TJ Seniors - not allowed to walk at graduation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone knows TJ is not what it was before the admissions changes so the idea of a special TJ diploma in 2026 is a farce.

Mukai came in last year and started following the rules again and a crap ton of freshmen didn't return this last fall and a crap ton of froshmores join the current sophomore class. The froshmores are all pretty well qualified. We might see one more year of inconsistent quality. I suspect SAT scores will still be low for next year's graduating class with higher scores for the class of 2028.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The students fulfilled all requirements to earn an FCPS diploma, and therefore should participate in all the ceremonies of graduation.

It doesn't matter that they failed to earn the extra math credit that's specifically for TJ. Otherwise you're telling them that other kids who did much worse than them in other FCPS schools can walk, but they cannot, just because they're in a different building??? That's patently unfair on the face of it.

Also, the letter families received was only a few days before graduation, leaving them with only a very short period of time to appeal. That's just plain mean.

Why is TJ nitpicking, for God's sakes? These kids have a failed math class on their transcripts, but have still graduation requirements. Why shame them further?

Because those ore the rules. The waiver has to be requested before it can be granted.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My understanding is you still walk with your class, but diploma will be pending until passing required classes even at the University.

Approved to walk is the right call. The young people did not try to fail a class, they will have to deal with it this summer but not walking with the class would be unnecessary torture, what would be the point, to single them out?

They had chances to improve the grade and didn't. So, they kind of did try to fail if they weren't doing what they needed to do to pass.

I think you've replied several times with this ridiculous claim. Just stop. You can't do everything you want either. You too, have tried and failed in your life. It's better for these kids to shoot higher and fail one class, than not try at all.

If they meet FCPS requirements, they should be allowed to walk.

You're as dumb as these kids. “A lot of these students have had opportunities [to improve their grade]. For most of them, the grade isn’t a surprise.

The extra requirement to walk at the ceremony is a surprise and was dropped on the students with little notice. Not surprised since Mukai is a terrible communicator and constantly moves the goalposts on students and staff.

They didn't meet the graduation requirements and thought nothing was going to happen? Welcome to the real world, kiddos.

Are you really this dense? They met the FCPS requirement and did not know about the extra requirement until the last minute.

I'd like to see where these students were put on notice that they needed to qualify for a TJ diploma to walk.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My understanding is you still walk with your class, but diploma will be pending until passing required classes even at the University.

Approved to walk is the right call. The young people did not try to fail a class, they will have to deal with it this summer but not walking with the class would be unnecessary torture, what would be the point, to single them out?

They had chances to improve the grade and didn't. So, they kind of did try to fail if they weren't doing what they needed to do to pass.

I think you've replied several times with this ridiculous claim. Just stop. You can't do everything you want either. You too, have tried and failed in your life. It's better for these kids to shoot higher and fail one class, than not try at all.

If they meet FCPS requirements, they should be allowed to walk.

You're as dumb as these kids. “A lot of these students have had opportunities [to improve their grade]. For most of them, the grade isn’t a surprise.

The extra requirement to walk at the ceremony is a surprise and was dropped on the students with little notice. Not surprised since Mukai is a terrible communicator and constantly moves the goalposts on students and staff.

They didn't meet the graduation requirements and thought nothing was going to happen? Welcome to the real world, kiddos.

Are you really this dense? They met the FCPS requirement and did not know about the extra requirement until the last minute.

Maybe just read it again because you didn't understand the first time.

Clearly you didn't actually read the article.

No, that would be you. Because this is much ado about nothing. They got a letter that said they couldn't "automatically" walk unless they appealed which they all did and it was settled. Whoopdy doo.

Yes, they got the letter at the last minute instead of the requirement being communicated at the beginning of the year.

You think they would have passed if they knew about this requirement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
From what I read, key point:
They sent the letter on June 2 (also last school day for senior).
Today (graduation) is June 6.

This is new, it does not applies years before.

I'm sure it did not apply during Bonitatibus because she basically waived everything to try and make the new admissions process look like a success.
But I am not sure that this was even an issue before the new admissions process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should be able to walk because they earned a State of Virginia diploma. There is no need for the drama. They didn’t earn the TJ Diploma, I doubt that really matters. I doubt future employers would even know that there is a difference between the regular diploma, advanced diploma, and TJ diploma. No one is going to ask about that in the future.

I am guessing these are the kids that were asking how to get a waiver for having to take calculus at TJ last year and who seemed annoyed that it was a requirement for attending TJ. I don’t understand why people want to attend TJ if they are not interested in the math. It is mind boggling to me but I guess they are banking on telling people they graduated from TJ and thinking that it is the golden ticket. I doubt kids who were flunking a class did well in other classes or did well in their college applications. It makes no sense to me.

