Reply to County-wide magnet/IB/GE/Humanity programs will become regional programs if the secondary program plan is passed

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Reply to "County-wide magnet/IB/GE/Humanity programs will become regional programs if the secondary program plan is passed"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Folks need to get really clear and explicit on what exactly you are worried about losing by these magnets becoming regional.  What are the specific classes that there wouldn't be enough kids to support regional programs?  Is it just a few high level math and science classes for a couple dozen seniors, or is there anything else?

(If your complaint is just that they shouldn't change because you don't want your kid in class with a 95th percentile kid, you're not gonna get any sympathy or success.  You need to spell out "kids will lose access to X and Y.")

[/quote]

DD went to Blair Magnet.

1. Advanced core math courses: functions, analysis 1 (calculus), analysis 2 (multivariable calculus, differential equations). They are incredibly fast-paced and rigorous. You would not be able to implement this with a regional program due to: lack of skilled teachers, inequitable implementation, lack of qualified students in some areas.
2. Unique electives: quantum mechanics, AI, neuroscience, biochemistry, math physics, genetic analysis.... MCPS would not be able to implement this into a regional model. They would all disappear or be a shell of what they used to be. 
3. Student body. The Blair magnet takes the top from the county and are all incredibly talented. They are all very passionate in STEM, and their community helps to motivate everyone. They start clubs, do competitions together, and organize STEM activities together. They have an incredibly strong club culture.
4. Competitions: I mentioned that Blair takes the strongest from the county. I heard they recently won the National Science Bowl. They have a quizbowl team, science olympiad team, robotics team, and many more. They compete nationally. Blair offers them a very unique, once in a lifetime opportunity. Not possible if everything is divided.
5. Activities: Blair magnet students organize unique activities all the time. Their math tournament for middle students get 300+ participants each year and is highly successful. Their clubs do community outreach and volunteer. They organize plenty of other opportunities for other students all the time. The scale of these activities is incredibly unique to the magnet.
6. Research: The magnet has a senior research opportunity. The summer before senior year, each student interns in a lab at a university. They are able to write papers and present them to the entire program. Many are recognized for national awards.

I could go on and on. Ideally, I think many students could benefit from this program. But, expansion would mean a lack of resources and would bring everything down equally. Many of the very top students also need a challenge outside of their regular school curriculum, and this program provides exactly that. [/quote]

But why should MCPS/taxpayers concentrate so many resources for such a small number of kids? It really does not make sense.[/quote]

I agree with this.  A “watered down” regional program that brings in more kids is preferable in my mind.  The super geniuses with extremely motivated families can find other ways to enrich or move to Fairfax and try for TJ.[/quote]

You seem to imply that I or other families of kids in these programs are well off enough to just pack up our bags one day and move across the river. Why the animosity? Do our kids not deserve opportunities?[/quote]

It’s not animosity.  It’s recognition that everyone can’t get everything they want or think they deserve in public school.  There are limited resources and you are pretty astounding in your demands that MCPS cater to your needs.[/quote]

Great.  Let's least-common-denominator everything at all the schools, only providing that which strictly is required by law.  No special programs.  No advanced classes at some schools but not others.  Minimal electives to fill out a schedule, and only the cheapest to implement.  Ditto sports and other extracurriculars.  It'll save on taxes!

/sarcasm[/quote]

Slippery slope fallacy.[/quote]

Please note the "/sarcasm."  Defeats the slippery slope claim.

Question is, [i]where[/i] is the line (and does that meet equity with excellence & other goals that address student needs/interests within a budget acceptable to the community. [/quote]

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