Reply to Do these docs show any changes in #s or courses for existing prograns?

Forum Index » Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)

Reply to "Do these docs show any changes in #s or courses for existing prograns? "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The issue with magnet programs having a spot for every student who has the interest and the ability for the curriculum is that you've then drained home schools of all of the academically strong kids. What if you don't want to do a STEM magnet because your primary interest is music or English or history, but you just want to be able to take a good Calc class? If all of your classmates who are good at math left for the STEM magnet, you won't have that. I think it's ok for these programs to be selective and choose the most qualified students, not all qualified students.[/quote]

[b]Then you’ll be in class with the other kids who like English, Art, history and who are also capable of doing Calculus. Or are you expecting the kid you mentioned in this scenario to be some rarity. News flash, they aren’t.[/quote][/b]

I don't think you quite understood where pp is coming from. Instead of sending news flashes maybe you should try harder at reading.

The concern is quite justified. With so many magnets there two possible outcomes. Let's use STEM as an example. If the magnet is placed at school with good reputation, most qualified students will rush to it thus draining other schools in the region of academically strong kids. If the magnet is placed at school with poor reputation, very few will move thus making the magnet obsolete. Neither outcome is good. I am not saying that 100 slots that we currently have is optimal, but this idea to improve accessibility by letting every interested kid in the magnet is misguided.[/quote]

I’m that PP - thank you for explaining that well. In Region 1, I’m concerned about Northwood and Einstein losing so many academically strong students to the other 3 schools that there isn’t a large enough cohort for those who can’t or don’t want to transfer schools.[/quote]

I don't think you understand.  There are not enough spots in other schools for Northwood and Einstein, so expanding it, and having it limited to specific schools will give Northwood and Einstein kids more access, BUT, you are assuming that all the smart STEM kids want that and they don't.  It doesn't allow for a lot of arts or other classes, the commute is an issue for some and it's a more general STEM, and some kids want more specific computer science or engineering or other sciences.  Kids leave because there are not enough offerings at Einstein and Northwood.  With the DCC, you can transfer more easily between schools that are closer or go to MC (which is a transportation issue as well as a timing issue, as many of the classes would conflict with a normal school schedule and if kids do after-school sports or work, it's impossible to take evening classes).

Yes, many of our kids are left behind and have to choose from very basic classes, and it's not great.  Ultimately, it goes to the principal and their values and the current principal and AP's don't value AP and higher level classes.  I just hope they will allow COSAs to schools not in your region.

Why do you care when it doesn't impact your kids?  Or, you want to be elitist and keep the classes/programs for your kids only.

[/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