NAACP, Local Advocates File Discrimination Complaint Against FCPS

[Anonymous]

Yes, quite true. I own an IT business and I can't find the people to fill the positions (know any business objects programmers with a clearance?)

I've just given up the work but I really understand why people go where the talent is?

We need to leave this TJ alone and create 5 more TJ's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why the US is ranked 37 in math and science in the world. Let's just lower the standards of the best high school in America. That should help us be competitive in the global marketplace.

And people wonder why we keep losing jobs to Asia.

Because their workers earn $2.00 a day in labor. That is why we keep losing jobs to Asia, just ask Walmart and friends. All your furniture that you purchased with the misguided belief that it was made in North Carolina, was made in Vietnam. Your bank routes your calls to someone in India who can never answer your questions, but it's cheaper.

Maybe. But an alarming number of IT and other technology jobs are going to people who are here on work visas. Those are the jobs I would be more worried about losing (not PP)

PP here. I was referring to the STEM jobs since this thread is about a magnet MATH and SCIENCE high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, quite true. I own an IT business and I can't find the people to fill the positions (know any business objects programmers with a clearance?)

I've just given up the work but I really understand why people go where the talent is?

We need to leave this TJ alone and create 5 more TJ's.

+1

Or create more STEM Academies like Chantilly.

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/06/chantilly-academy-tapped-as-fairfax-county-s-first-stem-school-76972.html

[Anonymous]

Does anyone think that the following situation is another form of discrimination?

Situation: Our FCPS elementary school is growing the AAP program to enormous proportions, ie over 40% of the population. (In my humble opinion, there just can't be that many students formerly known as "gifted and talented." This is creating a huge divide in the community.) Upon finishing elementary school, the AAP students have an option to go to another middle school (a newer Middle School, Rachel Carson, which is not the "local, boundary defined school, yet an AAP center), or they can attend the local honors program at Franklin Middle. Now, the non AAP, or general ed, does NOT have the option to go to Rachel Carson, since it is not the boundary school. Does this seem fair? How can AAP students have 2 options for middle school, and general ed have only one? Is this not discrimination based on intelligence as defined by test scores, parental write-ups and teacher preferences? (i.e the AAP eligibility and acceptance process?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone think that the following situation is another form of discrimination?

Situation: Our FCPS elementary school is growing the AAP program to enormous proportions, ie over 40% of the population. (In my humble opinion, there just can't be that many students formerly known as "gifted and talented." This is creating a huge divide in the community.) Upon finishing elementary school, the AAP students have an option to go to another middle school (a newer Middle School, Rachel Carson, which is not the "local, boundary defined school, yet an AAP center), or they can attend the local honors program at Franklin Middle. Now, the non AAP, or general ed, does NOT have the option to go to Rachel Carson, since it is not the boundary school. Does this seem fair? How can AAP students have 2 options for middle school, and general ed have only one? Is this not discrimination based on intelligence as defined by test scores, parental write-ups and teacher preferences? (i.e the AAP eligibility and acceptance process?)

Seems totally fair to me.

[Anonymous]

11 out of 26 middle schools have AAP. That is 42%. Each middle school should have AAP. The double bussing is ridiculous. The volume in AAP is ridiculous. AAP, Honors, General ED, Team taught, Special ed self contained.

FCPS has large middle schools. Some are part of secondary schools with 9-12 onsite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:11 out of 26 middle schools have AAP. That is 42%. Each middle school should have AAP.

Now THAT is ridiculous.

The AAP eligible kids in some portions of the county would have exceptionally small peer groups compared to other portions of the county. The only fix would be for those students that have the economic means to do so could move into the portions of the county that have the larger AAP eligibility peer groups. That's hardly an equitable solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone think that the following situation is another form of discrimination?

Situation: Our FCPS elementary school is growing the AAP program to enormous proportions, ie over 40% of the population. (In my humble opinion, there just can't be that many students formerly known as "gifted and talented." This is creating a huge divide in the community.) Upon finishing elementary school, the AAP students have an option to go to another middle school (a newer Middle School, Rachel Carson, which is not the "local, boundary defined school, yet an AAP center), or they can attend the local honors program at Franklin Middle. Now, the non AAP, or general ed, does NOT have the option to go to Rachel Carson, since it is not the boundary school. Does this seem fair? How can AAP students have 2 options for middle school, and general ed have only one? Is this not discrimination based on intelligence as defined by test scores, parental write-ups and teacher preferences? (i.e the AAP eligibility and acceptance process?)

Seems totally fair to me.

+1

FCPS has set eligibility requirements, pure and simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone think that the following situation is another form of discrimination?

