Reply to Someone please explain to me the difference between tracking and the AAP program/centers.

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Reply to "Someone please explain to me the difference between tracking and the AAP program/centers."

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Where is all this coming from that GE is not good enough? Who says it isn't? [/quote]

Good enough for what?  Is it good enough for teaching basic literacy?  Yes.  Is it providing a challenging academic environment for most of the kids it serves?  No.  If you set your benchmark for what's good enough at a low level, then you are right, it's good enough.  I guess instead of striving for excellence, the new American goal should be "good enough".[/quote]

You've nailed the essence of this debate.  Some see a minimum standard and believe that's "good enough".  Some strive for more.  Kind of like minimum wage, you can tinker with it and raise it for all at a cost, but not everyone is happy flipping burgers.  Having an advanced program that pushes the willing to do more, while allowing those who are comfortable with "good enough" to do so is a good compromise. Differentiation is good for everyone.  I do think going back to gifted for a smaller group and expanding AAP for the next tier would be fine, though it's expensive and isn't likely to happen[/quote]

Expanding AAP is not expensive.  The kids have to be taught anyway and it's not like IB, which you have to pay for.  Plus, if it's expanded, the need for busing would go away and so would that cost.  The reason it won't happen is not because of cost, but because it will be viewed as tracking.  Somehow having AAP based on an test that is supposed to approximate IQ and setting the benchmark in the gifted range seems to get around the tracking label and is ok.  [b]I think there is a resistance to putting elementary kids in ability groupings because someone has to be in the lowest group and there is concern for the emotional wellbeing and confidence of those kids.  I guess by middle school that become less of a concern. [/b] [/quote]

Yes. I have seen on these boards someone saying that tracking "could look like racism." There may be an assumption that certain races would cluster in the lower groupings. Generally it isn't good to make assumptions about anyone's abilities, but perhaps through racism (unconscious biases that may affect placements), lack of opportunity for learning at the preschool level, not being a native speaker, etc., there would be some unfortunate racial and/or economic divisions.

By middle school kids may have had more equal opportunities, at least not a chasm like the difference between attending preschool and not attending preschool, or between having an involved, native speaker parent and not. FCPS would have educated each child as much as possible with the county's available resources, and groupings may better reflect ability to learn at a certain pace and not be a result of early learning opportunities.

Also by middle school parents may have a more realistic grasp of their children's abilities and not push them into honors if they could not handle the pace. When kids are younger the possibilities for them seem limitless. They may be a world chess champion, Carnegie Hall musician, or Olympic athlete. But then reality sets in and you see that your child never takes to board games, hates the piano, and can't catch a ball to save his life. LOL.[/quote]

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