student admissions and TJ lawsuit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Children cannot choose their parents. Kids should not get a leg up in admissions because they happened to be born to parents who started thinking about TJ and how to best position their child to be accepted there from the time their child entered elementary school.

You're inventing kids who simply don't exist in FCPS. The brilliant, poor kids born to families that don't prioritize education, but who still absolutely belong at TJ would have had to:

-Somehow not be placed in Young Scholar and not get the mentorship and enrichment from that. My kids' school had special field trips, summer camps, pull outs, and other programs for Young Scholars

-Perform poorly on the NNAT and CogAT, noting that completely unprepped, gifted kids ought to get high scores, and noting that it often only takes a 120-ish score to get into AAP from lower SES schools.

-Fail to impress any teachers anywhere in grades K-6. If they had impressed teachers, they would have been flagged for advanced services, a teacher would have referred them for AAP, or the like.

-Fail to qualify for Algebra in 7th, even though IAAT is pretty basic, and study materials are readily available.

-Fail to do any of the STEM extracurriculars, even though at least some are offered for free at every single FCPS middle school.

FCPS casts a very wide net and certainly isn't failing to identify and support gifted, lower income students. At some point, though, the kids have to show some initiative. They're 14 and not babies. If they want to go to a school like TJ, they can sign up for STEM extracurriculars and try to distinguish themselves in some way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Children cannot choose their parents. Kids should not get a leg up in admissions because they happened to be born to parents who started thinking about TJ and how to best position their child to be accepted there from the time their child entered elementary school.

You're inventing kids who simply don't exist in FCPS. The brilliant, poor kids born to families that don't prioritize education, but who still absolutely belong at TJ would have had to:

-Somehow not be placed in Young Scholar and not get the mentorship and enrichment from that. My kids' school had special field trips, summer camps, pull outs, and other programs for Young Scholars

-Perform poorly on the NNAT and CogAT, noting that completely unprepped, gifted kids ought to get high scores, and noting that it often only takes a 120-ish score to get into AAP from lower SES schools.

-Fail to impress any teachers anywhere in grades K-6. If they had impressed teachers, they would have been flagged for advanced services, a teacher would have referred them for AAP, or the like.

-Fail to qualify for Algebra in 7th, even though IAAT is pretty basic, and study materials are readily available.

-Fail to do any of the STEM extracurriculars, even though at least some are offered for free at every single FCPS middle school.

FCPS casts a very wide net and certainly isn't failing to identify and support gifted, lower income students. At some point, though, the kids have to show some initiative. They're 14 and not babies. If they want to go to a school like TJ, they can sign up for STEM extracurriculars and try to distinguish themselves in some way.

+1 I am also still waiting for Dems to find that nonexistent guy that couldn't get an ID and therefore can't vote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Children cannot choose their parents. Kids should not get a leg up in admissions because they happened to be born to parents who started thinking about TJ and how to best position their child to be accepted there from the time their child entered elementary school.

You're inventing kids who simply don't exist in FCPS. The brilliant, poor kids born to families that don't prioritize education, but who still absolutely belong at TJ would have had to:

-Somehow not be placed in Young Scholar and not get the mentorship and enrichment from that. My kids' school had special field trips, summer camps, pull outs, and other programs for Young Scholars

-Perform poorly on the NNAT and CogAT, noting that completely unprepped, gifted kids ought to get high scores, and noting that it often only takes a 120-ish score to get into AAP from lower SES schools.

-Fail to impress any teachers anywhere in grades K-6. If they had impressed teachers, they would have been flagged for advanced services, a teacher would have referred them for AAP, or the like.

-Fail to qualify for Algebra in 7th, even though IAAT is pretty basic, and study materials are readily available.

-Fail to do any of the STEM extracurriculars, even though at least some are offered for free at every single FCPS middle school.

FCPS casts a very wide net and certainly isn't failing to identify and support gifted, lower income students. At some point, though, the kids have to show some initiative. They're 14 and not babies. If they want to go to a school like TJ, they can sign up for STEM extracurriculars and try to distinguish themselves in some way.

+1 I am also still waiting for Dems to find that nonexistent guy that couldn't get an ID and therefore can't vote.

