Washington Post Slams FCPS for Racist Magnet School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Americans care nothing for academic excellence.

Why don’t you admit proportional numbers of all ethnicities on basketball teams and other sports teams, and then we can talk about schools.

Seriously! Every school team funded by tax dollars, should let everybody who wants to be on the team on the team. And they should all get equal time to play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One more thread already! It hasn't been a month since the admin locked the previous thread..

It’s interesting how some posters contrive to get threads that deal with education issues that have been the subject of WaPo editorials the very same week locked. You’d probably try to shut down the Post, too, if you could get away with it.

I couldn't care less.. I do throw in a firebomb every so often to keep the fires stoked There's one particular idiot who actually complains about his kids having to cross I495 (in a school bus!) to go to their high school because of TJ! How can you not needle such fools!

[Anonymous]

It’s often people who claim they couldn’t care less who are actually the most invested in perpetuating the current state of affairs at TJ. Have to wonder whether the Post coordinated this editorial with the state officials who are about to impose changes on the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ and FCPS do tons of outreach to underrepresented communities and they focus on kids in ES. Clearly more needs to be done but it is grossly unfair to cal TJ racist.

Why term do you prefer for a school that almost wholly excludes black kids?

It's called Langley HS, but no one makes a stink about that because the majority is white. If Langley's majority were Asian, it would be an entirely different story. Check your racism.

People made a stink about it when TJ was majority white also.
--TJ alumn

[Anonymous]

I guess Amazon didn't come to Arlington based on the available supply of worker-drones from TJ. Who knew?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Asian and have no skin in this game. My kids have never been interested nor have I about TJ.

What I don’t understand is why is the only way considered ‘fair’ is if there is basically affirmative action for the high school?

Why wouldn’t it make more sense to target blacks and Hispanics in elementary and middle schools? Do outreach at theses schools, get TJ students involved. Offer free TJ prep classes on Saturdays or after school.

This would do more to level the playing field than lowering the standards. The reason TJ is known nationwide is because of it’s student body. They are there only because of ability. Meritocracy is the most fair standard across the board.

And one of the things I often hear about Asian kids regarding college admissions is that they should apply to other schools outside of the big name ones if they are so concerned about quotas. That they will do fine elsewhere and not expect this to change to include more of them. Well, I’m sure the kids that do not get into TJ will also do fine elsewhere and should also not expect the school to change to include more of them.

I know my kids will do fine even if they aren’t going to TJ. They are Asian males so they will likely have a harder time with college admissions since they are pretty regular gen ed students and colleges will expect more from them than other applicants. It’s upsetting since this is purely race based not a matter of their aptitude. But we are trying to stay positive and expand our school search despite the blatant race based discrimination.

Take a look at small liberal arts colleges. Many of them are looking to have a diverse student population in a number of categories. Being boys and of Asian background could be helpful in admissions at schools like this for your sons.

Yes, thanks this is what we keep getting told, regardless of the fact that my incredibly extroverted son that is into computers really does not want to attend a small, liberal arts school with less diversity and not great sports.

But thanks for making my point for me. People tell Asians to look elsewhere, so why not tell kids that aren't cut out for TJ to look elsewhere? Why is it racist if they are excluded by merit based system but not racist when Asians are excluded and held to a different standard on a race based system?

Please stop addressing the sustained under-enrollment of Black and Hispanic students at TJ by centering the discussion on the experience of Asian kids who, at least in NoVa, come from quite privileged backgrounds. The FARMS rate at TJ is about 2%, and the school is in a county where about 30% of the kids receive FARMS.

His point stands that the school is famous the desirable because of its high standards. Lowering standards so that URMs can gain entry would simply lower the status of the school to be like any other school. We already have plenty of "other schools." They're called FCPS high schools and anyone can go to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No. YOUR post is incredibly racist.

The candidates who are admitted based on merit have two things in common: they're intelligent and they've worked hard.
Nobody has stacked the deck for them.

I'm not the poster you were responding to, BTW.

don't forget the third thing they have in common- no FARM status. I'm sure it's just a coincidence though

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Asian and have no skin in this game. My kids have never been interested nor have I about TJ.

What I don’t understand is why is the only way considered ‘fair’ is if there is basically affirmative action for the high school?

Why wouldn’t it make more sense to target blacks and Hispanics in elementary and middle schools? Do outreach at theses schools, get TJ students involved. Offer free TJ prep classes on Saturdays or after school.

