Reply to Please sign this petition to continue countywide magnets

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I have not read this whole thread but I have a child who would be a great fit for one of the middle school magnets but the commute would absolutely kill any downtime they might have. But our home school is not good and has no real accelerated classes aside from Math. The whole idea of these limited programs being available ONLY BY LOTTERY and only for kids who can manage the commute is insane. Every single school should have an actual advanced program and if we are going to do magnets there should be a magnet within a reasonable radius for every kid. [/quote]

I guess the question is, are people saying they want an actual magnet program or do they want a good school?

I know it's not a popular opinion nowadays but schools was a major factor on where we decided to move to.  If schools weren't a factor, we would've been open to a lot more areas.

Yes, the area we picked is more expensive and on the wealthier side.

So my point of view is that the magnet program is a really specialized program for the really elite few.  You see the kind of things those students are showcasing at local events and it's really a different breed.  We would've liked for our kids to go to those special programs.  But prior to all the changes going on or proposed, we are fully okay with the local schools we're currently zoned for.

Are people asking for more access to the actual current magnet programs and what it offers.  Or are people asking for better schools where their kids would have access to the more higher level and rigorous classes?  ie in the groups we are in, not just in MCPS but in surrounding school systems, taking Calculus by 10th grade is very normal and there is the full expectation that the local high schools have what the students need/want for grades 11 and 12.

I'm not saying that there should be a high price of entry for "good" schools.  But I'm questioning if people are really asking for magnet programs or if they're asking for better schools.[/quote]

People are asking for both.

It’s a well known fact that some schools and cluster lack the more advance and specialized classes and programs. There is a sense of lower expectations because there are more EML students or less vocal parents. However evidence has shown that when provide the challenge students will rise to it.  It’s also been proven in MCPS own data that the EML students are completely capable of performing at proficient or above levels once they exit the English learning program.

Taking Calculus by 10th grade is not that normal. It’s very accelerated and most college professors think it’s overkill and kids are not getting good foundations. Calculus by 12th is the goal (and technically that accelerated). Calculus by 11th is supposed to be the highly accelerated.  Calculus by 10th, and now people are wondering why is everyone trying to accelerate further. What’s the goal?  Yes, some kids are extremely math inclined and some very small number are beautiful mind like gifted.  But not than many.  What’s going on here mostly is parents racing and enriching like it’s a sport. [/quote]

I'm still not a fan of dividing the region into six individual regions with a separate magnet program within each region and no overall magnet program for the county.

So in some regions, the school is basically just some sort of honors school.  So students can take some more advanced courses that are offered at some other regular schools.  But they need to pool enough students in a particular region to be able to offer the course.

Then some other regions might have a super magnet program.  But students in other regions won't be able to access it due to being in another region.

Unless that's something they're purposely doing to try to keep the individual regions happy.[/quote]

Having 6 creates more opportunities and puts more advanced classes at more schools.  NOT everyone wants the magnet but kids want access to more advanced math and science.  We have zero AP's in science and no math past BC.  They are doing it so more kids have opportunities.  Why is that a bad thing?  You keep assuming we want that particular program and many don't.  We just want the access to classes adn having a magnet at a school allows access to those classes more easily.[/quote]

I guess I'm getting hung up on considering it a magnet.

But looking through the slides, I guess it's not called magnet and just Science, Math & Computer Science and Engineering

So I guess if they're actually coming out and saying yes, they are are eliminating the county wide magnet programs for these programs instead, then it'd be a little bit more easier for me to process.  Not happy with it or anything but less argumentive.

The issue for me comes from people saying, no it will be the same program but just regionalized.

Over the years, I've seen students travel to other schools for classes not offered at their school.  Including ROTC, language and math courses.

To my knowledge it wasn't anything special.  In some cases they had a group of students shuttle together on their own with a teacher driving them.  Other times students drove there on their own.

It seems like if this was to just give access to more classes they could do something like that, instead of coming up with a complicated plan.  ie have two schools partner together and pool students interested in a class together.

But I guess maybe having established regions like this will have a more set transportation system allowing students to be able to travel to the schools more easily.[/quote]

Traveling means parents drive and they miss out oh two classes during that commute time.  I’ve done it.    MCPS refused transportation.   It assumes you have a driving kid with a car, both schools can offer parking or a flexible parent for a mid day trip.   It’s far from ideal.   Each school has their own schedules and even lunches don’t align.

If you want support, you need to give support.  We don’t need the same programs and different ones would be great.  I don’t see what’s so great about it as it’s very restrictive.

You talk a good game but have no idea the real reality.  [/quote]

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