Certainly not this voter.

"Memphis BLM founder Pamela Moses sentenced to 6 years for illegally voting

In 2015, Moses pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and forgery, both felonies, and to misdemeanor charges of perjury, stalking, theft under $500, and escape.

She was placed on probation for seven years and deemed ineligible to vote in Tennessee because of the tampering with evidence
charge."

https://nypost.com/2022/02/06/memphis-blm-founder-pamela-moses-sentenced-for-illegally-voting/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Children cannot choose their parents. Kids should not get a leg up in admissions because they happened to be born to parents who started thinking about TJ and how to best position their child to be accepted there from the time their child entered elementary school.

You're inventing kids who simply don't exist in FCPS. The brilliant, poor kids born to families that don't prioritize education, but who still absolutely belong at TJ would have had to:

-Somehow not be placed in Young Scholar and not get the mentorship and enrichment from that. My kids' school had special field trips, summer camps, pull outs, and other programs for Young Scholars

-Perform poorly on the NNAT and CogAT, noting that completely unprepped, gifted kids ought to get high scores, and noting that it often only takes a 120-ish score to get into AAP from lower SES schools.

-Fail to impress any teachers anywhere in grades K-6. If they had impressed teachers, they would have been flagged for advanced services, a teacher would have referred them for AAP, or the like.

-Fail to qualify for Algebra in 7th, even though IAAT is pretty basic, and study materials are readily available.

-Fail to do any of the STEM extracurriculars, even though at least some are offered for free at every single FCPS middle school.

FCPS casts a very wide net and certainly isn't failing to identify and support gifted, lower income students. At some point, though, the kids have to show some initiative. They're 14 and not babies. If they want to go to a school like TJ, they can sign up for STEM extracurriculars and try to distinguish themselves in some way.

+1 I am also still waiting for Dems to find that nonexistent guy that couldn't get an ID and therefore can't vote.

Certainly not this voter.

"Memphis BLM founder Pamela Moses sentenced to 6 years for illegally voting

In 2015, Moses pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and forgery, both felonies, and to misdemeanor charges of perjury, stalking, theft under $500, and escape.

She was placed on probation for seven years and deemed ineligible to vote in Tennessee because of the tampering with evidence
charge."

https://nypost.com/2022/02/06/memphis-blm-founder-pamela-moses-sentenced-for-illegally-voting/

I’m sure Youngkin’s kid will get the same treatment and won’t benefit from any privilege whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Children cannot choose their parents. Kids should not get a leg up in admissions because they happened to be born to parents who started thinking about TJ and how to best position their child to be accepted there from the time their child entered elementary school.

You're inventing kids who simply don't exist in FCPS. The brilliant, poor kids born to families that don't prioritize education, but who still absolutely belong at TJ would have had to:

-Somehow not be placed in Young Scholar and not get the mentorship and enrichment from that. My kids' school had special field trips, summer camps, pull outs, and other programs for Young Scholars

-Perform poorly on the NNAT and CogAT, noting that completely unprepped, gifted kids ought to get high scores, and noting that it often only takes a 120-ish score to get into AAP from lower SES schools.

-Fail to impress any teachers anywhere in grades K-6. If they had impressed teachers, they would have been flagged for advanced services, a teacher would have referred them for AAP, or the like.

-Fail to qualify for Algebra in 7th, even though IAAT is pretty basic, and study materials are readily available.

-Fail to do any of the STEM extracurriculars, even though at least some are offered for free at every single FCPS middle school.

FCPS casts a very wide net and certainly isn't failing to identify and support gifted, lower income students. At some point, though, the kids have to show some initiative. They're 14 and not babies. If they want to go to a school like TJ, they can sign up for STEM extracurriculars and try to distinguish themselves in some way.

+1 I am also still waiting for Dems to find that nonexistent guy that couldn't get an ID and therefore can't vote.

Certainly not this voter.

"Memphis BLM founder Pamela Moses sentenced to 6 years for illegally voting

In 2015, Moses pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and forgery, both felonies, and to misdemeanor charges of perjury, stalking, theft under $500, and escape.

