Reply to FCPS plans to "reform" TJ?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It's interesting because I've taught in middle schools in FCPS in three different schools. I worked in a middle class, non-TJ feeder school for 7 years (think Robinson, Fairfax, Lake Braddock or West Springfield). I enjoyed working there, taught math and the kids were bright and hard-working. A few were interested in TJ but there really wasn't much support from teachers, guidance or admin. beyond doing the bare minimum. I had zero guidance on filling out recommendations, what TJ is looking for and we basically said "good luck" with only a few kids getting in. (It's still the case for these schools).

I then went to teach at a Title I middle school. The kids had other struggles beyond only math. I spent way more time teaching the language of math, teaching and reinforcing concepts. I did have some students who were advanced and a few pursued TJ. Very rarely we had more than a handful of kids who attended. Like my previous school, there was very little support to mentor kids, write recommendations, or even pay attention to the TJ deadlines. The few kids who made it in really had to manage and advocate to get through the process.

I now teach in a major TJ feeder (home with a sick kid today). And it is like working in a completely different school system. We attend multiple meetings with admins and other teachers to discuss, coordinate and manage the TJ application process. TJ counselors and admins provide us guidance on best practices. Our teaching is accelerated as a matter of course (and sadly, our ESOL and SPED students struggle and really get the short end of the stick unless they have parents who are aggressively managing IEPs and 504's and ESOL support). It is night and day.

So, in some ways, I think spreading TJ spots to the middle school level would address some of the inequity that is sort of baked in the cake in FCPS. I look at my first school, where there were as many kids in Alg. 1 in 7th as my current school and see that there is such a different approach to TJ. Getting a more uniform approach probably would address things, but absent there being a sense of demand, schools are site run and they really do focus on the issues that impact as many kids as possible. For the rare TJ applicant, they don't get the support that they would if they went to my current school. Even though all of the schools are in FCPS.[/quote]

Then the answer is to have at least one TJ point person/ mentor teacher and one TJ fluent guidance counselor who actively interact with TJ admissions at each school. And have STEM staff formally make kids aware and work with them.  But of the demand isn’t there, you don’t force it.  Also— I have a kid pupil placed into good FCPS IB (Marshall, SLHS, Robinson). I love IB. And IB prep MS is not conducive to TJ success.

TJ has a 15-20% dropback rate. Their class of 480 gains 10-20 froshmores and graduates about 425.   Miserable kids dropout. Unprepared kids are counseled out, often sophomore year.  I don’t see how it helps a kid who is not prepared or not interested to go and fail.  I have a kid on a 504. TJ does not compromise its academic standards for anyone. And I respect that.  My kid has struggled at times.  There were times if I asked him if he should just drop back. But TJ didn’t make compromises.  And my kid really wanted it.  And he’s better for it. He had college options I loved for him and hitting the ground running freshman year— prepared to succeed without accommodations.

So is the plan to dropout unqualified kids who apply?  Or is it to compromise TJ’s academic quality?

I will also say— Its an intense place.  My big shock was not how hard it was for the kid.  That was well known. It was how much it demanded for me to have a kid 45 minutes away doing ECs without late buses, leaving at 7, getting home and 9, and then making sure they are fed and having them do 4 hours of homework. I know virtually no kids who have made it to graduation without a lot of parent support. Monetary, yes. But time and stress too.  If the supports aren’t there, and the parents don’t want it for their kids, kids don’t succeed.  It’s night and day different between that and what it takes to support my base school kid. [/quote]

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