It's because they think there is something magical about going to TJ that makes you smart when you need to be smart to survive at TJ.
You can see the way the school board talked about TJ as if it was some sort of prize that we were giving to asian kids and withholding from other kids.
TJ is like any other forms of elite training, seal, olympic development sports, MOPS, its wasted on the unprepared and does them no favors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
From what I read, key point:
They sent the letter on June 2 (also last school day for senior).
Today (graduation) is June 6.

This is new, it does not applies years before.

Were there kids who didn’t meet this requirement in years before?

The article says that this has happened before and kids just graduated.

Under Bonitatibus a lot of shit just happened

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When they forced the low performance schools to be included this is the result good job

You are quick.
This has happened before.
There are smart kids in low performance schools.
Sorry your kid didn’t get in.

DP

There are absolutely smart kids at poor schools.
But how the heck would the selection committee ever know who they were without a standardized test?
They all have 4.0 GPA in 8th grade
We are at the point where the parents of kids at these title 1 schools would like to know where their kids stand before committing to TJ. The best indication they have is a cogat or iowa test they took years earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s silly to spring on these kids that they can’t walk at the last minute.

However, it’s deeply troubling that these kids can’t pass calculus. And shocking that they are taking Calc in 12th grade at TJ. The admissions changes really impacted the school that my kids graduated from just a few years ago.

Mukai is fixing it as best he can by enforcing the GPA requirement and sending a lot of kids back to their schools after freshman year and recruiting large froshmore classes.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My understanding is you still walk with your class, but diploma will be pending until passing required classes even at the University.

Approved to walk is the right call. The young people did not try to fail a class, they will have to deal with it this summer but not walking with the class would be unnecessary torture, what would be the point, to single them out?

They had chances to improve the grade and didn't. So, they kind of did try to fail if they weren't doing what they needed to do to pass.

I think you've replied several times with this ridiculous claim. Just stop. You can't do everything you want either. You too, have tried and failed in your life. It's better for these kids to shoot higher and fail one class, than not try at all.

If they meet FCPS requirements, they should be allowed to walk.

You're as dumb as these kids. “A lot of these students have had opportunities [to improve their grade]. For most of them, the grade isn’t a surprise.

The extra requirement to walk at the ceremony is a surprise and was dropped on the students with little notice. Not surprised since Mukai is a terrible communicator and constantly moves the goalposts on students and staff.

They didn't meet the graduation requirements and thought nothing was going to happen? Welcome to the real world, kiddos.

Are you really this dense? They met the FCPS requirement and did not know about the extra requirement until the last minute.

Maybe just read it again because you didn't understand the first time.

Clearly you didn't actually read the article.

No, that would be you. Because this is much ado about nothing. They got a letter that said they couldn't "automatically" walk unless they appealed which they all did and it was settled. Whoopdy doo.

Yes, they got the letter at the last minute instead of the requirement being communicated at the beginning of the year.

So? What difference does it make? More time to craft an appeal?

You don't think TJ should be transparent about graduation requirements from the beginning? Even the counselors were caught off guard by the letters and requirement.

What requirement are you talking about?

Did you even read the article?

Yes. the requirements haven't changed. So what are you talking about?

This has already been repeatedly discussed. The specific TJ requirement to walk is new and was sent to students with only a few days notice.

All it asked them to do was file an exemption. And they did. They knew they didn't meet the requirements for the TJ degree but assumed they could walk anyway. This isn't about graduation requirements it's just about participating in the ceremony.

They assumed they could walk because that has always been the case before. If TJ wants to change the rules, fine, but don't do it with just a few days notice. It should've been clear all year.

I think it's always been the rule but Bonitatibus didn't really observe the rule because it reflected poorly on the new admissions process.

[Anonymous]

I'm a TJ parent and super pissed...the math department at TJ is the worst. It's eell known that you can be getting a C or even D in math and a 5 on the AP exam.

This was totally the wrong call.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My understanding is you still walk with your class, but diploma will be pending until passing required classes even at the University.

Approved to walk is the right call. The young people did not try to fail a class, they will have to deal with it this summer but not walking with the class would be unnecessary torture, what would be the point, to single them out?

They had chances to improve the grade and didn't. So, they kind of did try to fail if they weren't doing what they needed to do to pass.

I think you've replied several times with this ridiculous claim. Just stop. You can't do everything you want either. You too, have tried and failed in your life. It's better for these kids to shoot higher and fail one class, than not try at all.

If they meet FCPS requirements, they should be allowed to walk.

You're as dumb as these kids. “A lot of these students have had opportunities [to improve their grade]. For most of them, the grade isn’t a surprise.

The extra requirement to walk at the ceremony is a surprise and was dropped on the students with little notice. Not surprised since Mukai is a terrible communicator and constantly moves the goalposts on students and staff.

