Reply to Does AAP create unhelpful elitism and separation?

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Reply to "Does AAP create unhelpful elitism and separation?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Fairfax seems unusual in its labelling and separation (even to the point of sending kids to alternate schools) of gifted kids.  Arlington and Falls Church City integrate them into the classrooms and enable differentiation on a subject by subject basis, as well as based on whether a kid wants to choose to push themselves, with the teacher's permission (even if they didn't test well).  Similarly, they integrate special needs children.  In Falls Church City, my son has children with down syndrome, cerebralpalsy, and brilliant (off the charts) smart kids all together.  There is very low teacher/student ratio (the special needs kids have one-on-one attendants) so that everyone's needs are met but children are not labelled and separated.  I much prefer the integration.

An earlier poster said that parents play a role and that is true to a point.  Kids see the obvious.  If a kid is tested and then separated from their peers because they did well, there is an inevitable superiority they will have that no amount of parental discussion will change.  It will become clear to them that smart kids benefit and are separated, and that they are not one of the smart kids.  [b]That will, in turn, affect their worldview of themselves and what they believe they can achieve.  [/b]The sad thing is that many studies show that brilliance doesn't lead to success - effort matters more.  The Fairfax system of (based solely on tests) labelling and separating kids will harm them in the long run.[/quote]

You hit the nail on the head.  My two oldest are now in HS.  One came up through the AAP program and the other did not.  To all you parents with younger kids worrying about this for one minute, just stop.  It all evens out by middle school and high school.  We know AAP kids who dropped out of TJ,  AP classes, or the IB program and know exactly as many Gen Ed kids who are academically at the top of their class now.  In the end, effort will make the difference.  I wish I knew this years ago so I could tell my non AAP kid (who was reminded constantly by classmates she was "not smart", etc etc) that it all eventually evens out and to let comments roll off her back.  The only damage done by the AAP program is the seed that is planted very young that a kid "isn't as smart" and that is just not true.[/quote]

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