Second community meeting on Choice Study?

[Anonymous]

Any one went?

I heard they did not use the baseball picture. I wonder why?

[Anonymous]

been there. lots of Whites and Blacks, some Asians. Almost none Hispanic. The speakers and table coordinators are mostly AA. After a brief introduction, each table was supposed to discuss 3 questions for 15 minutes each. Don't remember the exact questions. They are something like

1) MCPS values equity, and what do you think an equitable school system should look like?

2) For what reason should a student be able to choose a school other than home school?

3) Additional comments and concerns about the study findings.

Several parents expresses opposition on removing sibling links of immersion program. Several Asian parents expressed their concerns on recommendation 3a and feel equal standards should be held for all applicants to the magnet programs. Several African American parents voiced their concerns about the fact that the current choice programs (mostly magnet programs) don't reflect the county demographics and advocated for change the admission criteria by considering different types of talents (such as artistic talent?)

It's just my personal impression. May not be accurate.

[Anonymous]

by the way, no poster of any kind. Don't know about the baseball picture.

[Anonymous]

They used the baseball equity picture in the first meeting.

I think artistic talent is good if the magnet program is a art program. What does that have to with a STEM program?

[Anonymous]

Our table was not in favor of the sibling link. We were asked to justify it no one could. One parent argued that it's s hardship in parents, but compromised that a cosa to the English program at the same school would take care of this issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:been there. lots of Whites and Blacks, some Asians. Almost none Hispanic. The speakers and table coordinators are mostly AA. After a brief introduction, each table was supposed to discuss 3 questions for 15 minutes each. Don't remember the exact questions. They are something like

1) MCPS values equity, and what do you think an equitable school system should look like?

2) For what reason should a student be able to choose a school other than home school?

3) Additional comments and concerns about the study findings.

Several parents expresses opposition on removing sibling links of immersion program. Several Asian parents expressed their concerns on recommendation 3a and feel equal standards should be held for all applicants to the magnet programs. Several African American parents voiced their concerns about the fact that the current choice programs (mostly magnet programs) don't reflect the county demographics and advocated for change the admission criteria by considering different types of talents (such as artistic talent?)

It's just my personal impression. May not be accurate.

If the magnet program focuses on the arts, sure, that makes sense. But, not it was focused on, say, science. It's like saying my geeky kid should be allowed to play on the school basket team because he is good at computers.

[Anonymous]

It's laughable that someone would think the magnet program should reflect the demographics of the county. If that's what mcps is after, then those programs should be removed indeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's laughable that someone would think the magnet program should reflect the demographics of the county. If that's what mcps is after, then those programs should be removed indeed.

Why is it laughable? I'm not laughing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's laughable that someone would think the magnet program should reflect the demographics of the county. If that's what mcps is after, then those programs should be removed indeed.

I'll translate - we don't need to spend resources outside of what benefits my child.
Or more to the point -I don't care about brown kids. If the program is 100 % white and Asian all the better.

[Anonymous]

How about..I want MCPS to have programs geared to high performing students. I want them to be chosen for their ability to perform well in advanced/accelerated classrooms. I don't care what color their skin is. I also want English Language classes for kids that do not speak English fluently. I do not want them to reflect the demographics of the county. I want them to help the kids that need it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about..I want MCPS to have programs geared to high performing students. I want them to be chosen for their ability to perform well in advanced/accelerated classrooms. I don't care what color their skin is. I also want English Language classes for kids that do not speak English fluently. I do not want them to reflect the demographics of the county. I want them to help the kids that need it.

I would expect the ESOL classes, overall, to reflect the demographics of the kids who do not speak English fluently.

[Anonymous]

MCPS should either
- Have advanced program/GT classes in all schools based on children performance. (Everyone would love it, and I do not care what color kids are there, as long as they work hard and CAPABLE TO KEEP UP WITH WORK.)
- Have test in program (like now), that is race, religion, gender blind.
If you start to bring something to option 2 except abilities, program becomes useless. It cannot be competitive if you take competition out.
You cannot produce top scientist or top mathematicians if you select them based on their artistic abilities and willingness to study. It just does not work that way.

Think this way. You want your child to be gifted musician. If his abilities are limited, you cannot make him top musician no matter how much money you spend on tutors or how good his teachers are. You need way above average abilities. Top 1-2%, and you do not care about color of the skin or race when you see one playing.
I do not understand how MCPS does not get it with STEM. No matter what curriculum you will use, child who is not born technical cannot become top mathematician. Average engineer, may be, with a lot of hard work.

I have two technical kids, and one non-technical.
No matter how much time I spend with non-technical kid doing math, math is living his head very quickly. I have Math degree and taught two other kids too.

So MCPS mixing goals. What is the goal? Do we want magnets for top kids who cannot be served in local schools? Or do we want to show on paper that we are working on equality? Then forget about magnets. That is totally different issue.
You just can't have both.

Do you think that Asian and White, Green or Purple people will send their kids to "Magnets" across county to seat in the class similar on the level (or just a margin above) than at local W schools?
In your dreams MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So MCPS mixing goals. What is the goal? Do we want magnets for top kids who cannot be served in local schools? Or do we want to show on paper that we are working on equality? Then forget about magnets. That is totally different issue.

Yes, we do. All of the top kids. Not just the ones who picked fortunate parents to be born to.

[Anonymous]

If you think the current GT programs only serve kids who have "fortunate" parents (whatever that means). How will you select/define the "top" kids? What type of curriculum will they get since they do not necessarily perform well enough in school to test as gifted.

[Anonymous]

Please correct me if i am wrong. Didn't a AA mom said she want students who are good in performance to be placed in the magnet? I had hard to hear many speakers.