This would do more to level the playing field than lowering the standards. The reason TJ is known nationwide is because of it’s student body. They are there only because of ability. Meritocracy is the most fair standard across the board.

And one of the things I often hear about Asian kids regarding college admissions is that they should apply to other schools outside of the big name ones if they are so concerned about quotas. That they will do fine elsewhere and not expect this to change to include more of them. Well, I’m sure the kids that do not get into TJ will also do fine elsewhere and should also not expect the school to change to include more of them.

I know my kids will do fine even if they aren’t going to TJ. They are Asian males so they will likely have a harder time with college admissions since they are pretty regular gen ed students and colleges will expect more from them than other applicants. It’s upsetting since this is purely race based not a matter of their aptitude. But we are trying to stay positive and expand our school search despite the blatant race based discrimination.

Take a look at small liberal arts colleges. Many of them are looking to have a diverse student population in a number of categories. Being boys and of Asian background could be helpful in admissions at schools like this for your sons.

Yes, thanks this is what we keep getting told, regardless of the fact that my incredibly extroverted son that is into computers really does not want to attend a small, liberal arts school with less diversity and not great sports.

But thanks for making my point for me. People tell Asians to look elsewhere, so why not tell kids that aren't cut out for TJ to look elsewhere? Why is it racist if they are excluded by merit based system but not racist when Asians are excluded and held to a different standard on a race based system?

Please stop addressing the sustained under-enrollment of Black and Hispanic students at TJ by centering the discussion on the experience of Asian kids who, at least in NoVa, come from quite privileged backgrounds. The FARMS rate at TJ is about 2%, and the school is in a county where about 30% of the kids receive FARMS.

Please don't act concerned about racism if you are myopic and exclusionary. You are either anti-racist or you are not. Picking and choosing some minorities over others is not anti-racism.
And if you don't have an actual real answer to my question and seek to rather distract than please move along.

TJ is not a regular neighborhood school, it requires an entrance exam. My own kid would not pass this exam and I'm not breaking down the doors saying take him anyway. It's not discriminating over race, it's merit based. Are they discriminating against my son because he's not been prepped? If the field is to be leveled than free TJ prep exams in every school, county wide would be an excellent way to do so. Give informational talks to parents and students county wide starting in elementary.

And as for your assumption that Asian kids come from privileged backgrounds in this county, well I would say so are the black kids in this county. Blacks in Fairfax County are a pretty well educated bunch. See, how assumptions work? Many Asians in this county are either first or second generation with parents working in gas stations, dry cleaners, grocery stores, salons, etc. This is not about privelege, this is about priorities.

If we took only the most poor kids in the county and the schools started FREE Saturday schools for TJ prep, would you like to take a stab at the races of which families would make the effort to get their kids there? Would make their kid skip basketball or soccer to attend? (Personally, my kids would revolt rather than miss sports, yet another reason I wouldn't expect them to aim for TJ) Would demand their kids to go to school on Saturday? If the priority is there then the playing field is more level and they will be more on par with the kids going to PAID Saturday schools.

It just makes no sense to lower the bar in order to even out the bar. This is why the primary and secondary education in this country are atrocious and we end up with uneducated masses that believe everything they hear on Fox news.

You keep saying merit based but it's not a meritocracy and it's not merit based when the deciding factor is who can afford prep. Nice try though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Asian and have no skin in this game. My kids have never been interested nor have I about TJ.

What I don’t understand is why is the only way considered ‘fair’ is if there is basically affirmative action for the high school?

Why wouldn’t it make more sense to target blacks and Hispanics in elementary and middle schools? Do outreach at theses schools, get TJ students involved. Offer free TJ prep classes on Saturdays or after school.

This would do more to level the playing field than lowering the standards. The reason TJ is known nationwide is because of it’s student body. They are there only because of ability. Meritocracy is the most fair standard across the board.

And one of the things I often hear about Asian kids regarding college admissions is that they should apply to other schools outside of the big name ones if they are so concerned about quotas. That they will do fine elsewhere and not expect this to change to include more of them. Well, I’m sure the kids that do not get into TJ will also do fine elsewhere and should also not expect the school to change to include more of them.

I know my kids will do fine even if they aren’t going to TJ. They are Asian males so they will likely have a harder time with college admissions since they are pretty regular gen ed students and colleges will expect more from them than other applicants. It’s upsetting since this is purely race based not a matter of their aptitude. But we are trying to stay positive and expand our school search despite the blatant race based discrimination.

Take a look at small liberal arts colleges. Many of them are looking to have a diverse student population in a number of categories. Being boys and of Asian background could be helpful in admissions at schools like this for your sons.