She was placed on probation for seven years and deemed ineligible to vote in Tennessee because of the tampering with evidence
charge."

https://nypost.com/2022/02/06/memphis-blm-founder-pamela-moses-sentenced-for-illegally-voting/

Who cares? We just had a president attempt a cue because he didn’t get re-elected, committed treason multiple times before and after he got in office, yet me mention of him. You support the head white supremacist in charge because you think you will be favored by assimilating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Children cannot choose their parents. Kids should not get a leg up in admissions because they happened to be born to parents who started thinking about TJ and how to best position their child to be accepted there from the time their child entered elementary school.

You're inventing kids who simply don't exist in FCPS. The brilliant, poor kids born to families that don't prioritize education, but who still absolutely belong at TJ would have had to:

-Somehow not be placed in Young Scholar and not get the mentorship and enrichment from that. My kids' school had special field trips, summer camps, pull outs, and other programs for Young Scholars

-Perform poorly on the NNAT and CogAT, noting that completely unprepped, gifted kids ought to get high scores, and noting that it often only takes a 120-ish score to get into AAP from lower SES schools.

-Fail to impress any teachers anywhere in grades K-6. If they had impressed teachers, they would have been flagged for advanced services, a teacher would have referred them for AAP, or the like.

-Fail to qualify for Algebra in 7th, even though IAAT is pretty basic, and study materials are readily available.

-Fail to do any of the STEM extracurriculars, even though at least some are offered for free at every single FCPS middle school.

FCPS casts a very wide net and certainly isn't failing to identify and support gifted, lower income students. At some point, though, the kids have to show some initiative. They're 14 and not babies. If they want to go to a school like TJ, they can sign up for STEM extracurriculars and try to distinguish themselves in some way.

Well written.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Children cannot choose their parents. Kids should not get a leg up in admissions because they happened to be born to parents who started thinking about TJ and how to best position their child to be accepted there from the time their child entered elementary school.

You're inventing kids who simply don't exist in FCPS. The brilliant, poor kids born to families that don't prioritize education, but who still absolutely belong at TJ would have had to:

-Somehow not be placed in Young Scholar and not get the mentorship and enrichment from that. My kids' school had special field trips, summer camps, pull outs, and other programs for Young Scholars

-Perform poorly on the NNAT and CogAT, noting that completely unprepped, gifted kids ought to get high scores, and noting that it often only takes a 120-ish score to get into AAP from lower SES schools.

-Fail to impress any teachers anywhere in grades K-6. If they had impressed teachers, they would have been flagged for advanced services, a teacher would have referred them for AAP, or the like.

-Fail to qualify for Algebra in 7th, even though IAAT is pretty basic, and study materials are readily available.

-Fail to do any of the STEM extracurriculars, even though at least some are offered for free at every single FCPS middle school.

FCPS casts a very wide net and certainly isn't failing to identify and support gifted, lower income students. At some point, though, the kids have to show some initiative. They're 14 and not babies. If they want to go to a school like TJ, they can sign up for STEM extracurriculars and try to distinguish themselves in some way.

This post illustrates a lot of naïveté about what life is like for some kids and families.

And, on another note, it is nothing new for lots of kids at TJ to never do STEM extracurricular in middle school. Some kids that age are very busy with non-academic extracurriculars. My child and a number of his friends at TJ did sports and arts activities in middle school and went in to do quite well in their years at TJ and, since then, in college. It is not at all necessary for kids to spend time on academic activities outside of school to be successful TJ students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Nope not buying this at all. What you see today - lots of successful Asian students who come from successful Asian families - is the result of those families having grown up with parents who came here from Asian countries and were poor. They had parents who worked at menial and low income jobs and were often the subject of ridicule and taunts because they spoke poor English and looked different. That was Fairfax county in the 70s/80s. All those parents knew was go to school, work hard, get the best grades, go to the best school, education is the way up. Over time their kids success translated into opportunities and more families saw this and told their kids this was the ticket to a better future.

