Reply to Gifted & talented programs and magnet school opportunities in the public schools?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]As predicted, OP's question has become yet another debate on expanding the magnets, so I may as well weigh in.

I think expanding access to the HS magnets is a good thing, EVEN IF it means some incremental drop in "rigor" in the formerly county-wide magnets.

Right now, MCPS has an approach that seeks to max out the potential of a handful of kids while leaving the rest with almost no access to differentiated or enriched instruction until 11th grade.

This is the wrong approach for a public school system, particularly one with as many high achievers as MCPS has.

There's no denying that expanding access from the "top" 1% to the "top" 5% will make some sort of a difference, but not a meaningful one and certainly not one that should stop MCPS from expanding the programs. [/quote]
Disagree.  top 1% operates on a different level to top 5%.

I have one of each.  They don't operate the same academically.[/quote]

This +1. I have one of each. Totally different level of mental and academic needs. We should sacrifice one for another. MCPS earns its national reputation and attractiveness by serving the top 1% well. It can and should keep the successful model while expand some courses to regional models.

As I mentioned previously, half of the Blair magnet courses can only enroll 10~20 students per year because they are so challenging, but every year there are always 10-20 kids that find these courses engaging, fun and learning (not the same 10-20 kids, a lot of them finds what they want to do as early as middle school age and dedicated to take all courses possible at one specific major). Regional model will not have capacity to open these courses nor have enough students register, so these courses will disappear permanently if county-wide program is canceled. [/quote]

Can't they just teach at least some of those classes virtually so kids from different regional programs can take them together?

I'm guessing there are probably a couple that you'd have to be doing hands-on stuff in person, but once you're down to losing a couple classes for a few dozen kids, is it really that big a deal?  What classes would they even be?  [/quote]

You can find all Blair magnet classes online:
● Science & Engineering
○ Advanced Topics in Earth Science
○ Analysis of Equity and Identity in STEM
○ Analytical Chemistry
○ Astronomy
○ Biological Chemistry
○ Chemistry of Art
○ Cell Physiology
○ Entomology
○ Immunology
○ Introductory Genetic Analysis
○ Marine Biology
○ Materials Science
○ Mathematical Physics A/B (Coded as AP
Physics, but requires the completion of
Multivariable Calculus and Differential
Equations)
○ Neuroscience
○ Optics
○ Origins of Science
○ Organic Chemistry
○ Physical Chemistry
○ Robotics
○ Quantum Physics
○ Senior Research Project
○ Thermodynamics
● Computer Science
○ Analysis of Algorithms
○ Computational Methods
○ Computer Graphics (programming)
○ Computer Modeling & Simulation
○ Adv CS Programming 3B: Future of
Programming Languages
○ Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
○ Introduction to Networking (Cybersecurity)
○ Senior Research Project
○ Software Design
○ Adv CS Programming 3A: Video Game
Programming
● Mathematics
○ Advanced Geometry
○ Complex Analysis
○ Discrete Mathematics
○ Linear Algebra
○ Logic
○ Multivariable Calculus and Differential
Equations A/B
○ Senior Research Project
○ Senior Seminar in Statistical Research[/quote]

Wow, that is a ton of classes.   How do they manage to offer that many classes a year?  It seems like there wouldn't be enough kids and time in the schedule....[/quote]

And that’s the correct question, because many of these are elective classes that kids in other schools would be happy to take.  For example Senior Research project.  There are several programs in the county that require students to complete a senior research or capstone project. Yet not all of them have a Senior level dedicated class to support this.  Also, what HS needs this many advance Chemistry courses.  If kids are that advance, that they are into 3yr college chemistry why would you not encourage them to take it taught by a college professor?

I honestly have no problems with Blair’s Science Magnet and them offering all this.  I have serious issue with folks acting like we shouldn’t be encouraging and allowing more kids in the district to experience access when we know we have population to support.[/quote]

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