Yes, thanks this is what we keep getting told, regardless of the fact that my incredibly extroverted son that is into computers really does not want to attend a small, liberal arts school with less diversity and not great sports.

But thanks for making my point for me. People tell Asians to look elsewhere, so why not tell kids that aren't cut out for TJ to look elsewhere? Why is it racist if they are excluded by merit based system but not racist when Asians are excluded and held to a different standard on a race based system?

Please stop addressing the sustained under-enrollment of Black and Hispanic students at TJ by centering the discussion on the experience of Asian kids who, at least in NoVa, come from quite privileged backgrounds. The FARMS rate at TJ is about 2%, and the school is in a county where about 30% of the kids receive FARMS.

Please don't act concerned about racism if you are myopic and exclusionary. You are either anti-racist or you are not. Picking and choosing some minorities over others is not anti-racism.
And if you don't have an actual real answer to my question and seek to rather distract than please move along.

TJ is not a regular neighborhood school, it requires an entrance exam. My own kid would not pass this exam and I'm not breaking down the doors saying take him anyway. It's not discriminating over race, it's merit based. Are they discriminating against my son because he's not been prepped? If the field is to be leveled than free TJ prep exams in every school, county wide would be an excellent way to do so. Give informational talks to parents and students county wide starting in elementary.

And as for your assumption that Asian kids come from privileged backgrounds in this county, well I would say so are the black kids in this county. Blacks in Fairfax County are a pretty well educated bunch. See, how assumptions work? Many Asians in this county are either first or second generation with parents working in gas stations, dry cleaners, grocery stores, salons, etc. This is not about privelege, this is about priorities.

If we took only the most poor kids in the county and the schools started FREE Saturday schools for TJ prep, would you like to take a stab at the races of which families would make the effort to get their kids there? Would make their kid skip basketball or soccer to attend? (Personally, my kids would revolt rather than miss sports, yet another reason I wouldn't expect them to aim for TJ) Would demand their kids to go to school on Saturday? If the priority is there then the playing field is more level and they will be more on par with the kids going to PAID Saturday schools.

It just makes no sense to lower the bar in order to even out the bar. This is why the primary and secondary education in this country are atrocious and we end up with uneducated masses that believe everything they hear on Fox news.

You keep saying merit based but it's not a meritocracy and it's not merit based when the deciding factor is who can afford prep. Nice try though.

Prep can increase scores by maybe 10% max. The students who go to TJ are probably performing 50% above where you would need the bar set to get a substantial increase in URM. These kids will score 1500 on the SAT and you want to admit people who will score a 1200.

[Anonymous]

The thing that I find interesting is that there are almost NO white females at TJ.

One mom said that there probably about 20-25 per grade and many are from LCPS. So very VERY few white females within FCPS are offered admission. Given that white females are not underrepresented in the applicant pool or in FCPS AAP, I think this bears examination. There is clearly something going on that disadvantages white females from being accepted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Asian and have no skin in this game. My kids have never been interested nor have I about TJ.

What I don’t understand is why is the only way considered ‘fair’ is if there is basically affirmative action for the high school?

Why wouldn’t it make more sense to target blacks and Hispanics in elementary and middle schools? Do outreach at theses schools, get TJ students involved. Offer free TJ prep classes on Saturdays or after school.

This would do more to level the playing field than lowering the standards. The reason TJ is known nationwide is because of it’s student body. They are there only because of ability. Meritocracy is the most fair standard across the board.

And one of the things I often hear about Asian kids regarding college admissions is that they should apply to other schools outside of the big name ones if they are so concerned about quotas. That they will do fine elsewhere and not expect this to change to include more of them. Well, I’m sure the kids that do not get into TJ will also do fine elsewhere and should also not expect the school to change to include more of them.

I know my kids will do fine even if they aren’t going to TJ. They are Asian males so they will likely have a harder time with college admissions since they are pretty regular gen ed students and colleges will expect more from them than other applicants. It’s upsetting since this is purely race based not a matter of their aptitude. But we are trying to stay positive and expand our school search despite the blatant race based discrimination.

Take a look at small liberal arts colleges. Many of them are looking to have a diverse student population in a number of categories. Being boys and of Asian background could be helpful in admissions at schools like this for your sons.

Yes, thanks this is what we keep getting told, regardless of the fact that my incredibly extroverted son that is into computers really does not want to attend a small, liberal arts school with less diversity and not great sports.

