2 more magnet teachers are leaving Clemente

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is true. Largely because of the difference in how Clemente/King is set up compared to TPMS and Eastern. Which means the former model could be replicated in at least five more MS in the County. Adding another thousand slots. But then it won’t be as “special” to the parents who want the bragging rights. Look at what that demographic did to the poor Global Humanities course. Parents demanded it be offered to so many kids outside the target group that certain W feeder schools just enrolled everyone who would have been in advanced. Teachers were not trained in how to implement to average learners a curriculum that was designed for gifted ones. The extra students weren’t motivated to learn in these ways and/or were overwhelmed.

The what?

You don’t know the difference between the upcountry and downcounty magnets?

Why yes, I do. The upcounty MS magnets are in Germantown, whereas the downcounty MS magnets are in Takoma Park and Silver Spring. Is that what you're referring to?

[Anonymous]

I heard a few years ago that there was a change in administration due how the magnet program, gen ed curriculum and new MYP program we’re going to be integrated. Admin wanted magnet students to only have three classes together so they weren’t so sequestered from the rest of the school. I heard the previous principal didn’t care much for the magnet program or new IB program. Has the new administration been more supportive and showing leadership? Teachers don’t like a multitude of unsupported changes thrown at them over and over again. It makes it hard to focus on day to day teaching and consistency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've been able to help my 2 magnet kids, but there are others who have been studying above grade level math privately for years. They are not more gifted than kids who don't take extra classes or have parent academic support.

May be some of them were taking those "above grade level math" classes privately because they were geniuses who were not getting challenged by the grade level material - who knows! It is ridiculous to assert that someone is not gifted because he or she is taking private classes.

Are there kids who are above grade level in a subject but are not really what many would consider gifted (i.e.) wired differently? Yes, there are. But are there kids who study privately because they are gifted? Also YES. We know of kids in both categories, and outside enrichment was even more essential for the kids in the second category.

hahahaha. Yes of course, all the kids who study privately are geniuses whose "need" the extra work. Just like all the advanced orchestra are music "geniuses," not just working at a higher technical level because their parents made them practice hours a day in elem and MS. My kids have made all the magnets, but the more I look at it, the more I see prep as a major factor. Some of this is cultural. Are Indian kids all the best spellers, or do many of those families value spelling bee prep? Are Asians naturally better at violin, or are parents requiring more practice overall? So much of the current magnets are East Asian, South Asian and white because these groups have the cultural drive and/or resources to prepare kids to work at a high level. I am frankly frustrated with all the pressure for outside enrichment and prep. Kids should be able to work at a gifted level and still have some time to be kids.

Well done beating the straw man!! You seem to lack reading comprehension.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've been able to help my 2 magnet kids, but there are others who have been studying above grade level math privately for years. They are not more gifted than kids who don't take extra classes or have parent academic support.

May be some of them were taking those "above grade level math" classes privately because they were geniuses who were not getting challenged by the grade level material - who knows! It is ridiculous to assert that someone is not gifted because he or she is taking private classes.

Are there kids who are above grade level in a subject but are not really what many would consider gifted (i.e.) wired differently? Yes, there are. But are there kids who study privately because they are gifted? Also YES. We know of kids in both categories, and outside enrichment was even more essential for the kids in the second category.

hahahaha. Yes of course, all the kids who study privately are geniuses whose "need" the extra work. Just like all the advanced orchestra are music "geniuses," not just working at a higher technical level because their parents made them practice hours a day in elem and MS. My kids have made all the magnets, but the more I look at it, the more I see prep as a major factor. Some of this is cultural. Are Indian kids all the best spellers, or do many of those families value spelling bee prep? Are Asians naturally better at violin, or are parents requiring more practice overall? So much of the current magnets are East Asian, South Asian and white because these groups have the cultural drive and/or resources to prepare kids to work at a high level. I am frankly frustrated with all the pressure for outside enrichment and prep. Kids should be able to work at a gifted level and still have some time to be kids.

