Reply to Your true thoughts about the Newton School

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[quote=Anonymous]I'm a current Newton parent that hasn't lost sight of TJ as an option for my son. It is my knowledge that at least one current upper school student just recently took the TJ exam or is preparing. There are Newton kids who are super smart, working way above grade level and Newton is meeting them there and keeping their kid on an advanced track. I really don’t know if TJ discriminates based on a child coming from a school like Newton or not. That is not on my list of concerns about my son getting in, really. It seems to me that if he passes all the tests and other criteria, coming from Newton shouldn’t be that big of a detriment. Maybe I’m being foolish here.

I too have had hopes that TJ could be great for my son from the time he was very young. He taught himself how to read by the time he turned four. He counted by tens and doubled numbers out loud (up to the thousands) from his carseat on the way to preschool. He knew his multiplication tables entering first grade. I frequently had people stop me in public and tell me how impressive his speech and vocabulary were. But the fact is, NONE of his intellectual ability matters if his lack of executive function keeps him from actually completing all his work, or following through on tasks. Or if his lack of social awareness keeps him excluded from groups and activities, or developing genuine and positive relationships. He’ll just end up still pretty damn smart, but lonely and without a good job or the best possible avenue to exercise that intellect. And NOW is the time to try and better these things.

I read recently (on a DCUM Forum) that TJ kids (like nearly the whole school) is super competitive (and that is fine, really) but it is not unheard of for kids to stay up until midnight doing all their homework. Maybe this is more doable in the latter high school years, but right now, I know my kid REALLY needs his sleep. Consistently needs his sleep. So, on that note alone, I’m making TJ a less critical end game for where I hope my son attends high school. We can still test and attempt to get in. And even if he is so lucky as to get accepted, it doesn’t mean it is where he will be best served. I'll know better when we are closer to having to make that choice. 
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