But thanks for making my point for me. People tell Asians to look elsewhere, so why not tell kids that aren't cut out for TJ to look elsewhere? Why is it racist if they are excluded by merit based system but not racist when Asians are excluded and held to a different standard on a race based system?

Please stop addressing the sustained under-enrollment of Black and Hispanic students at TJ by centering the discussion on the experience of Asian kids who, at least in NoVa, come from quite privileged backgrounds. The FARMS rate at TJ is about 2%, and the school is in a county where about 30% of the kids receive FARMS.

His point stands that the school is famous the desirable because of its high standards. Lowering standards so that URMs can gain entry would simply lower the status of the school to be like any other school. We already have plenty of "other schools." They're called FCPS high schools and anyone can go to them.

Either the School Board in Fairfax County cares about equity or it does not. If it leaves TJ as it, it does not care about equity. It only cares about having a "name school" - the educational equivalent of a gaudy McMansion.

Any number of other states or counties could set up schools like TJ, but they care more about all their students and schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Either the School Board in Fairfax County cares about equity or it does not. If it leaves TJ as it, it does not care about equity. It only cares about having a "name school" - the educational equivalent of a gaudy McMansion.

Any number of other states or counties could set up schools like TJ, but they care more about all their students and schools.

you mean other districts don't direct the best teachers and the most resources at the students who need them the least?

[Anonymous]

It is amazing to me how little people actually know about this topic.

The reason why the TJ admissions process advantages Asian students is because, generally and culturally speaking, our parents prioritize prestige in education (note - there's a difference between prestige in education and quality in education, and they value the former to a MUCH greater extent) - therefore we are willing to make sacrifices in order to maximize the opportunity to attain that prestige. If FCPS wants to solve this problem (and they should), they need to minimize the influence of PARENTS in the admissions process.

Asian students are not inherently smarter than anyone else, and they do not work harder than anyone else - to suggest otherwise is blatantly and unforgivably racist. But the TJ admissions process limits the idea of "merit" to grades, GPA, exam performance, STEM extracurriculars, and well-written teacher recommendations from specific schools that major in getting kids into TJ. Asian families know this, and are far more willing as a group to streamline our childrens' elementary and middle school careers to optimize their chances for admission.

FCPS needs to have a serious conversation about what constitutes merit. The culture within the school is toxic and hyper-competitive, which has now led to a second suicide in the past couple of years, and it is so because there are too many students who all took the same path to get to TJ in the first place. The fact that most of them are Asian is not to blame - what is to blame is an admissions process that rewards families who are willing to pre-determine their children's futures before they turn ten years old.

Most students at TJ are Asian because TJ is more important to Asian parents. The application numbers bear this out. Having parents who care about TJ from an early age is a privilege for students, and FCPS needs to reduce the influence of that privilege in the admissions process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It amazes me that the Washington Post has been writing this same article, with variations, for the past 20 years. Either it's changed, it hasn't and it should, or it hasn't and it shouldn't.

Same here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is amazing to me how little people actually know about this topic.

The reason why the TJ admissions process advantages Asian students is because, generally and culturally speaking, our parents prioritize prestige in education (note - there's a difference between prestige in education and quality in education, and they value the former to a MUCH greater extent) - therefore we are willing to make sacrifices in order to maximize the opportunity to attain that prestige. If FCPS wants to solve this problem (and they should), they need to minimize the influence of PARENTS in the admissions process.

Asian students are not inherently smarter than anyone else, and they do not work harder than anyone else - to suggest otherwise is blatantly and unforgivably racist. But the TJ admissions process limits the idea of "merit" to grades, GPA, exam performance, STEM extracurriculars, and well-written teacher recommendations from specific schools that major in getting kids into TJ. Asian families know this, and are far more willing as a group to streamline our childrens' elementary and middle school careers to optimize their chances for admission.

FCPS needs to have a serious conversation about what constitutes merit. The culture within the school is toxic and hyper-competitive, which has now led to a second suicide in the past couple of years, and it is so because there are too many students who all took the same path to get to TJ in the first place. The fact that most of them are Asian is not to blame - what is to blame is an admissions process that rewards families who are willing to pre-determine their children's futures before they turn ten years old.

Most students at TJ are Asian because TJ is more important to Asian parents. The application numbers bear this out. Having parents who care about TJ from an early age is a privilege for students, and FCPS needs to reduce the influence of that privilege in the admissions process.

+ a million. The fact that Fairfax can't seem to produce black, Latino and/or poor kids who are accepted to TJ at measurable rates is 100 percent a failing of the school system.