We keep creating programs to help students and we keep insisting that the problem is their parents job, their background, the achievement gap, the way the tests are worded, minimum wage, not enough wages, the police, and every single other thing and the answer isn't in any of those things. Families and the communities those families live in have to value education so much and value the chance for a better future, that they put education as the biggest and most important value in their everyday life. The resources are there. The opportunities are there. But to see them and realize them one has to be willing to look for them at the sake of other things like sports, shopping, beauty, recreation, tv, video games,

So you’re saying that children born to families that do not have the advantage of being able to put education above all else are just out of luck? Just too bad for you kids born to uneducated or lower income parents (who didn’t have any advantages when they grew up either)?

You’re willing to say that only children who win the lottery of being born to parents who prioritize education should have the opportunity to go to a school like TJ? Do you even hear how the the paragraph quoted above sounds?

Many Asian students that attend TJ or apply to TJ are lower/middle class who prioritize education above consumer products, vacations, expensive cars, eating out etc. etc. to buy things related to education such as computers, extra classes, EC activities etc. HHI of about 45,000 - 85,000 does not equal privileged.

Also, 50,000 income may not qualify for FARMs but do not equate non-farms status with wealthy.

I wasn’t referring to income in the post you’re replying to. The advantage of having parents who prioritize providing a lot of educational extras is what I am referencing here. That advantage has nothing to do with income level.

Children cannot choose their parents. Kids should not get a leg up in admissions because they happened to be born to parents who started thinking about TJ and how to best position their child to be accepted there from the time their child entered elementary school.

Same thing happens with sports, dancing, singing etc. Those are all areas where children who receive training and education early on and develop interests have advantages - this apples to almost everything. How come there is no complaint about those areas? Could it be because certain group already is doing very well in those areas?

Because those are all activities. Why do you think there is a comparison?

Why do you think there isn't?

NP, here. Can you really not see how extracurriculars are different from academics in the way they affect a person’s life and opportunities?

It is one thing for all kids to not have access to the same extracurricular activities, it is a totally different thing for all kids to not have an equal opportunity to access the educational situation best suited to them in a public school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Children cannot choose their parents. Kids should not get a leg up in admissions because they happened to be born to parents who started thinking about TJ and how to best position their child to be accepted there from the time their child entered elementary school.

You're inventing kids who simply don't exist in FCPS. The brilliant, poor kids born to families that don't prioritize education, but who still absolutely belong at TJ would have had to:

-Somehow not be placed in Young Scholar and not get the mentorship and enrichment from that. My kids' school had special field trips, summer camps, pull outs, and other programs for Young Scholars

-Perform poorly on the NNAT and CogAT, noting that completely unprepped, gifted kids ought to get high scores, and noting that it often only takes a 120-ish score to get into AAP from lower SES schools.

-Fail to impress any teachers anywhere in grades K-6. If they had impressed teachers, they would have been flagged for advanced services, a teacher would have referred them for AAP, or the like.

-Fail to qualify for Algebra in 7th, even though IAAT is pretty basic, and study materials are readily available.

-Fail to do any of the STEM extracurriculars, even though at least some are offered for free at every single FCPS middle school.

FCPS casts a very wide net and certainly isn't failing to identify and support gifted, lower income students. At some point, though, the kids have to show some initiative. They're 14 and not babies. If they want to go to a school like TJ, they can sign up for STEM extracurriculars and try to distinguish themselves in some way.

This post illustrates a lot of naïveté about what life is like for some kids and families.

And, on another note, it is nothing new for lots of kids at TJ to never do STEM extracurricular in middle school. Some kids that age are very busy with non-academic extracurriculars. My child and a number of his friends at TJ did sports and arts activities in middle school and went in to do quite well in their years at TJ and, since then, in college. It is not at all necessary for kids to spend time on academic activities outside of school to be successful TJ students.

How is it naive? You have a weak argument of privilege to refute one of the conditions PP has mentioned. Poster never said that each condition is necessary....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Children cannot choose their parents. Kids should not get a leg up in admissions because they happened to be born to parents who started thinking about TJ and how to best position their child to be accepted there from the time their child entered elementary school.