Situation: Our FCPS elementary school is growing the AAP program to enormous proportions, ie over 40% of the population. (In my humble opinion, there just can't be that many students formerly known as "gifted and talented." This is creating a huge divide in the community.) Upon finishing elementary school, the AAP students have an option to go to another middle school (a newer Middle School, Rachel Carson, which is not the "local, boundary defined school, yet an AAP center), or they can attend the local honors program at Franklin Middle. Now, the non AAP, or general ed, does NOT have the option to go to Rachel Carson, since it is not the boundary school. Does this seem fair? How can AAP students have 2 options for middle school, and general ed have only one? Is this not discrimination based on intelligence as defined by test scores, parental write-ups and teacher preferences? (i.e the AAP eligibility and acceptance process?)

There is no such thing as discrimination based on intelligence. Intelligence (or lack thereof) is not a protected class like race, gender, ethnicty etc. In other words, it is perfectly legal to discriminate on the basis of intelligence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone think that the following situation is another form of discrimination?

Situation: Our FCPS elementary school is growing the AAP program to enormous proportions, ie over 40% of the population. (In my humble opinion, there just can't be that many students formerly known as "gifted and talented." This is creating a huge divide in the community.) Upon finishing elementary school, the AAP students have an option to go to another middle school (a newer Middle School, Rachel Carson, which is not the "local, boundary defined school, yet an AAP center), or they can attend the local honors program at Franklin Middle. Now, the non AAP, or general ed, does NOT have the option to go to Rachel Carson, since it is not the boundary school. Does this seem fair? How can AAP students have 2 options for middle school, and general ed have only one? Is this not discrimination based on intelligence as defined by test scores, parental write-ups and teacher preferences? (i.e the AAP eligibility and acceptance process?)

There is no such thing as discrimination based on intelligence. Intelligence (or lack thereof) is not a protected class like race, gender, ethnicty etc. In other words, it is perfectly legal to discriminate on the basis of intelligence.

Not intelligence, but "intelligence as defined by test scores, parental write ups and teacher preferences, or "the process". With so many children qualifying for AAP - it does seem as if 2 tiers of education are being created, rather than a program for kids with unique needs (GT). There is nothing unique about 40 percent of above grade level kids....With these numbers, shouldn't the base schools be adjusting their curriculum to meet these kids where they are?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11 out of 26 middle schools have AAP. That is 42%. Each middle school should have AAP.

Now THAT is ridiculous.

The AAP eligible kids in some portions of the county would have exceptionally small peer groups compared to other portions of the county. The only fix would be for those students that have the economic means to do so could move into the portions of the county that have the larger AAP eligibility peer groups. That's hardly an equitable solution.

So have a baseline for the critical mass. FCPS has used AAP as a way to fill schools without boundary changes. Provide a lin k to data on each middle school AAP program and historical feeders. If a school would have a critical mass why bus them? How many go to Jackson instead of the base school Thoreau? It is not equitable for FCPS to spend all this money.

[Anonymous]

Very good point: With so many children qualifying for AAP - it does seem as if 2 tiers of education are being created, rather than a program for kids with unique needs (GT). There is nothing unique about 40 percent of above grade level kids....With these numbers, shouldn't the base schools be adjusting their curriculum to meet these kids where they are?

Why can't the "in charge" people at the top of AAP, i.e. Dr. Carol Horn, Director of AAP, FCPS see this, and acknowledge this? At the rate they are going, will general ed will be a thing of the past, or will it turn into Special Ed? Is the goal to eliminate current general ed teaching policies and procedures? Or, it the goal to create and maintain division among neighborhoods and communities? What do you think?

[Anonymous]

My problem with TJ is that is was not intended to be what it has become: a status symbol and an institution that provides a higher tiered eduction to kids with taxpayer dollars. Furthermore, the excellent teaching / atmosphere that allows kids to excel there in their sheltered, specialized environment should be availabe to all kids. Use the methods at the other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My problem with TJ is that is was not intended to be what it has become: a status symbol and an institution that provides a higher tiered eduction to kids with taxpayer dollars. Furthermore, the excellent teaching / atmosphere that allows kids to excel there in their sheltered, specialized environment should be availabe to all kids. Use the methods at the other schools.

^^ this is just silly. It is a STEM magnet. Relatively few high schoolers actually want to specialize in science, math, engineering and math - and most of those are Asian.

[Anonymous]

Another very good point:

Furthermore, the excellent teaching / atmosphere that allows kids to excel there in their sheltered, specialized environment should be availabe to all kids. Use the methods at the other schools.

This point could be made for general ed vs AAP as well, and made all across the board.