Why do parents go through great lengths to get their children into AAP?

[Anonymous]

There really should be a middle track for average/above average kids without behavior issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To keep my kids out of the general population and with kids whose families at least moderately care about academics and future success.

This is the correct answer. My kids are in the top 0.1% of IQ but all I really want is to get them away from the miscreants

Wow—-what an insult to all the children who don’t happen to get in but are great kids.

There are a lot of great kids in the general classes. But there are also a lot of kids who don't care about school, and get in trouble a lot.

I was in advanced classes when I was a kid in Kentucky. One year, the school decided to mix the advanced and regular classes for one hour a week for "seminar", where we would read passages from a book and discuss. I remember reading an excerpt from "The Red Badge of Courage". When the teacher asked questions about it, no one answered. Finally I raised my hand and gave an answer about the meaning of one of the paragraphs. The teacher, who normally taught the regular classes, looked stunned, and there was a few beats of silence until one of the kids from the regular classes said in a robot voice "Translation please!", and the rest of the kids laughed.

That's the kind of stuff that our kids will be subjected to if they aren't in AAP.

We are in LI and not AAP but it is similar. I have friends who have had kids in Gen Ed and LI, they all comment on the difference in the behavior and focus of the kids in LI vs the kids in Gen Ed. We see it at various activities were the different classes are mixed together.

That said, DS reports kids coming into his LI class bragging about not doing their homework and not doing well on tests. There are regular reminders from the Teachers that kids who complete their homework do better on the unit tests. He pouted a good amount during distance learning because we insisted he do all the asynch work plus the extras while a lot of his friends did not have to do the extra and some kids in his class did none of the asynch work.

There is truth to the ideas that the kids who are curious and end up ahead behave differently in class. It is not because the other kids are bad kids, they are kids being kids. But their interests are different and that leads to different attitudes in class. DS enjoys going to RSM because it is a math class where all the kids are good at math and enjoy math. The class moves more quickly and there are fewer distractions.

I would not call the kids miscreants or badly behaved or anything along those lines, they are kids. I would say that some of the kids are less focused and might not be as interested in school. More time is spent focusing and refocusing kids. There is a different level of focus in the LI program because the kids have to be more focused and the Teachers demand more focus. But that doesn't mean that the kids are more curious or interested in school. I can see AAP being more comfortable for kids because the kids in the class are probably more curious and interested in school work.

That said, I know one kid who was suspended in 6th grade for looking at porn on their computer in AAP, the kid had openly bragged about hacking the school computers to watch whatever they wanted. The kids were sharing hacking tips. There are kids who act out and are behind in AAP, just like in Gen Ed. It is not a perfect classroom and there is still bad behavior and imperfect kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To keep my kids out of the general population and with kids whose families at least moderately care about academics and future success.

This is the correct answer. My kids are in the top 0.1% of IQ but all I really want is to get them away from the miscreants

Wow—-what an insult to all the children who don’t happen to get in but are great kids.

There are a lot of great kids in the general classes. But there are also a lot of kids who don't care about school, and get in trouble a lot.

I was in advanced classes when I was a kid in Kentucky. One year, the school decided to mix the advanced and regular classes for one hour a week for "seminar", where we would read passages from a book and discuss. I remember reading an excerpt from "The Red Badge of Courage". When the teacher asked questions about it, no one answered. Finally I raised my hand and gave an answer about the meaning of one of the paragraphs. The teacher, who normally taught the regular classes, looked stunned, and there was a few beats of silence until one of the kids from the regular classes said in a robot voice "Translation please!", and the rest of the kids laughed.

That's the kind of stuff that our kids will be subjected to if they aren't in AAP.

We are in LI and not AAP but it is similar. I have friends who have had kids in Gen Ed and LI, they all comment on the difference in the behavior and focus of the kids in LI vs the kids in Gen Ed. We see it at various activities were the different classes are mixed together.

That said, DS reports kids coming into his LI class bragging about not doing their homework and not doing well on tests. There are regular reminders from the Teachers that kids who complete their homework do better on the unit tests. He pouted a good amount during distance learning because we insisted he do all the asynch work plus the extras while a lot of his friends did not have to do the extra and some kids in his class did none of the asynch work.

There is truth to the ideas that the kids who are curious and end up ahead behave differently in class. It is not because the other kids are bad kids, they are kids being kids. But their interests are different and that leads to different attitudes in class. DS enjoys going to RSM because it is a math class where all the kids are good at math and enjoy math. The class moves more quickly and there are fewer distractions.