You're inventing kids who simply don't exist in FCPS. The brilliant, poor kids born to families that don't prioritize education, but who still absolutely belong at TJ would have had to:

-Somehow not be placed in Young Scholar and not get the mentorship and enrichment from that. My kids' school had special field trips, summer camps, pull outs, and other programs for Young Scholars

-Perform poorly on the NNAT and CogAT, noting that completely unprepped, gifted kids ought to get high scores, and noting that it often only takes a 120-ish score to get into AAP from lower SES schools.

-Fail to impress any teachers anywhere in grades K-6. If they had impressed teachers, they would have been flagged for advanced services, a teacher would have referred them for AAP, or the like.

-Fail to qualify for Algebra in 7th, even though IAAT is pretty basic, and study materials are readily available.

-Fail to do any of the STEM extracurriculars, even though at least some are offered for free at every single FCPS middle school.

FCPS casts a very wide net and certainly isn't failing to identify and support gifted, lower income students. At some point, though, the kids have to show some initiative. They're 14 and not babies. If they want to go to a school like TJ, they can sign up for STEM extracurriculars and try to distinguish themselves in some way.

+1 I am also still waiting for Dems to find that nonexistent guy that couldn't get an ID and therefore can't vote.

Certainly not this voter.

"Memphis BLM founder Pamela Moses sentenced to 6 years for illegally voting

In 2015, Moses pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and forgery, both felonies, and to misdemeanor charges of perjury, stalking, theft under $500, and escape.

She was placed on probation for seven years and deemed ineligible to vote in Tennessee because of the tampering with evidence
charge."

https://nypost.com/2022/02/06/memphis-blm-founder-pamela-moses-sentenced-for-illegally-voting/

Please don't bring incendiary politics into this. I agree with the PP about FCPS casting a wide net and that kids who demonstrate an interest in STEM are usually found. However, this has nothing to do with voting issues. Seems in this case the BLM founder is being targeted. I am Democrat who hates Trump but reluctantly voted for Youngkin because there has to be some checks and balances to power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
And, on another note, it is nothing new for lots of kids at TJ to never do STEM extracurricular in middle school. Some kids that age are very busy with non-academic extracurriculars. My child and a number of his friends at TJ did sports and arts activities in middle school and went in to do quite well in their years at TJ and, since then, in college. It is not at all necessary for kids to spend time on academic activities outside of school to be successful TJ students.

Yeah, but your kid and his friends got in using the old system, with tests, teacher recommendations, more substantial essays, more credit for math level, and so on. The argument people have put forth is that there are a bunch of brilliant kids with less interested parents who had no ability to shine when admissions holistically relied on a combination of test scores, teacher recommendations, real essays, lists of STEM achievements, math level, and GPA, so they need to gut the application process to give these kids any chance at TJ. My argument is that if the only chance you have to get into TJ is a watered down process with absolutely no substance and bonus points for being poor or ESOL, you’re not TJ material.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Children cannot choose their parents. Kids should not get a leg up in admissions because they happened to be born to parents who started thinking about TJ and how to best position their child to be accepted there from the time their child entered elementary school.

You're inventing kids who simply don't exist in FCPS. The brilliant, poor kids born to families that don't prioritize education, but who still absolutely belong at TJ would have had to:

-Somehow not be placed in Young Scholar and not get the mentorship and enrichment from that. My kids' school had special field trips, summer camps, pull outs, and other programs for Young Scholars

-Perform poorly on the NNAT and CogAT, noting that completely unprepped, gifted kids ought to get high scores, and noting that it often only takes a 120-ish score to get into AAP from lower SES schools.

-Fail to impress any teachers anywhere in grades K-6. If they had impressed teachers, they would have been flagged for advanced services, a teacher would have referred them for AAP, or the like.

-Fail to qualify for Algebra in 7th, even though IAAT is pretty basic, and study materials are readily available.

-Fail to do any of the STEM extracurriculars, even though at least some are offered for free at every single FCPS middle school.

FCPS casts a very wide net and certainly isn't failing to identify and support gifted, lower income students. At some point, though, the kids have to show some initiative. They're 14 and not babies. If they want to go to a school like TJ, they can sign up for STEM extracurriculars and try to distinguish themselves in some way.

