Reply to The case for "low rigor" at highly competitive private lower schools?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]PP, that is absolutely not true about kids coming from advanced academic programs in NoVA and MoCo. Many if these kids score 97-100% on their SSATs to get into private schools and have very well rounded experience in language arts, PowerPoint, making presentations. Yes there are probably some kids accepted from less rigorous public schools but those aren't the whole picture. And those kids catch up fast. [/quote]

That may be true in your experience - I don't know the statistics. I am only letting the OP know my own experience and the discussions I've had with parents of public school kids who start in 9th grade at my kids' school. The parents regularly lament that their kids are behind in writing and analytical skills and need additional help because they simply were not taught that well in these areas. Also, being able to get a good grade on a test like the SSAT does not necessarily indicate whether that kid would be able to write a comprehensive piece arguing a point of view. And, maybe the point about the presentations is true. Public school kids are required to give presentations - I'll give you that. However, the writing and analysis part is quite accurate. I'm sorry, but I've read the work coming from the kids' of my friends who are in public school and it doesn't come nearly close to my DD's ability to write a great piece - and she's simply an average student in her English class. Why do you think all colleges have Freshman Writing Seminars? It's because the average American kid going to a public school doesn't get very good, consistent instruction in writing. It hurts to hear and I certainly hope things get better, but it is cause for concern.[/quote]

Why are you reading the school assignments of your friends kids? That seems really unusual. I don't even read the high school assignments of my own kid - it's his work to do, not mine. I can't imaging sending his work to other parents for review. How many of these assignments are you reading and what's the context that this would come up?[/quote]

I tutor kids and happen to help out some of the kids of friends.[/quote]

So your sample is based on kids who are having enough difficulties that their parents feel the need to hire a tutor. Perhaps that's not a representative sample?[/quote]

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