Reply to Reflections on the "TJ Papers"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Curie kids told me there was no difference in their exam performance had they not been to curie. Anyone sending their kids to curie thinking otherwise is wasting their money. The current TJ format is pretty useless where an essay decides if the kids are smart. Not every kid knows all the science topic on earth unless they are generic. They criteria is messed up hence the high number of dropouts. Getting into TJ is one milestone but sailing thru all the stress is a completely different ballgame.[/quote]

About 170 kids taking Geometry at TJ this year. Yikes.[/quote]

It's actually about 140, but what's wrong with that? It's a lot lower than the number that took Geometry 10-15 years ago, when the school was in much better shape from a mental health perspective....[/quote]

They don't belong at ultra advanced and rigorous STEM magnet school.[/quote]

Why not? [b]Perhaps they have an exceptional aptitude for science or coding or any number of other things.[/b]

There are still 400 kids in the class who are advanced beyond Geometry and there will be no end of advanced opportunities for all of the students in those areas.[/quote]
DP. I have no problem with admitting 8th grade Algebra I students who prove that they have an exceptional aptitude for some aspect of STEM outside of math.  I have a huge problem with the current process, which assumes kids are hidden STEM gems without any evidence whatsoever.  Since every single FCPS kid has a chance to qualify for Algebra in 7th, and 15% of the entire FCPS 7th grade population enrolls in Algebra I in 7th, I would have no problem with making 8th grade Geometry a soft requirement for admissions to TJ.  They could waive the requirement for the very few kids who are weaker in math, but actually demonstrate some sort of exceptional aptitude.

[b]For the most part, those 140ish TJ kids in geometry aren't special, hidden gems in some STEM field.[/b]  They're routine, slightly above average FCPS kids who largely would have been better served at the base school.   [/quote]

How do you know?[/quote]

If they are, then it's very fortuitous that they were selected, given that kids had no real way to demonstrate STEM excellence in the application process.

Honestly, I know a few TJ Geometry kids.  They're typical UMC, above average AAP kids who tried prepping for IAAT, failed spectacularly, and have no real achievements to their names in any STEM arena.  They have very high grades and can write a strong essay.  That should not be enough to merit TJ acceptance.[/quote]

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