Why are there so many non AAP parents coming to the AAP board to derail discussions and complain?

[Anonymous]

Except there is a repeat of the selection process year after year through appeals.

[Anonymous]

But no method of testing AAP students every year to make sure they really belong there. I totally agree with PP who made the case that in other activities (sports, arts) the child has to prove himself each and every season or with each performance, otherwise they are not on the team, etc. Within AAP, there is no such recheck every year and there needs to be. Especially with the numbers who have been admitted in recent years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Plenty of parents think AAP is overblown . . . they have every right to post on this thread . . . " Gosh, you're right! Power to the people! It's just so heartwarming to see the majority GE parents bonding over their mutual certainty about AAP! Maybe next we can meet on the HS sports blogs or discussions of arts & theater and +1000 each other about how "we all agree" the schools should cut off funding for those activities. After all, those kids on Varsity, getting all that special treatment -- they aren't any more talented than ours, and there's really no place for elevating one child over another. You know, almost all of those parents are really pushy too -- getting their kids extra violin lessons, private coaches, etc. Why do those parents think their kids are SO special -- my kids would be just fine without a sports team, music class, orchestra, school plays, why can't theirs -- if they are TRULY that talented, FCPS isn't for them anyway, why don't they go to some fancy private school?!

It is much harder to fake talent in sports or the arts. Sure, the kids can have extra coaching and private lessons, but if they don't have the actual underlying talent, it shows. When that child is out there on the field or the stage, everyone is watching and can see whether or not they have what it takes. Each child has to constantly prove him or herself to make that varsity team or to be cast in a play or be first chair in the violin section. Yes, hard work is involved, but without talent, no amount of hard work will turn someone into a star.

On the other hand, a child can be taught how to do well on the tests for AAP. And once a child is in the program, if it proves to be a struggle, the parent can hire a tutor or take a child to a storefront math drilling service to help him to keep up with the other kids in the class. Once children are in AAP, they are in: there is no repeat of the selection process each year as there is in sports and the arts.

Sports and arts just don't work well as an analogy for AAP.

If you are a gifted adult, you can easily tell the difference between gifted children and those who are coached to be high-achieving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But no method of testing AAP students every year to make sure they really belong there. I totally agree with PP who made the case that in other activities (sports, arts) the child has to prove himself each and every season or with each performance, otherwise they are not on the team, etc. Within AAP, there is no such recheck every year and there needs to be. Especially with the numbers who have been admitted in recent years.

Problem is, this would be considered tracking wouldn't it? And for some reaosn FCPS can get away with putting students on a faster track based on a second grade evaluation for their entire grade school and middle school experience. But if schools flexibly move students to a faster track or back that's a big no-no.

Kind of ironic, isn't it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, so there's the snowflake person, and the person who has a kid in aap and gen ed. And they make sure to follow, post, and regurgitate on every thread. Or maybe more than once in the same thread.

Hi you two!

Catching up on this thread and have to chime in. I'm wondering why you (PP) assume there are only one or two other people here who disagree with you? You seem pretty insistent that you are right about who is posting here, but the reality is you have no idea who is who, as much as you pretend you do. One could say there are only one or two people here with your viewpoint who keep posting over and over. Pretty arrogant. From my experience, both on DCUM and in "real life," plenty of parents think AAP is overblown and needs to be reduced in size and scope. And they have every right to post on this thread, as well as all others, for that matter. Why don't you express your opinion, move along, and let others do the same.

This was already posted, but I'll repeat it. Discussion and discourse is fine. But assuming because you have a kid in AAP and one in Gen Ed allows you to become an authority and say thst based on your observations other AAP kids in your childs class would be fine in Gen Ed is ridiculous. Repeating if time and again becomes tiresome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, so there's the snowflake person, and the person who has a kid in aap and gen ed. And they make sure to follow, post, and regurgitate on every thread. Or maybe more than once in the same thread.

Hi you two!

Catching up on this thread and have to chime in. I'm wondering why you (PP) assume there are only one or two other people here who disagree with you? You seem pretty insistent that you are right about who is posting here, but the reality is you have no idea who is who, as much as you pretend you do. One could say there are only one or two people here with your viewpoint who keep posting over and over. Pretty arrogant. From my experience, both on DCUM and in "real life," plenty of parents think AAP is overblown and needs to be reduced in size and scope. And they have every right to post on this thread, as well as all others, for that matter. Why don't you express your opinion, move along, and let others do the same.

This was already posted, but I'll repeat it. Discussion and discourse is fine. But assuming because you have a kid in AAP and one in Gen Ed allows you to become an authority and say thst based on your observations other AAP kids in your childs class would be fine in Gen Ed is ridiculous. Repeating if time and again becomes tiresome.

Not to mention, just because someone would be fine in a situation (GE) doesn't mean that it's what is best for them. Kids are adaptable, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't have the opportunity (AAP) to reach their fullest potential.

[Anonymous]

If you are a gifted adult, you can easily tell the difference between gifted children and those who are coached to be high-achieving.

I think experienced AAP educators can recognize the difference as well.

