Surprise top-down changes to AAP center this fall . . .

[Anonymous]

You're welcome. What are they proposing at Forest Edge then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't it interesting that 90% of the posts on the "AAP" forum, at least in this thread, appear to be from disgruntled parents of children in the GE program? I thought the idea of this forum was to keep you from being offended by any mention of the program, but here you are, seeking out an opportunity to attack any parent who is genuinely interested in discussing the structure and delivery of the educational program that FCPS says is appropriate for their child and is supposed to be providing.

You all are so quick to trash the AAP program and accuse parents of trying to elevate their children at the expense of yours -- never considering that perhaps YOU are the ones who cannot tolerate the thought that another child may need a different kind of educational program -- not better, different -- and one that is promised by this public school system as appropriate for that child. Would you tell the parent of a child with a learning disability, physical challenges, or other special needs that the public school system is not the place for them, because it's not fair that anyone gets anything different from what your child receives? Your anger, snark, misunderstanding of GT education, and stubborn insistence that most posters' children could not possibly have different educational needs is really only revealing of your own ignorance and insecurities.

Yes. Are you posters also lurking in the other forums just to trash and snark? I know that's not usually the case in the Special Needs forum (thank goodness) because I also frequent there -- because guess what, many times highly gifted also comes with other special needs. The statements and assumptions of some posts here are hurtful and extremely inaccurate.

I for one appreciate this forum being a source of information, especially since FCPS has been so opaque and frankly, misleading, about changes they are making to programs that will affect my children.

[Anonymous]

What Forest Edge is doing hasn't even been defined yet on this forum. You're interpreting that your child won't get the services he or she needs without even understanding the proposal. Special Ed children are mainstreamed because it's better for them socially as well as academically whether their gifted or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't it interesting that 90% of the posts on the "AAP" forum, at least in this thread, appear to be from disgruntled parents of children in the GE program? I thought the idea of this forum was to keep you from being offended by any mention of the program, but here you are, seeking out an opportunity to attack any parent who is genuinely interested in discussing the structure and delivery of the educational program that FCPS says is appropriate for their child and is supposed to be providing.

You all are so quick to trash the AAP program and accuse parents of trying to elevate their children at the expense of yours -- never considering that perhaps YOU are the ones who cannot tolerate the thought that another child may need a different kind of educational program -- not better, different -- and one that is promised by this public school system as appropriate for that child. Would you tell the parent of a child with a learning disability, physical challenges, or other special needs that the public school system is not the place for them, because it's not fair that anyone gets anything different from what your child receives? Your anger, snark, misunderstanding of GT education, and stubborn insistence that most posters' children could not possibly have different educational needs is really only revealing of your own ignorance and insecurities.

Yes. Are you posters also lurking in the other forums just to trash and snark? I know that's not usually the case in the Special Needs forum (thank goodness) because I also frequent there -- because guess what, many times highly gifted also comes with other special needs. The statements and assumptions of some posts here are hurtful and extremely inaccurate.

I for one appreciate this forum being a source of information, especially since FCPS has been so opaque and frankly, misleading, about changes they are making to programs that will affect my children.

I'm sorry. I didn't realize that these programs only affect your children. I've been thinking all along that these forums are useful ways for everyone to express their thoughts about AAP, pro and con. Yes, FCPS has certainly been opaque, which is why there are many parents who are upset about the way things are going, both in AAP and GE. We also appreciate these forums and the many and varied points of view shared here. Believe it or not, there are MANY parents who don't feel the way you do, not just one or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't it interesting that 90% of the posts on the "AAP" forum, at least in this thread, appear to be from disgruntled parents of children in the GE program? I thought the idea of this forum was to keep you from being offended by any mention of the program, but here you are, seeking out an opportunity to attack any parent who is genuinely interested in discussing the structure and delivery of the educational program that FCPS says is appropriate for their child and is supposed to be providing.

