Reply to High expectation and no stress-- which high school in mcps is best ?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Acadamic excellence needs to make students work hard to reach their potential, but at the same time many oarents are complaining their kids are under too much pressure to take APs or other highly challenge classes and too much homework in ES and MS.  Is there a way to achieve excellence without too much homework/stress?  Looking for a school cluster is balanced.[/quote]

There is not a cluster or school that will be perfect.  The only balance you can give your child is to NOT feel pressure by you, the school, or anyone else to overwhelm his or her potential.  My daughter dropped out of two honors courses because she needed a little bit more of a life.  3 season of sports and some clubs were more important than the top tier class.  Would you as a parent be okay with that?  If not, it won't matter where you send your kid.  You will pressure them.  [/quote]

[b]While I disagree with the specifics above (sports over academics), I agree with the overall argument[/b].  Your child will be fine in a competitive environment as long as you can help them get off the "hamster wheel" if that is what they want, and as long as you don't get caught up in it (your self worth isn't tied to your kid's achievements).

I will also echo the other posters that said the Ws aren't that challenging for their kids. If your kid really should be in those top classes - they will be fine.  The kids that struggle are those that are pushed to take higher (or more higher level classes) than they can really handle. [/quote]

But you don't agree with the argument because you are no different than any other parent.  You want the highest classes but still want your kids involved in all the activities.  They can't do it and feel mentally well balanced.  Have a moment to breath on their own.  You think think kids should take the highest classes possible, even if means not being a part of any sports, theater, arts, or clubs?   If a child can take 3 AP courses without any outside activities (getting home at 2:30pm),  do you think that same child could take those same courses not getting home until 6-7pm every night after sports and still have a normal life?  The kids that are faltering are getting 5 hours of sleep trying to fit everything in.   So basically you are saying kids should drop sports and outside interests to take the highest classes possible?  They shouldn't balance their high school life more appropriately?
 
Would you stay in your job if it required you over 12 hours a day, no time to see your kids, go to the gym or do any other outside interests?  Just work and come home and work 3-4 hours more by yourself, go to bed and do the same again the next day?  High school is much more than the top academic classes.  There is theater, art classes, sports team, being a sports manager,  various clubs, student council, debate, etc....   Parents only seem to be interested in any of those so long as their kid is taking top honors and AP classes.  THAT is the problem.  YOU are the problem.   It is not wrong for kids to say they don't want to overdue it so they can enjoy being in the school's drama productions or because they want to be on the football team that doesn't get them home until 7pm.  They should be able to choose those things.  It isn't like kids are opting for remedial classes with no homework and not giving a shit.  They just shouldn't have to take all honors and AP classes just to justify being in outside activities. This pressure to be perfect at everything isn't natural.   Let the kids that ONLY want to do academics take that heavy course load because that is what they want to do.  97% of the student body shouldn't be, especially with outside activities.  [/quote]

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