I also think that much of the opposition to AAP comes from adults who have never been exposed to a truly gifted child or been able to recognize the difference between a bright child and a gifted child. They only want to acknowledge the existence of them as some kind of mythical beast, whereas if you were yourself or have such a child you become much less of a skeptic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But no method of testing AAP students every year to make sure they really belong there. I totally agree with PP who made the case that in other activities (sports, arts) the child has to prove himself each and every season or with each performance, otherwise they are not on the team, etc. Within AAP, there is no such recheck every year and there needs to be. Especially with the numbers who have been admitted in recent years.

Problem is, this would be considered tracking wouldn't it? And for some reaosn FCPS can get away with putting students on a faster track based on a second grade evaluation for their entire grade school and middle school experience. But if schools flexibly move students to a faster track or back that's a big no-no.

Kind of ironic, isn't it?

Yes, it is.

[Anonymous]

18:46 If you're going to go on about other parents saying wrong things about AAP, you also have to get away from the "gifted child" label too. FCPS has also said over and over that the program is AAP. Advanced Academic Placement. If you want a program truly only for the most gifted students, they will agree you have to look elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Also, I do know students that haven't done well in AAP and the teacher then recommends they go back to general ed and the next year that's where the student is placed. If the child however can keep up fine in the classrooom, it would make sense that they wouldn't retest every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Plenty of parents think AAP is overblown . . . they have every right to post on this thread . . . " Gosh, you're right! Power to the people! It's just so heartwarming to see the majority GE parents bonding over their mutual certainty about AAP! Maybe next we can meet on the HS sports blogs or discussions of arts & theater and +1000 each other about how "we all agree" the schools should cut off funding for those activities. After all, those kids on Varsity, getting all that special treatment -- they aren't any more talented than ours, and there's really no place for elevating one child over another. You know, almost all of those parents are really pushy too -- getting their kids extra violin lessons, private coaches, etc. Why do those parents think their kids are SO special -- my kids would be just fine without a sports team, music class, orchestra, school plays, why can't theirs -- if they are TRULY that talented, FCPS isn't for them anyway, why don't they go to some fancy private school?!

It is much harder to fake talent in sports or the arts. Sure, the kids can have extra coaching and private lessons, but if they don't have the actual underlying talent, it shows. When that child is out there on the field or the stage, everyone is watching and can see whether or not they have what it takes. Each child has to constantly prove him or herself to make that varsity team or to be cast in a play or be first chair in the violin section. Yes, hard work is involved, but without talent, no amount of hard work will turn someone into a star.

On the other hand, a child can be taught how to do well on the tests for AAP. And once a child is in the program, if it proves to be a struggle, the parent can hire a tutor or take a child to a storefront math drilling service to help him to keep up with the other kids in the class. Once children are in AAP, they are in: there is no repeat of the selection process each year as there is in sports and the arts.

Sports and arts just don't work well as an analogy for AAP.

If you are a gifted adult, you can easily tell the difference between gifted children and those who are coached to be high-achieving.

LOL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, so there's the snowflake person, and the person who has a kid in aap and gen ed. And they make sure to follow, post, and regurgitate on every thread. Or maybe more than once in the same thread.

Hi you two!

Catching up on this thread and have to chime in. I'm wondering why you (PP) assume there are only one or two other people here who disagree with you? You seem pretty insistent that you are right about who is posting here, but the reality is you have no idea who is who, as much as you pretend you do. One could say there are only one or two people here with your viewpoint who keep posting over and over. Pretty arrogant. From my experience, both on DCUM and in "real life," plenty of parents think AAP is overblown and needs to be reduced in size and scope. And they have every right to post on this thread, as well as all others, for that matter. Why don't you express your opinion, move along, and let others do the same.

This was already posted, but I'll repeat it. Discussion and discourse is fine. But assuming because you have a kid in AAP and one in Gen Ed allows you to become an authority and say thst based on your observations other AAP kids in your childs class would be fine in Gen Ed is ridiculous. Repeating if time and again becomes tiresome.

And what if it is the teachers who are saying it? I suppose you'd have a beef with them too. But the truth is plenty of teachers, both AAP and Gen Ed, say the same thing. As do several school board members, members of the Fairfax County Association and even, on occasion, AAP Coordinator Carol Horn. Hearing this repeated by different posters is no more tiresome than a constant refrain of "my kid needs AAP because he/she's bored in Gen Ed."

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I meant to say Fairfax County Association for the Gifted, or FCAG.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:18:46 If you're going to go on about other parents saying wrong things about AAP, you also have to get away from the "gifted child" label too. FCPS has also said over and over that the program is AAP. Advanced Academic Placement. If you want a program truly only for the most gifted students, they will agree you have to look elsewhere.

+100 AAP is not a program for the gifted. It's just an accelerated version of the general curriculum. And yes, I am an AAP parent and know of what I speak.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:18:46 If you're going to go on about other parents saying wrong things about AAP, you also have to get away from the "gifted child" label too. FCPS has also said over and over that the program is AAP. Advanced Academic Placement. If you want a program truly only for the most gifted students, they will agree you have to look elsewhere.

+100 AAP is not a program for the gifted. It's just an accelerated version of the general curriculum. And yes, I am an AAP parent and know of what I speak.

So glad you know of what you speak. So all students receiving general education services get M3 for math, Caesar's English, access to the JASON Project curriculum, etc. like the students receiving Level IV AAP services do?