It's not like the Boston Conservatory is going to say, Billie, we know you had a keyboard rather than a piano to practice on and never took a formal lesson in your life but we think you are more talented than Zhao (who studied with a former Julliard professor) so we are offering you the spot over Zhao. It really doesn't matter that Zhao practiced 4 hours a day for 10 years and you've practiced 30 minutes a day for 2 years and are early intermediate at best and Zhao can perform advanced pieces flawlessly.

It's talent, hard work, and yes access that make someone successful. I have a kid who plays music "seriously" but the amount of time and effort that I spend as a parent to make this happen is not repeatable by the government. The government can't afford to clone me and people like me (hours and hours per day support and all the driving etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It's not like the Boston Conservatory is going to say, Billie, we know you had a keyboard rather than a piano to practice on and never took a formal lesson in your life but we think you are more talented than Zhao (who studied with a former Julliard professor) so we are offering you the spot over Zhao. It really doesn't matter that Zhao practiced 4 hours a day for 10 years and you've practiced 30 minutes a day for 2 years and are early intermediate at best and Zhao can perform advanced pieces flawlessly.

It's talent, hard work, and yes access that make someone successful. I have a kid who plays music "seriously" but the amount of time and effort that I spend as a parent to make this happen is not repeatable by the government. The government can't afford to clone me and people like me (hours and hours per day support and all the driving etc).

The MCPS middle school magnet program is not, and should not be, like Juilliard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
hahahaha. Yes of course, all the kids who study privately are geniuses whose "need" the extra work. Just like all the advanced orchestra are music "geniuses," not just working at a higher technical level because their parents made them practice hours a day in elem and MS. My kids have made all the magnets, but the more I look at it, the more I see prep as a major factor. Some of this is cultural. Are Indian kids all the best spellers, or do many of those families value spelling bee prep? Are Asians naturally better at violin, or are parents requiring more practice overall? So much of the current magnets are East Asian, South Asian and white because these groups have the cultural drive and/or resources to prepare kids to work at a high level. I am frankly frustrated with all the pressure for outside enrichment and prep. Kids should be able to work at a gifted level and still have some time to be kids.

NP here. Wow! You are deluded and have a case of sour grapes. You also seem to be projecting your own insecurities.

Indian languages are written phonetically. Which means that "Knife" will be written as "Nife", and if "TO" is pronounced as "2" then "GO" will be pronounced as "GOO". If KIT is pronounced similarly to SIT, then KITE will be pronounced like "KITTY". It will not be pronounced as "KYE -t"

Which means that Indian students do not have to learn spellings for their native languages because all kinds of sounds can be written by their specific letter and vowel. As such, Indians do not have spelling bees for Hindi or Bengali or Punjabi or Tamil etc...because if you know your alphabets and vowels you can spell anything, You write words exactly as they sound, and you have alphabets for all kinds of sounds. In such a scenario, learning spelling becomes unnecessary and a waste of time. I hope this part becomes clear.

So this kind of National Level Spelling Bee is something that parents encounter only when they come to US. Culturally, no one memorizes for Spelling Bee in India if they are studying Indian languages. Culturally, participating in US Spelling Bees just means that Indian-American students who are born here and are citizens of US are behaving like other US students. Specifically, they are participating in a cultural scholastic event that is primarily been known as the scholastic event for academically oriented nerdy kids.

Since success in this event is not based on getting expensive equipment, this is an event ANYONE can prepare for. This is not Robotics, this is not Horse Riding, this is not Gymnastics, this is not playing the Piano or being a world class figure skater. This is an inexpensive competition where by putting in time, interested kids can compete. It is egalitarian and something that SOME INDIAN-AMERICAN kids (as opposed to INDIAN kids from Delhi or Chennai) participate in because it comes down to their individual dedication rather than the amount of money their parents have. No. All Indian Kids are not spellers. My kid excels in Minecraft. In fact at a young age of 13, he is working towards a PhD in video games.

You wrote ".... I am frankly frustrated with all the pressure for outside enrichment and prep. Kids should be able to work at a gifted level and still have some time to be kids......[/b] I fail to understand why you are frustrated? I fail to understand why you think these kids do not have time to be kids? Have you or your kids tried to do what they do and found that your and your kids intelligence level is not high enough for it to be effortless and fun for you and your kids? I know a magnet student who thrives on being in a rigorous program of study and finds time to study, play basketball and participate in hackathons. SHE also watches anime and waters my plants when I am on vacation. I think she is extremely intelligent as well as very much a kid. You seem to be so wrapped up in your racist mindset that you cannot understand this.