You all are so quick to trash the AAP program and accuse parents of trying to elevate their children at the expense of yours -- never considering that perhaps YOU are the ones who cannot tolerate the thought that another child may need a different kind of educational program -- not better, different -- and one that is promised by this public school system as appropriate for that child. Would you tell the parent of a child with a learning disability, physical challenges, or other special needs that the public school system is not the place for them, because it's not fair that anyone gets anything different from what your child receives? Your anger, snark, misunderstanding of GT education, and stubborn insistence that most posters' children could not possibly have different educational needs is really only revealing of your own ignorance and insecurities.

Yes. Are you posters also lurking in the other forums just to trash and snark? I know that's not usually the case in the Special Needs forum (thank goodness) because I also frequent there -- because guess what, many times highly gifted also comes with other special needs. The statements and assumptions of some posts here are hurtful and extremely inaccurate.

I for one appreciate this forum being a source of information, especially since FCPS has been so opaque and frankly, misleading, about changes they are making to programs that will affect my children.

I'm sorry. I didn't realize that these programs only affect your children. I've been thinking all along that these forums are useful ways for everyone to express their thoughts about AAP, pro and con. Yes, FCPS has certainly been opaque, which is why there are many parents who are upset about the way things are going, both in AAP and GE. We also appreciate these forums and the many and varied points of view shared here. Believe it or not, there are MANY parents who don't feel the way you do, not just one or two.

I was referring specifically to posters who "trash and snark," not those "expressing their thoughts." Huge difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't it interesting that 90% of the posts on the "AAP" forum, at least in this thread, appear to be from disgruntled parents of children in the GE program? I thought the idea of this forum was to keep you from being offended by any mention of the program, but here you are, seeking out an opportunity to attack any parent who is genuinely interested in discussing the structure and delivery of the educational program that FCPS says is appropriate for their child and is supposed to be providing.

You all are so quick to trash the AAP program and accuse parents of trying to elevate their children at the expense of yours -- never considering that perhaps YOU are the ones who cannot tolerate the thought that another child may need a different kind of educational program -- not better, different -- and one that is promised by this public school system as appropriate for that child. Would you tell the parent of a child with a learning disability, physical challenges, or other special needs that the public school system is not the place for them, because it's not fair that anyone gets anything different from what your child receives? Your anger, snark, misunderstanding of GT education, and stubborn insistence that most posters' children could not possibly have different educational needs is really only revealing of your own ignorance and insecurities.

Yes. Are you posters also lurking in the other forums just to trash and snark? I know that's not usually the case in the Special Needs forum (thank goodness) because I also frequent there -- because guess what, many times highly gifted also comes with other special needs. The statements and assumptions of some posts here are hurtful and extremely inaccurate.

I for one appreciate this forum being a source of information, especially since FCPS has been so opaque and frankly, misleading, about changes they are making to programs that will affect my children.

I'm sorry. I didn't realize that these programs only affect your children. I've been thinking all along that these forums are useful ways for everyone to express their thoughts about AAP, pro and con. Yes, FCPS has certainly been opaque, which is why there are many parents who are upset about the way things are going, both in AAP and GE. We also appreciate these forums and the many and varied points of view shared here. Believe it or not, there are MANY parents who don't feel the way you do, not just one or two.

Oh, no. The damn peasants and watered down AAP is good engough for my kids (and yours) types have found the AAP forum again. It looks like, JSteele needs to create yet another forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't it interesting that 90% of the posts on the "AAP" forum, at least in this thread, appear to be from disgruntled parents of children in the GE program? I thought the idea of this forum was to keep you from being offended by any mention of the program, but here you are, seeking out an opportunity to attack any parent who is genuinely interested in discussing the structure and delivery of the educational program that FCPS says is appropriate for their child and is supposed to be providing.

You all are so quick to trash the AAP program and accuse parents of trying to elevate their children at the expense of yours -- never considering that perhaps YOU are the ones who cannot tolerate the thought that another child may need a different kind of educational program -- not better, different -- and one that is promised by this public school system as appropriate for that child. Would you tell the parent of a child with a learning disability, physical challenges, or other special needs that the public school system is not the place for them, because it's not fair that anyone gets anything different from what your child receives? Your anger, snark, misunderstanding of GT education, and stubborn insistence that most posters' children could not possibly have different educational needs is really only revealing of your own ignorance and insecurities.

