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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]I'm not sure I fully subscribe to this American notion that you should get into this program (or not) based solely on your "natural" gifts. [/quote]

No one is suggesting you should have to agree with this American notion, but since Fairfax County is in the United States of America, would you agree that it is not all that odd that the standards by which the schools are run should be based on American ideas? Not saying that American ideas are better than any other culture's ideas, but isn't it reasonable that any country's schools be run based on that country's ideas? 
If I were living in England or France, it would not surprise me at all that their schools were being run according to English or French ideas, and while I might not agree with everything, if I were sending my children to their schools, I wouldn't expect them to do things differently because I disagreed. It seems to be that it is standard procedure (and generally good manners) to abide by the customs of the place where you are.[/quote]

This is an ironic response because you clearly assumed I'm a foreigner-- which I'm not.  My grandparents are all American-born children of Irish/German descent.

I was alluding to what I have frequently viewed as a cultural debate:  many cultures (Korean/Indian/Japanese) view test preparation as a normal, responsible thing to do.  It's not "cheating".  And then I hear the backlash against that practice (usually coming from non-Asain parents), saying this is all cheating and AAP should be for naturally gifted kids who do well without any prep.

I'm here in Ffx county and happy to abide by whatever rules they want to make.  But Ffx county is DECIDEDLY SITTING THE FENCE on this.  They're come out and said "the best prep is a good night's sleep", but they haven't come out and said prepping is discouraged/cheating.  Sure, different individuals have given their unofficial views, but the official policy has been very vague.  I can't help but think that part of the reason for the vague policy is because they know that many parents in ffx county BELIEVE in prepping, or have is as part of their culture.  I have a hard time believing that school board member Moon would EVER come out and label this "cheating"-- as probably many of the Korean-American parents who support him believe that prepping is simply what hard-working students do.[/quote]

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