I would suggest that you go read a book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
hahahaha. Yes of course, all the kids who study privately are geniuses whose "need" the extra work. Just like all the advanced orchestra are music "geniuses," not just working at a higher technical level because their parents made them practice hours a day in elem and MS. My kids have made all the magnets, but the more I look at it, the more I see prep as a major factor. Some of this is cultural. Are Indian kids all the best spellers, or do many of those families value spelling bee prep? Are Asians naturally better at violin, or are parents requiring more practice overall? So much of the current magnets are East Asian, South Asian and white because these groups have the cultural drive and/or resources to prepare kids to work at a high level. I am frankly frustrated with all the pressure for outside enrichment and prep. Kids should be able to work at a gifted level and still have some time to be kids.

NP here. Wow! You are deluded and have a case of sour grapes. You also seem to be projecting your own insecurities.

Indian languages are written phonetically. Which means that "Knife" will be written as "Nife", and if "TO" is pronounced as "2" then "GO" will be pronounced as "GOO". If KIT is pronounced similarly to SIT, then KITE will be pronounced like "KITTY". It will not be pronounced as "KYE -t"

Which means that Indian students do not have to learn spellings for their native languages because all kinds of sounds can be written by their specific letter and vowel. As such, Indians do not have spelling bees for Hindi or Bengali or Punjabi or Tamil etc...because if you know your alphabets and vowels you can spell anything, You write words exactly as they sound, and you have alphabets for all kinds of sounds. In such a scenario, learning spelling becomes unnecessary and a waste of time. I hope this part becomes clear.

So this kind of National Level Spelling Bee is something that parents encounter only when they come to US. Culturally, no one memorizes for Spelling Bee in India if they are studying Indian languages. Culturally, participating in US Spelling Bees just means that Indian-American students who are born here and are citizens of US are behaving like other US students. Specifically, they are participating in a cultural scholastic event that is primarily been known as the scholastic event for academically oriented nerdy kids.

Since success in this event is not based on getting expensive equipment, this is an event ANYONE can prepare for. This is not Robotics, this is not Horse Riding, this is not Gymnastics, this is not playing the Piano or being a world class figure skater. This is an inexpensive competition where by putting in time, interested kids can compete. It is egalitarian and something that SOME INDIAN-AMERICAN kids (as opposed to INDIAN kids from Delhi or Chennai) participate in because it comes down to their individual dedication rather than the amount of money their parents have. No. All Indian Kids are not spellers. My kid excels in Minecraft. In fact at a young age of 13, he is working towards a PhD in video games.

You wrote ".... I am frankly frustrated with all the pressure for outside enrichment and prep. Kids should be able to work at a gifted level and still have some time to be kids......[/b] I fail to understand why you are frustrated? I fail to understand why you think these kids do not have time to be kids? Have you or your kids tried to do what they do and found that your and your kids intelligence level is not high enough for it to be effortless and fun for you and your kids? I know a magnet student who thrives on being in a rigorous program of study and finds time to study, play basketball and participate in hackathons. SHE also watches anime and waters my plants when I am on vacation. I think she is extremely intelligent as well as very much a kid. You seem to be so wrapped up in your racist mindset that you cannot understand this.

I would suggest that you go read a book.

[Anonymous]

The head is rotten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The head is rotten.

He just got here!

But maybe you are the type of person who blames immigrants for what’s wrong with the US?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
hahahaha. Yes of course, all the kids who study privately are geniuses whose "need" the extra work. Just like all the advanced orchestra are music "geniuses," not just working at a higher technical level because their parents made them practice hours a day in elem and MS. My kids have made all the magnets, but the more I look at it, the more I see prep as a major factor. Some of this is cultural. Are Indian kids all the best spellers, or do many of those families value spelling bee prep? Are Asians naturally better at violin, or are parents requiring more practice overall? So much of the current magnets are East Asian, South Asian and white because these groups have the cultural drive and/or resources to prepare kids to work at a high level. I am frankly frustrated with all the pressure for outside enrichment and prep. Kids should be able to work at a gifted level and still have some time to be kids.

