Reply to Thomas Jefferson TJHSST - why not Honors Algebra I/Honors Geometry for TJ admissions?

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Reply to "Thomas Jefferson TJHSST - why not Honors Algebra I/Honors Geometry for TJ admissions?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Families who send their kids to outside enrichment, including test prep, with the goal of gaining admission to TJ are “gaming” the system. 
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Not really, at least not all of us. DS loves math and loves his math competition class. Does that mean he has a bit of a leg up in his math class? Sure, he has been exposed to many of the concepts before and he has probably had more math practice than kids who don’t do math outside of school. Are we gaming the system? Not intentionally. He dropped the grade level math class he initially took in favor of math competition and we were fine with that. Would he have a leg up on the Quant test if they still had it? Probably, but that is not the reason why he is taking the class.

So it is “ok” for him to participate in enrichment because he loves math vs a kid who is strong at math and whose parents are interested in TJ?

I don’t have a problem with them dropping the Quant test as it was, that test was being specifically prepped for and did provide an advantage to students who could afford prep.

I like seats for each MS. We know that those seats are not all used by kids from those schools and I appreciate them making sure that there is space for kids who are interested in STEM at schools where the kids are less likely to have the outside support to imp[rove or strengthen academic skills.

I like that the criteria is now focused on STEM measures that are available at all schools, so classes. I wouldn’t have a problem if there was a way to weight participation in Mathcounts, Science Olympiad and the like if they are available at all MS. I do think that those clubs show additional interest/investment in STEM but they need to be available to all the kids and not just the ones with AAP Centers.

I would not have a problem if the applications were weighted based on the highest level of math available at each MS. The MS with Algebra II can add a weight to those kids scores to choose their top 1.5%. The schools that only have a few kids in Geometry and more kids in Algebra can still send those kids. But punishing kids who come from families that don’t know about AAP or math paths or that their kid is really good at math shouldn’t be denied access to a great cohort of kids and some amazing opportunities. The AAP Centers with Algebra 2 kids and Geometry kids should be sending those kids. The schools with smaller cohorts send kids with Algebra 1 H and TJ is in a position to support those kids and their interest in STEM in a unique way. But the Algebra 1 only kids would be a smaller group of kids who are interested in STEM and need some supports that the Carson, Cooper, Longfellow, Rocky Run kids don’t need.[/quote]

I specifically said “with the goal of gaining admission to TJ”. If it’s your kid’s sincere interest, sure. But if your kid shows a mild interest and you push it because you want them to go to TJ then it is “gaming” the system. 
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That is the dumbest definition of "gaming" the system I have ever heard.
If you don't want to push your kid to study and strive for academic excellence unless they have a natural interest in studying then that's up to you but what you call "gaming" the system is usually better known as good parenting.
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Pushing your kid into certain activities just because you want them to go to TJ is not “academic excellence”, it’s gaming the system. And it’s how we ended up with a school full of over-pushed kids instead of true STEM-loving kids.

That is what ruined TJ for everyone. 
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Studying is not "certain activities" it is the primary method of education.
Studying ruined TJ for the kids that didn't study.[/quote]

If by studying you mean buying the test answers, then sure![/quote]

Nobody bought test answers.

If you have to lie to make your point then maybe you don't have much of a point.[/quote]

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