Reply to FCPS plans to "reform" TJ?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]+1

No summer homework, even for AP classes, is the first tangible welcome result of CS at TJ. Also, there was some change to tests allowed during first week of school - don't recall the specifics but my DS thought it was a welcome change. Give the administration a chance. [/quote]

Yep. I heard from a parent one of the math classes did give a first week test on “optional summer enrichment” .  The kids went to the principal and it was nullified.

And they— thank you God-  have made progress standardizing math and physics.  All teachers use the same syllabus and test through AP.  They now give out different forms of the test and let kids sign up for tutoring from a different math tutor than their own during 8th period.   And they are reviewing the results of testing as a department and curving test or throwing out bad questions.  I’m sorry, but if the average grade on comics is 60 at TJ, either the teaching is inadequate or the test is ridiculous.   This is not a group of slackers.  Before, a lot of them were doing their own thing and their own pace at their own rigor. They each used one test, and by 6th period, half the class had all the answers and aced it.  This is huge.  It’s not glamorous. But it cuts down on cheating and makes the expectations clear.

I have seen less homework this year. But I have a senior, and that’s to be expected during application season. And for seniors, period. I have heard they have better spacing of projects in freshman year. So the IBET project and Romeo and Juliet and the robot don’t all due the same week.

Last year was the first time my kid didn’t have a project or test or lab report due over “homework free” Thanksgiving, spring break and winter break. As in, it was enforced.

These are all positives in my book.  Not a fan of the principal in other areas.  She needs to fight for things like freshman lock-in and HackTJ to stay. She has added some dumb rules that are CYA but address non-existent problems.

But I’m not writing Challenge Success off. Because some of things that make TJ kids miserable, like getting the math teacher who can’t teach and decides to give multvariable tests to an AB class and accepts a 50 average— aren’t things that help kids learn.  If anything, they hurt.  And summer homework.  90% of the students are in summer school, a summer pre-college class, a summer academic camp,do summer reach or something similar.  Brain drain is not an issue at TJ, and every kid needs a couple weeks before school to recharge.   My kid is fine reading a book. Taking 15 hours to get to ten handwritten pages of notes to get checked for a completion grade and never used again is pointless.  And not a fan of self teaching BC Calc over the summer to take AP Physics.  Then half the class has to drop as failing.  Getting rid of summer homework bought her some goodwill with me.

I’m not sure what PP is so livid, and I don’t see any specific complaint. Just TJ sucks. But my kid loves it and won’t leave??. Okay then. Sounds like you and your kid need to get on the same page.   And if there is a specific problem articulate it.

Give challenge success a chance. I’m sure parents will gripe loud and long about any deliverables that actually decrease rigor or make things worse. This is not exactly a quiet, timid group.  2/3 of Math 4 failed the first test and there was a school wide meeting demanded by parents. And ultimately, there was an extra chance to get back points.   It’ll be okay. [/quote]

Another TJ parent here. This times a million. There are many, many screwed up things about TJ and how they run the school. I find it appalling how terrible the math department was when you consider that it is a STEM magnet school. My younger kid actually passed on TJ (withdrew after passing the entrance exam) because of my older kid's experience. I think TJ is great in many ways, but to say there's nothing that needs to be fixed, improved or addressed is just flat wrong. There are some TERRIBLE things about the educational experience at TJ. And it isn't because the kids "can't hack it." My kid got a 1590 SAT score, a perfect math SAT score, and 5's on every AP exam. But struggled, hated and actually looks forward to taking a STEM break in college next year (he's likely heading to a SLAC, fwiw).[/quote]

PP above. We need to get together and talk SLACs. Not a lot of that at TJ. IDK another kid doing it. [/quote]

Maybe we can start another thread. I know of several kids who are friends of my kid who are also applying and seriously considering SLACs. [/quote]

Yeah why don’t you. There isn’t enough T.J. related threads here.[/quote]

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