NP here. Wow! You are deluded and have a case of sour grapes. You also seem to be projecting your own insecurities.

Indian languages are written phonetically. Which means that "Knife" will be written as "Nife", and if "TO" is pronounced as "2" then "GO" will be pronounced as "GOO". If KIT is pronounced similarly to SIT, then KITE will be pronounced like "KITTY". It will not be pronounced as "KYE -t"

Which means that Indian students do not have to learn spellings for their native languages because all kinds of sounds can be written by their specific letter and vowel. As such, Indians do not have spelling bees for Hindi or Bengali or Punjabi or Tamil etc...because if you know your alphabets and vowels you can spell anything, You write words exactly as they sound, and you have alphabets for all kinds of sounds. In such a scenario, learning spelling becomes unnecessary and a waste of time. I hope this part becomes clear.

So this kind of National Level Spelling Bee is something that parents encounter only when they come to US. Culturally, no one memorizes for Spelling Bee in India if they are studying Indian languages. Culturally, participating in US Spelling Bees just means that Indian-American students who are born here and are citizens of US are behaving like other US students. Specifically, they are participating in a cultural scholastic event that is primarily been known as the scholastic event for academically oriented nerdy kids.

Since success in this event is not based on getting expensive equipment, this is an event ANYONE can prepare for. This is not Robotics, this is not Horse Riding, this is not Gymnastics, this is not playing the Piano or being a world class figure skater. This is an inexpensive competition where by putting in time, interested kids can compete. It is egalitarian and something that SOME INDIAN-AMERICAN kids (as opposed to INDIAN kids from Delhi or Chennai) participate in because it comes down to their individual dedication rather than the amount of money their parents have. No. All Indian Kids are not spellers. My kid excels in Minecraft. In fact at a young age of 13, he is working towards a PhD in video games.

You wrote ".... I am frankly frustrated with all the pressure for outside enrichment and prep. Kids should be able to work at a gifted level and still have some time to be kids......[/b] I fail to understand why you are frustrated? I fail to understand why you think these kids do not have time to be kids? Have you or your kids tried to do what they do and found that your and your kids intelligence level is not high enough for it to be effortless and fun for you and your kids? I know a magnet student who thrives on being in a rigorous program of study and finds time to study, play basketball and participate in hackathons. SHE also watches anime and waters my plants when I am on vacation. I think she is extremely intelligent as well as very much a kid. You seem to be so wrapped up in your racist mindset that you cannot understand this.

I would suggest that you go read a book.

Wow. You certainly know how to ramble on! I'm not sure why you thin I need to read a book -- I'm the one advocating for less stringent prep/enrichment, so I should naturally have more time to read. I'm not sure why you are talking about India -- I am clearly talking about US culture. look at the 8 way tie for the recent spelling bee. Why 8 winners? Because everyone is prepping at an Olympic level. The intensity ratchets up and up and up. So many kids forced to practice instruments hours a day at a very young age. Instrument (sometimes 2) -- 2 hours/day +magnet homework + HS magnet test prep class homework + Saturday school. That is what some kids are doing in middle school. My kids know many of them. They have little freedom, and my kids are pressured to do ratchet it up too. These kids do not have time to be kids because they are working until 1am pretty much every night.

Your statement suggesting my kids aren't capable enough for an achievement to effortless is a joke. None of these achievements are effortless. The kids are logging in SERIOUS hours. My kids are clearly capable (& may I remind you accepted to all magnets thus far, including all HS magnets). I don't think the extent of pressure is healthy. Maybe you don't know what I'm talking about if your kid is playing Minecraft. totally fine. but, back off because I do know what I am talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've been able to help my 2 magnet kids, but there are others who have been studying above grade level math privately for years. They are not more gifted than kids who don't take extra classes or have parent academic support.

May be some of them were taking those "above grade level math" classes privately because they were geniuses who were not getting challenged by the grade level material - who knows! It is ridiculous to assert that someone is not gifted because he or she is taking private classes.