They didn't meet the graduation requirements and thought nothing was going to happen? Welcome to the real world, kiddos.

Are you really this dense? They met the FCPS requirement and did not know about the extra requirement until the last minute.

Maybe just read it again because you didn't understand the first time.

Clearly you didn't actually read the article.

No, that would be you. Because this is much ado about nothing. They got a letter that said they couldn't "automatically" walk unless they appealed which they all did and it was settled. Whoopdy doo.

Yes, they got the letter at the last minute instead of the requirement being communicated at the beginning of the year.

So? What difference does it make? More time to craft an appeal?

You don't think TJ should be transparent about graduation requirements from the beginning? Even the counselors were caught off guard by the letters and requirement.

What requirement are you talking about?

Did you even read the article?

Yes. the requirements haven't changed. So what are you talking about?

This has already been repeatedly discussed. The specific TJ requirement to walk is new and was sent to students with only a few days notice.

All it asked them to do was file an exemption. And they did. They knew they didn't meet the requirements for the TJ degree but assumed they could walk anyway. This isn't about graduation requirements it's just about participating in the ceremony.

They assumed they could walk because that has always been the case before. If TJ wants to change the rules, fine, but don't do it with just a few days notice. It should've been clear all year.

So they had to send an email to resolve it. This isn't a catastrophe.

Them what was even the point of this whole mess?

Guess they had to address the rampant failing and are cracking down. How would they know at the start of the year how many people would blow the class off and not try to pass? Walking at graduation has always been subject to certain rules and some kids aren't able to do it across most schools.

Rampant failing? It sounded like a small number of students. Look, we know you don't like including poor kids from Title 1 MS who only have Algebra 1 H at TJ but they meet the requirements for admission to a public school. You don’t know why they chose to stay at a school where the math was too hard for them. Maybe they really appreciated the challenging classes in other subjects and felt that they were getting a better then they would at their base school. Maybe it was a pride thing. Maybe they didn’t want to leave new friends. Maybe they didn’t have a lot of friends at their old ES and MS because they were ahead of their classmates even if you don’t see it that way.

Chill out. There are kids at TJ that don’t meet many of our ideas about who should be at TJ but there are a variety of reasons for kids to attend that are valid.

There are a limited number of seats at TJ. Those reasons are not valid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s silly to spring on these kids that they can’t walk at the last minute.

However, it’s deeply troubling that these kids can’t pass calculus. And shocking that they are taking Calc in 12th grade at TJ. The admissions changes really impacted the school that my kids graduated from just a few years ago.

Mukai is fixing it as best he can by enforcing the GPA requirement and sending a lot of kids back to their schools after freshman year and recruiting large froshmore classes.

That's not likely to go well. I can't imagine a sophomore being flung into the rigor of TJ.

Besides the fact that the actual issue at TJ is rampant cheating. That's the only way to succeed in classes like math where teachers have openly told me they don't teach the class material. Kids are expected to teach themselves and each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My understanding is you still walk with your class, but diploma will be pending until passing required classes even at the University.

Approved to walk is the right call. The young people did not try to fail a class, they will have to deal with it this summer but not walking with the class would be unnecessary torture, what would be the point, to single them out?

They had chances to improve the grade and didn't. So, they kind of did try to fail if they weren't doing what they needed to do to pass.

I think you've replied several times with this ridiculous claim. Just stop. You can't do everything you want either. You too, have tried and failed in your life. It's better for these kids to shoot higher and fail one class, than not try at all.

If they meet FCPS requirements, they should be allowed to walk.

You're as dumb as these kids. “A lot of these students have had opportunities [to improve their grade]. For most of them, the grade isn’t a surprise.

The extra requirement to walk at the ceremony is a surprise and was dropped on the students with little notice. Not surprised since Mukai is a terrible communicator and constantly moves the goalposts on students and staff.

Oh it's you again.
Mukai is enforcing rules. The fact that Bonitatibus didn't enforce rules doesn't make Mukai administratively capricious by enforcing the rules.
I know you didn't like it that he basically sent back entire delegations from historically underrepresented schools after they couldn't keep their GPA above 3.0 and replaced them with Froshmores from "feeder" schools. It's not that the kids were born different, they were trained differently and to take a kid that has spent their entire life at the shallow end of the pool and throwing them in the deep end with kids that have been there their entire life is not a recipe for success. To some extent it is always going to be harder at the underrepresented schools but if you blow smoke and pretend there isn't even a problem in K-8 in those pyramids, you are never going to close the gap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a TJ parent and super pissed...the math department at TJ is the worst. It's eell known that you can be getting a C or even D in math and a 5 on the AP exam.

This was totally the wrong call.

They allowed them to walk. What other result would you have wanted?