+1 I am also still waiting for Dems to find that nonexistent guy that couldn't get an ID and therefore can't vote.

Certainly not this voter.

"Memphis BLM founder Pamela Moses sentenced to 6 years for illegally voting

In 2015, Moses pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and forgery, both felonies, and to misdemeanor charges of perjury, stalking, theft under $500, and escape.

She was placed on probation for seven years and deemed ineligible to vote in Tennessee because of the tampering with evidence
charge."

https://nypost.com/2022/02/06/memphis-blm-founder-pamela-moses-sentenced-for-illegally-voting/

I’m sure Youngkin’s kid will get the same treatment and won’t benefit from any privilege whatsoever.

And meanwhile you’re no doubt Tweeting up a storm about how Youngkin owes the Henrico kid a hand-delivered apology for not realizing he wasn’t just another 20-something Democratic shill. You folks are such hypocrites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
And, on another note, it is nothing new for lots of kids at TJ to never do STEM extracurricular in middle school. Some kids that age are very busy with non-academic extracurriculars. My child and a number of his friends at TJ did sports and arts activities in middle school and went in to do quite well in their years at TJ and, since then, in college. It is not at all necessary for kids to spend time on academic activities outside of school to be successful TJ students.

Yeah, but your kid and his friends got in using the old system, with tests, teacher recommendations, more substantial essays, more credit for math level, and so on. The argument people have put forth is that there are a bunch of brilliant kids with less interested parents who had no ability to shine when admissions holistically relied on a combination of test scores, teacher recommendations, real essays, lists of STEM achievements, math level, and GPA, so they need to gut the application process to give these kids any chance at TJ. My argument is that if the only chance you have to get into TJ is a watered down process with absolutely no substance and bonus points for being poor or ESOL, you’re not TJ material.

Let these kids go through their careers at TJ and graduate before we cast aspersions about whether or not they’re “TJ material”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Children cannot choose their parents. Kids should not get a leg up in admissions because they happened to be born to parents who started thinking about TJ and how to best position their child to be accepted there from the time their child entered elementary school.

You're inventing kids who simply don't exist in FCPS. The brilliant, poor kids born to families that don't prioritize education, but who still absolutely belong at TJ would have had to:

-Somehow not be placed in Young Scholar and not get the mentorship and enrichment from that. My kids' school had special field trips, summer camps, pull outs, and other programs for Young Scholars

-Perform poorly on the NNAT and CogAT, noting that completely unprepped, gifted kids ought to get high scores, and noting that it often only takes a 120-ish score to get into AAP from lower SES schools.

-Fail to impress any teachers anywhere in grades K-6. If they had impressed teachers, they would have been flagged for advanced services, a teacher would have referred them for AAP, or the like.

-Fail to qualify for Algebra in 7th, even though IAAT is pretty basic, and study materials are readily available.

-Fail to do any of the STEM extracurriculars, even though at least some are offered for free at every single FCPS middle school.

FCPS casts a very wide net and certainly isn't failing to identify and support gifted, lower income students. At some point, though, the kids have to show some initiative. They're 14 and not babies. If they want to go to a school like TJ, they can sign up for STEM extracurriculars and try to distinguish themselves in some way.

+1 I am also still waiting for Dems to find that nonexistent guy that couldn't get an ID and therefore can't vote.

Certainly not this voter.

"Memphis BLM founder Pamela Moses sentenced to 6 years for illegally voting

In 2015, Moses pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and forgery, both felonies, and to misdemeanor charges of perjury, stalking, theft under $500, and escape.

She was placed on probation for seven years and deemed ineligible to vote in Tennessee because of the tampering with evidence
charge."

https://nypost.com/2022/02/06/memphis-blm-founder-pamela-moses-sentenced-for-illegally-voting/

I’m sure Youngkin’s kid will get the same treatment and won’t benefit from any privilege whatsoever.

And meanwhile you’re no doubt Tweeting up a storm about how Youngkin owes the Henrico kid a hand-delivered apology for not realizing he wasn’t just another 20-something Democratic shill. You folks are such hypocrites.

