Reply to Help! 7 grade DD announced she wanted to go to TJ

Forum Index » Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)

Reply to "Help! 7 grade DD announced she wanted to go to TJ"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]I am not a fan of the TJ model.

However, if DD wants to go, I would not discourage her.  I would ask her why she wishes to go.  Is it because friends wish to go or does she really want the challenge?  Does she like the idea of being chosen as special?

If she wants to go for the right reasons, then I would support her efforts.  Let her do the research on what she needs to do.  Be aware that there are groups who have been in prep for years.

Have her make a list of advantages and disadvantages.  If you do not live nearby, drive her over there one afternoon during rush hour.  Remind her that the bus ride will be longer.  There will be some activities outside of school that will be limited as a result of the distance.

And, be prepared for disappointment.  Disappointment is not necessarily a bad thing--it helps us grow.  But, as parents, it is very difficult to see your child disappointed and help them through it.

DD had several friends who wanted to go to TJ and assumed they would get in.  This was before AAP. when the centers were still for the gifted.  Her friends in that program who wished to attend TJ were stunned when they did not get in.  Stunned and devastated.  I suspect their parents were also stunned and devastated as they, too, expected them to get in.  Some of these kids did not recover while they were in high school.  They felt like failures.  Others recovered nicely and went on to great success.

Advice:  Support her and let her try to get in--but, be prepared to support her and go forward if she does not.

[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics