Reply to Literally every single MCPS kid I know has a tutor. Do YOU?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think this debate is pointless.

I am an Asian mom. I will continue to tutor my child and make sure that I am following a textbook and an international curriculum to teach him.

If it aligns with MCPS - great! If not - then I am not going to let my child's schooling interfere with his education.

I think parents who think like me are doing a disservice to our own children when we start touting the benefits of more rigorous education, parental involvement or following an international curriculum.

We do this mainly because we have had first hand experience of being educated in another country where standards were high, and many of us have maintained our ties so we are aware what is being taught in these countries even today.  People who were raised and educated here will naturally gravitate towards the type of education they are used to. This is cultural.

On the other hand, it reduced competition for my child if others do not have high standards for their children and rely on MCPS. So, why are we wasting our time trying to convince others?  Let's nod our heads and agree that we are doing something utterly wrong by focusing on education and valuing achievement, and get people off our backs.

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OK, I'm confused.  You are doing a disservice to your child here?  Then stop thinking this way.  Or am I reading this wrong, or was this a typo?

I agree with other PP that if parents really don't like 2.0 then let yourself be heard.  Otherwise, nothing will change.  Also, if you hate 2.0 so much, and you are not from this country, and you feel your home country's educational system is better, why not go back to that country?  I'm not being snarky.  I'm serious.  We moved across the country because we did not like the schools in the state we moved from.  And don't say it's not always possible.  You live here because you want, irrespective of your opinion on the educational system here.

Not saying we should not complain; parents should definitely advocate for their kids. Also, not saying 2.0 here is perfect.  But if you are that displeased with the education here then speak up to the school board.

But I also disagree with the Asian style of after school tutoring craze here, especially for ES kids.  I don't want this country to mimic the Asian educational system.  I think if most Americans knew what it was really like, they would not want it either.  It is mostly rote learning, although I've heard it's changing.  The only emphasis is on test scores, not what you really learned or the love of learning.  Teachers are bribed by rich parents.  Some schools still practice corporal punishment.  All the world sees is their test scores.  Most of us don't see what the kids have to go through to get these scores.

Again, not saying our system is perfect, but really, neither is their's.

BTW, I'm Asian.[/quote]

The benefit of being from another country and staying here is that we can pick and choose the best from each country and culture and discard the negatives.  Yes, there are many negatives in the Asian system and we have discarded that, just as we have discarded the negatives of the system here.

People have spoken to the school board, I have written to the board, spoken in the PTA - and eventually accepted that in a democratic system the majority will rule. So, in this case majority has ruled but in this case it is not necessarily the right step.

I have stopped trying to change the system and have started to concentrate on the education and opportunities of my own children.  I have learned to navigate the system here and made sure that my children are in the magnet programs. I have made sure that they are excelling in education, sports, and other extra-curricular activities. I have made sure that they are with a cohort of kids with similar abilities and like-minded parents.

If you are happy with what you are getting at MCPS then good for you. I am not and so I have taken matters in my own hands.   I also realize that my model is not one that can be easily replicated by others because it requires parents who are vested in their kids education and can invest their time in their education. I realize that for many parents time is one commodity that they lack.  Many resort to tutoring not because their kids are struggling but because they are unhappy with 1) the curriculum 2) the way material is organized 3) lack of acceleration.  Tutoring, summer schools, academic camps are not necessarily for the struggling student but also for the advanced student who wants to get ahead and become competitive in the global workplace.

You are being snarky when you say that we should go back to our home country. If I do not agree with something here, I should leave? Maybe we should all leave because this land belongs to the native Americans!  This conversation will require another thread.

There are many people from other countries who are here, and they are highly successful and educated people. If they are saying (based on their own experience) that something is not working in the education system - then perhaps it is beneficial for the school district to at least hear them out.

Finally, if my kid was struggling at school - maybe I would have been happy with the lower standards of 2.0 (or MCPS interpretation of 2.0) - but they are advanced student, and they have much to lose if I am not proactive. If your kids are not in the same shoes then we have nothing in common - even if you claim that you are Asian.

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I'm PP.  I really am Asian...really.  And my DC1 is in HGC, so no, DC is not struggling or below standards.  DC is advanced, but I don't need to push DC in ES level to be more advanced.  I want my DC to be a kid while in ES, plus I don't want to burn out my kids this early. There will be time for that later.  I know my DC will do great in years to come because I know DCs is a smart kid. I don't stress about it.

So if your child is tutored and so advanced, did your child get into magnet or HGC?  Because from what you are stating, all these kids that are advanced and need tutoring to keep them at such an advanced level should really be able to get into HGC or magnet or IB or whatever with no problems, right?[/quote]

My kids are taught by me. I do not know if that will be considered tutoring in the same way as OP has meant.  However, no kid is doing well in school without some kind of enrichment at home and parental involvement.

Yes, they are in HGC and magnet.  That is the track they have been on right from the start.  They have easily got into all the possible programs (because they applied to all of the programs they were eligible for) and have been able to do the magnet program of their choice.

I would have been happy to keep them in home schools if I felt that the enrichment there was at an acceptable level. I do not feel that what HGC/magnets are offering here is out of the world. I feel that that level of education and enrichment should be the norm and be available to every one from the K - 12.  However, I am not holding my breath for MCPS to do that.
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