Are there kids who are above grade level in a subject but are not really what many would consider gifted (i.e.) wired differently? Yes, there are. But are there kids who study privately because they are gifted? Also YES. We know of kids in both categories, and outside enrichment was even more essential for the kids in the second category.

hahahaha. Yes of course, all the kids who study privately are geniuses whose "need" the extra work. Just like all the advanced orchestra are music "geniuses," not just working at a higher technical level because their parents made them practice hours a day in elem and MS. My kids have made all the magnets, but the more I look at it, the more I see prep as a major factor. Some of this is cultural. Are Indian kids all the best spellers, or do many of those families value spelling bee prep? Are Asians naturally better at violin, or are parents requiring more practice overall? So much of the current magnets are East Asian, South Asian and white because these groups have the cultural drive and/or resources to prepare kids to work at a high level. I am frankly frustrated with all the pressure for outside enrichment and prep. Kids should be able to work at a gifted level and still have some time to be kids.

I am not sure where to start with this post.
I think some people truly believe that if you are bright that is all you need to succeed in the magnet programs. This is not the case. Being bright is necessary but it is far from sufficient. You also need to be hard working and in the case of some subjects (math notably) you need to have deep subject knowledge/mastery before you begin the program. The idea that a child who over the years builds that knowledge and proficiency in core subjects is disqualified because they "prepped" is really wrong headed. Now do they need to enroll in a cram school like Dr. Li etc.? Of course not. I don't think these places necessarily help very much. Many of the kids who take these classes and get in would probably have been admitted without taking these classes. There are certainly some kids who took these classes before applying but they are far from the majority of Magnet kids. I do think that children who are in a regular MCPS school and gifted in Math for instance are bored in the classroom and many love taking extracurricular classes through the Art of Problem Solving or through Johns Hopkins CTY. I don't think of this as prepping although it most definitely is supplementing.
Also even an incredibly bright/gifted student will have to work very hard in a magnet program. Noone can bang out a ten page research paper with multiple college level reading sources in 7th grade unless they have a strong work ethic and great writing ability. At Blair one of the toughest Math classes (Mathematical Physics) is a double period class (for a study hall) because the problems take a lot of time to solve and the students often need help. These are some of the best Math students in the program but they have to work really hard. Many of the classes at Blair (Math in particular) can involve 1 to 2 hours of homework every night. The students who participate in the extracurricular Math competitions spend hours every week working on practice problems. Again these are bright kids but the program is designed to be both interesting as well as rigorous. You can't do interesting work unless you have mastered the content and that involves work. The kids are expected to get through high school Physics in one semester in 9th grade, high school Chemistry in one semester in 9th grade. The required statistics class in 11th grade uses the AP statistics book but they get through the text in one semester not two which means students are churning through three chapters a week. You have to be highly motivated (love learning) and be hard working in order to be successful and so it is entirely appropriate for the magnet program to use test scores and grades (academic potential) and teacher recommendations (work ethic, ability to deal with challenges) and personal essays (degree of motivation/love of subject) in order to identify the most qualified candidates.
There are programs available for students who love science or the arts but don't necessarily have the scores (Parkland, Argyle, Loiderman).
I know that it is not always

[Anonymous]

For what it's worth, my kid just did that 7th grade writing project, and my kid does not have a strong work ethic. My kid has a "I'll do the minimum required to get a good grade" work ethic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For what it's worth, my kid just did that 7th grade writing project, and my kid does not have a strong work ethic. My kid has a "I'll do the minimum required to get a good grade" work ethic.

What is your point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For what it's worth, my kid just did that 7th grade writing project, and my kid does not have a strong work ethic. My kid has a "I'll do the minimum required to get a good grade" work ethic.

What is your point?

Responding to this

Noone can bang out a ten page research paper with multiple college level reading sources in 7th grade unless they have a strong work ethic and great writing ability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For what it's worth, my kid just did that 7th grade writing project, and my kid does not have a strong work ethic. My kid has a "I'll do the minimum required to get a good grade" work ethic.

What is your point?

Responding to this

Noone can bang out a ten page research paper with multiple college level reading sources in 7th grade unless they have a strong work ethic and great writing ability.

I don't think your response prove anything other than your kid did a paper.