Reply to When will Asra Nomani and her troop stop their rantings

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Yeah, what kind of crazy parent wants the best possible opportunity for their kids?[/quote]

+1  I wish people would stop hating on the hard working kids trying to get in the best high school in the country and their parents that support them in this effort.[/quote]

I would be more sympathetic to the kids if I thought it was the kids desire and not the parents desire. I understand that the kid has to do the work but I am not so certain that many of these kids are so driven by their STEM interest at 11 and 12 that they have been asking to take extra math and prep classes and all the other extras that I see listed. I feel the same way about kids who parents are driven by their kid having to get into an Ivy League school. I feel the same way about kids in travel sports who really don't want to be in travel sports but their parents are desperate for a scholarship.

There are kids who are that driven at a young age but they are pretty rare. There are kids with a ton of talent whose parents spend a lot of time and money on developing that talent. Some kids enjoy but a lot don't.

There is a fine line between encouraging your kid and providing them with opportunities and forcing your dreams and desires on your kid. A good number of TJ parents cross that line, I know a few who have done just that. [/quote]

You're projecting your thoughts.  You don't even know the kids.

And yes, there is an entire organization of TJ kids that are against the changes.  Are the parents forcing the high schoolers too?

Just because you can't wrap your head around differences, that are sometimes cultural, and you want tarnish what's different from you as bad- does not mean you are right my dear white savior.

- Parent without kids even remotely interested in TJ yet am able to understand and embrace that we are all different

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I am not projecting when the parent says that her kid doesn't want to attend TJ but agreed to apply and attend if accepted when the parents promised them a car for attending and getting A's.  The child clearly did not want to go to TJ but was thrilled to get a car. That is not a child choosing to attend because they want to attend but being bribed. My friend was dismayed that her child choose to study Education in college and not a STEM field. I get that there are kids who are at TJ because they really want to be but let's not pretend that there are kids there, and probably not an insignificant number, who are there only because they know it makes their parents happy. That is not kids choosing a great opportunity for themselves but parents forcing their idea of a great opportunity on their kids.

I understand cultural differences and why some parents put so much pressure on their kids to be able to attend TJ. I don't have to agree that that pressure is in the best interest of the child, whether that is here or living in their home country. I have friends who come from those cultures and they are realizing how much they missed out on and are trying to find a better balance for their kids. They still emphasize school and studying but they are deliberately not adding on extra school and activities in elementary school. I have other friends who come from that culture and are continuing down that path. I don't say squat to them because I am not the parent to those kids and no one has asked my opinion. But I am comfortable saying that, in general, I find that type of pressure unhealthy. I feel that way regarding travel sports and any activity where it seems like a kid is being pushed to live the life their parents envisions and not necessarily what the kid is interested in.

I am all for changes in the admissions policies that reduce the "need" for tutoring programs, test prep programs, and specialized classes that are geared to helping kids pad their resumes so they get into TJ. Kids in elementary school and middles school do not need to feel pressure to attend a specific school in high school.

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