I would not call the kids miscreants or badly behaved or anything along those lines, they are kids. I would say that some of the kids are less focused and might not be as interested in school. More time is spent focusing and refocusing kids. There is a different level of focus in the LI program because the kids have to be more focused and the Teachers demand more focus. But that doesn't mean that the kids are more curious or interested in school. I can see AAP being more comfortable for kids because the kids in the class are probably more curious and interested in school work.

That said, I know one kid who was suspended in 6th grade for looking at porn on their computer in AAP, the kid had openly bragged about hacking the school computers to watch whatever they wanted. The kids were sharing hacking tips. There are kids who act out and are behind in AAP, just like in Gen Ed. It is not a perfect classroom and there is still bad behavior and imperfect kids.

+1

The best summary of why some parents prefer AAP.

[Anonymous]

Looking back, and now realizing with my third, it is a race to know where. It ends in middle school really, at least if your in a MS that is All Honors, maybe there is a touch of truth to the “peer group” being a better fit but,as above post shows, definitely not always the case and by MS these kids are mixed in so many other classes it’s just not that much of a factor. I guess if I had a child that I knew had a chance for getting into TJ, AAP would matter but we are not and never were in that boat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking back, and now realizing with my third, it is a race to know where. It ends in middle school really, at least if your in a MS that is All Honors, maybe there is a touch of truth to the “peer group” being a better fit but,as above post shows, definitely not always the case and by MS these kids are mixed in so many other classes it’s just not that much of a factor. I guess if I had a child that I knew had a chance for getting into TJ, AAP would matter but we are not and never were in that boat.

*nowhere

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are parents so hel! bent on getting their children into AAP?

one word segregation

[Anonymous]

I don’t see why parents are so judgmental about other parents who want their kids in AAP. The same parents will have kids who do multiple travel sports. My kid isn’t up for the challenge of travel sports. But they are up for additional academic challenges. If I see that, then I will try to get them in to AAP. I wouldn’t go crazy but I did submit a parent referral, even though my kid was in pool. I don’t see it as any different than a more challenging sports environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There really should be a middle track for average/above average kids without behavior issues.

This is really the answer here.

[Anonymous]

Because she's really good at math and I wanted her in the advanced math class. Anything less than level IV is no guarantee of principal placement so I forced their hand and got her into Level IV even though her LA abilities are average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are parents so hel! bent on getting their children into AAP?

Because they think their kid is "special" and/or that it provides an advantage in HS and college. It didn't.

My child did not do AAP and is smoking most of those kids in HS now. It's not necessary to be high achieving. It just isn't.

And before anyone points it out, yes, there are kids that are smarter/better grades than mine. And you know what, they would have been without AAP too. And I'm ok with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There really should be a middle track for average/above average kids without behavior issues.

That's called gen ed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because she's really good at math and I wanted her in the advanced math class. Anything less than level IV is no guarantee of principal placement so I forced their hand and got her into Level IV even though her LA abilities are average.

Please explain how you "forced their hand." Seems implausable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There really should be a middle track for average/above average kids without behavior issues.

That's called gen ed.

NP no way. Gen ed is filled with behavior issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see why parents are so judgmental about other parents who want their kids in AAP. The same parents will have kids who do multiple travel sports. My kid isn’t up for the challenge of travel sports. But they are up for additional academic challenges. If I see that, then I will try to get them in to AAP. I wouldn’t go crazy but I did submit a parent referral, even though my kid was in pool. I don’t see it as any different than a more challenging sports environment.

Because deep down inside, jocks and parents of jocks have always been jealous of the nerds in American culture. That is one thing that really distinguishes America from other countries is how much we deride those who like school and are academically successful. Nerds aren't subjected to ridicule in other countries like they are here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do that many people really go to great lengths, or is it a DCUM thing?

I think it could depend on the area. Some parents are more competitive than others. I had a neighbor pass me down a huge stack of worksheets and workbooks she used to prepare her child. I have a friend who is older and she stressed the importance. She said to fight it if my child didn’t get in. I also have talked to numerous parents who have gotten tutors for their children while in elementary school ( and their students were already performing well). I also know numerous parents that can care less.

In my current neighborhood people move here specifically for the schools. We have the top schools in the state. However, I’ve found it really depends on the teacher. My daughter had a new teacher that was horrible. She even told the parents that she applied and got the job so here she is. She didn’t seem to have a real interest in teaching. She would come to school and tell the kids she was too tired to teach today and would pop on a movie or let them play games.

I was in a similar program. The schools weren’t that great. I was able to thrive by being with like minded students.

It's a travesty that AAP demographics do not reflect the County demographics for blacks and Hispanic students. If TJ is headed in that direction, AAP certainly should make more progress or just have one system.