS rate at TJ is about 2%, and the school is in a county where about 30% of the kids receive FARMS.

Please don't act concerned about racism if you are myopic and exclusionary. You are either anti-racist or you are not. Picking and choosing some minorities over others is not anti-racism.
And if you don't have an actual real answer to my question and seek to rather distract than please move along.

TJ is not a regular neighborhood school, it requires an entrance exam. My own kid would not pass this exam and I'm not breaking down the doors saying take him anyway. It's not discriminating over race, it's merit based. Are they discriminating against my son because he's not been prepped? If the field is to be leveled than free TJ prep exams in every school, county wide would be an excellent way to do so. Give informational talks to parents and students county wide starting in elementary.

And as for your assumption that Asian kids come from privileged backgrounds in this county, well I would say so are the black kids in this county. Blacks in Fairfax County are a pretty well educated bunch. See, how assumptions work? Many Asians in this county are either first or second generation with parents working in gas stations, dry cleaners, grocery stores, salons, etc. This is not about privelege, this is about priorities.

If we took only the most poor kids in the county and the schools started FREE Saturday schools for TJ prep, would you like to take a stab at the races of which families would make the effort to get their kids there? Would make their kid skip basketball or soccer to attend? (Personally, my kids would revolt rather than miss sports, yet another reason I wouldn't expect them to aim for TJ) Would demand their kids to go to school on Saturday? If the priority is there then the playing field is more level and they will be more on par with the kids going to PAID Saturday schools.

It just makes no sense to lower the bar in order to even out the bar. This is why the primary and secondary education in this country are atrocious and we end up with uneducated masses that believe everything they hear on Fox news.

Your post is deeply racist and full of embedded assumptions about the virtues of an ostensibly meritocratic process that, in fact, is heavily stacked in favor of one particular group and against others.

No. YOUR post is incredibly racist.

The candidates who are admitted based on merit have two things in common: they're intelligent and they've worked hard.
Nobody has stacked the deck for them.

I'm not the poster you were responding to, BTW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ and FCPS do tons of outreach to underrepresented communities and they focus on kids in ES. Clearly more needs to be done but it is grossly unfair to cal TJ racist.

Why term do you prefer for a school that almost wholly excludes black kids?

It's called Langley HS, but no one makes a stink about that because the majority is white. If Langley's majority were Asian, it would be an entirely different story. Check your racism.