Is new MCPS superintendent going to eliminate Math Acceleration in elementary schools?

[Anonymous]

OP here: Boy this is off track. I doubt that most kids and most parents would prep their kids for a 2nd grade GT test. For one thing, it is not the sole determinant for getting into a magnet. In fact, I don't know how they decide magnets admission, but I doubt it is based just on a 2nd grade test score. Second, I think it would take some work to find out the test and obtain a valuable number of old questions for studying. I am not even sure you could get this kind of information as I still don't know the questions on that test. Finally, I don't think an MCPS magnet ES education ensures that you will land in an Ivy school and end up with lucrative career. To me, the best prep is just to read to the kids nightly and help them with math, but that is what we should do for all our kids. The point of the thread was to push for schooling that challenges all children at the right level. If we challenge kids at the local school, the attractiveness of magnets will lesson.

[Anonymous]

Children preparing for any test is simply not my definition of cruelty in America. Cruelty in America is the number of her children living below the poverty line and the number of children (a vulnerable population) without health insurance. Prepping, preparing for any test (magnet entrance test or otherwise) simply does not meet standards for cruelty. In fact, some would argue America's children need more primary and secondary school preparation since many are failing to meet even the standards held by many much less rich nations of the globe.

[Anonymous]

I"m the one who said it was "kind of cruel." Of course I don't mean cruelty like the type we perpetrate against poor kids by denying them good educations etc.

What I meant was that it as kind of cruel to force feed a child test answers to get them into a program that they aren't right for if they need such prep to get in. Not everyone needs such a program, and they are a lot of work and can be very stressful for the wrong kids.

[Anonymous]

I"m the one who said it was "kind of cruel." Of course I don't mean cruelty like the type we perpetrate against poor kids by denying them good educations etc.

What I meant was that it as kind of cruel to force feed a child test answers to get them into a program that they aren't right for if they need such prep to get in. Not everyone needs such a program, and they are a lot of work and can be very stressful for the wrong kids.

Since when does prepping for school entrance exams become the equivalent of "force feeding to get into a program they aren't right for"? This isn't a Dick Cheney view of torture. What makes a program, athletic team or school orchestra right for a child? How many athletes or musicians don't prep and practice for an audition or game? Is this not the rule rather than exception? Why is school or taking a test any different. Your incredulous reasoning defies logic. How can you judge a child, unbeknownst to you, who needs a program (school, athletic team or orchestra) and whether the program will stress them out on the basis of advance preparation for an audition or test.

Certifiably nutty thinking. What do you really mean by "kind of cruel" or like your logic you throw around terms you don't actually mean to write.

[Anonymous]

The brain (e.g., intelligence and mental performance) is no different from the body (e.g., physical performance). Both compartments are made up of the same biosubstances. Both compartments respond to nutrition, exercise, stimulation and challenge. There are too many liberal artsy, fartsy and political types on DCUM who are simply scientific and medical illiterates.

I would recommend a healthy dose of mathematics, science and technology for these boneheads. Prepping, practice, and repetition are as good for lacrosse, swimming and music (or running for office) as mathematics and tests or school entrance exams. This does not result in a stress test leading to inappropriate placement rather less competition for the children of those obsessed with preaching to others that play and no preparation are the keys to readiness and a quality education.

Malarky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The brain (e.g., intelligence and mental performance) is no different from the body (e.g., physical performance). Both compartments are made up of the same biosubstances. Both compartments respond to nutrition, exercise, stimulation and challenge. There are too many liberal artsy, fartsy and political types on DCUM who are simply scientific and medical illiterates.

I would recommend a healthy dose of mathematics, science and technology for these boneheads. Prepping, practice, and repetition are as good for lacrosse, swimming and music (or running for office) as mathematics and tests or school entrance exams. This does not result in a stress test leading to inappropriate placement rather less competition for the children of those obsessed with preaching to others that play and no preparation are the keys to readiness and a quality education.

Malarky.

You totally don't get it. These tests don't look at your math, science or technology ability and they aren't designed to be prepared for. Once you get into them you have to work very hard, but it's counterproductive to work so hard to get into them.

I have observed, over the past few years, a few kids in my child's classes whose parents worked REALLY hard to get them into the magnet programs: prepping for the testing, writing their essays for them on the application, etc. Then the kids get in and struggle. I'm not talking about healthy-competition kind of struggle, but really in-over-their-head, never-should-have-been-there struggle.

My point was that parents do their children no favor when they take extraordinary steps to get them into programs for which they are really not suited. That is all.

[Anonymous]

You totally don't get it. These tests don't look at your math, science or technology ability and they aren't designed to be prepared for. Once you get into them you have to work very hard, but it's counterproductive to work so hard to get into them.

I have observed, over the past few years, a few kids in my child's classes whose parents worked REALLY hard to get them into the magnet programs: prepping for the testing, writing their essays for them on the application, etc. Then the kids get in and struggle. I'm not talking about healthy-competition kind of struggle, but really in-over-their-head, never-should-have-been-there struggle.

My point was that parents do their children no favor when they take extraordinary steps to get them into programs for which they are really not suited. That is all.

You clearly don't get it. Tell us what these supremely validated and predictive super duper tests tell (you appear to worship) us about stressophilia and program incompatibility in second graders (7 year-olds)? Preparation and prepping are neither extraordinary steps for any educational endeavor nor cruelty and torture. Tolerance of children living below the poverty line and without medical insurance is the definition of torture...not studying or preparing for an exam (whether for a 2nd grader or university student). You have no clue what cruelty and suffering is all about.

[Anonymous]

PP, I believe you are a nutcase. I recommend that you seek professional help immediately.

[Anonymous]

PP, I believe you are a nutcase. I recommend that you seek professional help immediately.

Your comments remain consistent with yet another one of your wacky beliefs. Continue to humor us.

[Anonymous]

If anyone has attended the MCPS curriculum 2.0 session, please let us know if they addressed the topic of math acceleration and any insights on how they will differentiate