Reply to Why is quota a bad idea if the true intention is to diversify ?

Forum Index » Advanced Academic Programs (AAP)

Reply to "Why is quota a bad idea if the true intention is to diversify ?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What is the purpose of TJ?  Is it to provide students of FCPS with a school where they will have a strong focus on STEM?

Or is the purpose of TJ to be the number 1 school in the nation?

If the true purpose of TJ is to provide a strong STEM focused education, then the school should be lottery based. I’m not sure it should be based on a test or high gpa. All kids should have the same opportunities to go there.  The 3.5 GPA cutoff seems like a good cutoff for lottery kids.

It will most likely no longer continue to be a top 10 high school, but that is ok.  [/quote]

After all these discussions, I started to wonder what the real purpose of TJ is supposed to be.  I went looking and I found it defined on http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/governors_school_programs/:

Purpose of the Governor's Schools
Governor's Schools give gifted students academic and visual and performing arts opportunities beyond those normally available in the students' home schools. Students are able to focus on a specific area of intellectual or artistic strength and interest and to study in a way that best suits the gifted learner's needs. Each program stresses non-traditional teaching and learning techniques. For example, small-group instruction, hands-on-experiences, research, field studies, or realistic or artistic productions are major elements in the instructional design at all schools. Students become scientists, writers, artists, and performers as they work with professional mentors and instructors. Every effort is made to tailor learning to needs of the community of learners that compose the program.

The Virginia Governor's School Program has been designed to assist divisions as they meet the needs of a small population of students whose learning levels are remarkably different from their age-level peers. The foundation of the Virginia Governor's School Program centers on best practices in the field of gifted education and the presentation of advanced content to able learners.
I don't see how a lottery system with quotas per region fit into this description.  I agree that there are improvements that can be done in the elementary and middle schools to prepare more people, including minorities, for STEM and encourage more of them to apply to TJ.    When striving for equality, it is better to raise from the bottom instead of trying to chop off the top.
[/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