Yes. Are you posters also lurking in the other forums just to trash and snark? I know that's not usually the case in the Special Needs forum (thank goodness) because I also frequent there -- because guess what, many times highly gifted also comes with other special needs. The statements and assumptions of some posts here are hurtful and extremely inaccurate.

I for one appreciate this forum being a source of information, especially since FCPS has been so opaque and frankly, misleading, about changes they are making to programs that will affect my children.

I'm sorry. I didn't realize that these programs only affect your children. I've been thinking all along that these forums are useful ways for everyone to express their thoughts about AAP, pro and con. Yes, FCPS has certainly been opaque, which is why there are many parents who are upset about the way things are going, both in AAP and GE. We also appreciate these forums and the many and varied points of view shared here. Believe it or not, there are MANY parents who don't feel the way you do, not just one or two.

Oh, no. The damn peasants and watered down AAP is good engough for my kids (and yours) types have found the AAP forum again. It looks like, JSteele needs to create yet another forum.

A perfect example of how lip service is paid to everyone respectfully expressing their views, whether pro or con for AAP, but then when those of us who have criticisms of it speak up, the snark is laid on heavily. If you want others to cut the snark, try setting an example. This is a forum for any and all to express opinions about AAP. It's not necessarily the AAP fan club, as much as you might wish it to be.

[Anonymous]

So what is the actual proposed change at Forest Edge?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:19:56 In case you don't know, special ed is integrated for the most part in schools these days. Why shouldn't AAP be as well? A center school just isn't going to have a general ed population that is overly low in academics. Many families just don't even want to be in a school like an AAP center where they're outnumbered and the talk is focused around the Center. An AAP child can attend a class a couple of times a week with a non-AAP child. Come on. FCPS is one of the only schools that even has this program. The rest of the school districts just have pull outs a couple of times a week and their AAP students seem to survive.

They survive, but do they thrive?

I've seen it first-hand. The answer to your question (yeah, I know it was rhetorical but it actually does have an answer) "Why should AAP be [integrated] as well," is this: Teachers are too overworked already to do the kind of differentiation in the classroom that AAP kids would need to be truly challenged. If they aren't challenged or taught at a speed that works for them, they will check out and be bored. So you'll say, "Heaven forbid the snowflakes should be bored," right? Well, yes, heaven forbid, because losing a smart kid to boredom and disinterest in school, when there is the opportunity to keep that child engaged, is wrong.

Pull-outs a few times a week aren't the same as having every class, every day with a group of peers who move at the same speed and who are equally interested in learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're welcome. What are they proposing at Forest Edge then?

Did you DC not get into AAP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're welcome. What are they proposing at Forest Edge then?

Did you DC not get into AAP?

Not the OP, but this is yet another perfect example of the AAP parents' snarkiness. Between this "response" and the tired old "sour grapes" retort, you really are going to have to expect some snarkiness right back. Don't start your complaining that the Gen Ed parents are big old meanies when you can't even have a civilized conversation yourselves.

[Anonymous]

I only asked so that the changes are defined for this forum instead of people freaking out over something they don't even know the details on. I don't have a child at Forest Edge, but I would assume if there are changes at Forest Edge there may be changes elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only asked so that the changes are defined for this forum instead of people freaking out over something they don't even know the details on. I don't have a child at Forest Edge, but I would assume if there are changes at Forest Edge there may be changes elsewhere.

Changes are made by the principal

[Anonymous]

OP wrote: "I hope the parents will not stand for this and that it will not become the new trend spreading throughout FCPS AAP." Are you saying now that it was the parents who pushed for this particular change? Why would a principal make a change unless some parents asked for it or if they got feedback from admin? How do we know if there will be a new trend in AAP if we don't even know what is happening at Forest Edge?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I only asked so that the changes are defined for this forum instead of people freaking out over something they don't even know the details on. I don't have a child at Forest Edge, but I would assume if there are changes at Forest Edge there may be changes elsewhere.

Changes are made by the principal

How much latitude does the principal have? Something like what is being talked about here sounds out of the bounds of the FCPS-wide stated guidelines for AAP, and I would think that's not at the principal's discretion.

Anyone know?