Reply to Blair CAP Program or RM's IB?

Forum Index » Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)

Reply to "Blair CAP Program or RM's IB?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I would appreciate hearing from people whose children had to pick between these two programs and what they decided and why.  Both programs look amazing.  Acceptance letters/rejections come out at the end of January but there is a short turn-around period to accept.

Thank you.[/quote]

Definitely, RM's IB.  Blair CAP coordinator is now the same as the magnet coordinator and they have had difficulty getting teachers.  Some believe that the magnet is being "becoming assimilated with the rest of the school"(http://silverchips.mbhs.edu/story/12272).  My observation is that they are quietly assimilating the magnet and CAP with the rest of the school.  That would be tragic because the standard of instruction would be lower than that at, say, RM.

The safe bet is RM.  The classwork wont be easy.  Good luck.[/quote]

I think this is kind of off the mark and rumor-based.  Can you back it up?  We met with the teachers and they seemed amazingly dedicated and excited about what they are doing.

I also think your assertion that the standard of instruction would be lower than RM is not based in reality.  These are different courses, but Blair has plenty of very high level teaching going on in AP classes as well as the magnet classes.
[/quote]

And you would back up your arbitrary judgment with what facts??

As for Blair standards being lower-- the evidence is in.  Read Dan Reed's blog, read about One Montgomery's efforts.  If that isn't enough, read the news link  from Blair's own newspaper about how students feel.  The fact is that Blair is assimilating its programs with the general population.  The level at which the general population can be taught will determine the level of instruction. The level of the general population's preparedness, according to research, is correlated with socioeconomic (SES) status.  RM has a higher SES and therefore the level of instruction will be higher.

Blair is making a big mistake in assimilating its CAP and magnets into the general population.  End story.
[/quote]

First of all, Dan Reed is one blogger.  And I read the news link from Silver Chips -- it has one quote from one junior.  Not exactly a survey.

Plus, what does "assimilate into the general population" even mean?  CAP (and the Magnet, for that matter) have always been part-time programs.  The rest of the time, kids take courses in the "general population."  And if you don't think Blair has enough kids to populate plenty of AP classes, you are mistaken.  A kid who enters Blair and does the CAP program, plus AP courses and advanced math is going to get a very rigorous education.

I do believe that Starr has an agenda to get rid of magnets.  He snuck a line item into his newest budget that pays $200K for an "outside consultant" to analyze magnet and spcial program effectiveness.  I don't think the parents of MoCo will let him succeed, but I think he's going to try.  BUt if he does it to CAP, he will do it to RM too.

[/quote]

You make a good case for the fact that Blair is not a good option.  RM has to maintain certain standards to maintain IB school status.  So, dismantling it will be difficult if not impossible.  Dismantling Blair programs would be EASIER.  
I think RM-IB is the better choice.  The comment from the junior matters--she has been through the program.  If you had children in the program you would know she was right.  You would also know that the magnet coordinator is also the CAP coordinator.
[/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