Honestly, the fact that the kid was 17 is of little consequence. The official campaign Twitter account punched down. When you do that, you’re an asshole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Children cannot choose their parents. Kids should not get a leg up in admissions because they happened to be born to parents who started thinking about TJ and how to best position their child to be accepted there from the time their child entered elementary school.

You're inventing kids who simply don't exist in FCPS. The brilliant, poor kids born to families that don't prioritize education, but who still absolutely belong at TJ would have had to:

-Somehow not be placed in Young Scholar and not get the mentorship and enrichment from that. My kids' school had special field trips, summer camps, pull outs, and other programs for Young Scholars

-Perform poorly on the NNAT and CogAT, noting that completely unprepped, gifted kids ought to get high scores, and noting that it often only takes a 120-ish score to get into AAP from lower SES schools.

-Fail to impress any teachers anywhere in grades K-6. If they had impressed teachers, they would have been flagged for advanced services, a teacher would have referred them for AAP, or the like.

-Fail to qualify for Algebra in 7th, even though IAAT is pretty basic, and study materials are readily available.

-Fail to do any of the STEM extracurriculars, even though at least some are offered for free at every single FCPS middle school.

FCPS casts a very wide net and certainly isn't failing to identify and support gifted, lower income students. At some point, though, the kids have to show some initiative. They're 14 and not babies. If they want to go to a school like TJ, they can sign up for STEM extracurriculars and try to distinguish themselves in some way.

I disagree. It would be very easy for poor but brilliant kids to be excluded from TJ.

1-FCPS hires local elementary school teachers to do “stem” Young Scholars programs for summer and after school. It’s simply an extra check for the kids teachers. I know a few of these teachers. They admit they don’t understand math and science. They take the students to water parks and do other “non-stem” activities all summer and during the year. The “science” they do is kindergarten level. This is NOT the equivalent of the students getting an AOPS summer class, ect.
2- FCPS could hire teachers with STEM degrees to teach the Young Scholars classes (like high school stem teachers). FCPS doesn’t on purpose. Young Scholars is a “look we did something” while not actually doing anything. FCPS was sued in 2012 by the NAACP and Young Scholars was set up as a response. Wouldn’t want the “poors” to actually be competitive.

3- The NNAT is a visual test. The 2nd grade Cogat is visual. Both tests are known for being confusing. The smarter the kid is, the more likely problems come in with the student responses. Example: one year 2nd grade Cogat had a picture of a tea cup where the kid was to pick the correct descriptive word. Out of the four responses: one was delicate, another was small, and another was dainty. Child was supposed to pick delicate, yet the others are technically correct.
Example: NNAT typically has the black and white dot patterns. One year, one question showed only two dots: one black dot, then one white dot, then the student was asked- what comes next? But…it takes being shown at least three dots to establish a pattern. With being shown only two dots, one black and one white….it is really 50/50 as to what is next, but if the kid didn’t assume black they got it wrong.
I had my kid do the 3rd grade Cogat in 2nd grade just to avoid such nonsense. How many other parents who are busy know you can elect to have your kid take the 3rd grade Cogat instead?

4- I can see where a child could be brilliant and not “impress” the needed middle school teachers for a TJ recommend, especially if the student had a 504/IEP. Many FCPS teachers and parents openly speak about they feel justified tanking these kids as “they would be taking up a spot a kid who didn’t need accommodations could have.”
There are more 504/IEPs in poorer schools for many reasons. Some of these kids are brilliant and could excel at TJ.

5- After school stem programs in FCPS middle schools aren’t of even quality in all the middle schools. For instance, Longfellow Middle School parents pay for a second Science Olympiad teacher each year. Elementary schools are terribly uneven to non-existent at some schools. Hard to check the box for “experience” when your applying to be on the middle school MathCounts team when your elementary school didn’t even have a 6th grade team.

6- Some elementary schools will test and allow 6th and even 5th grade students to take Algevra 1. Others won’t. It makes a huge difference later if your one of these brilliant kids.

7- My own kids 6th grade teacher was terrible at math and made frequent grading mistakes. My kid would come home wanting to scream after a day of listening to her incorrectly state basic math. It’s not even correct instruction at all schools and it does unfairly effect outcomes.