Anonymous wrote:I'm sure TJ students have many interests, but their first love and future plans should be STEM. TJ offers many unique STEM classes that aren't offered at other schools in the county. If a student has no interest or need for these classes, they shouldn't be taking that opportunity away from other students.

Here's a good explanation of what sometimes happens:

Actually, I see a lot of kids there who really like and are good at science and math, but are such bright kids that they are strong humanities students also. AP versions of the humanities subjects are offered at TJ and many kids take them.
And it wouldn't be that unusual for such a bright kid who loved science or math the best in eighth grade to discover an equal or greater love for Latin or English or history by senior year of high school. Sometimes the combination of growth and maturity along with exposure to new subject material leads to a change in focus and/or passion. These are young teens still in the process of becoming adults, after all.

I'm pretty sure no one would want TJ to stop offering AP humanities classes to keep the kids focused on STEM.

I'm sure TJ students have many interests, but their first love and future plans should be STEM. TJ offers many unique STEM classes that aren't offered at other schools in the county. If a student has no interest or need for these classes, they shouldn't be taking that opportunity away from other students.

So you think that the students at TJ should have no interest in the humanities?

These are bright kids, many excel in lots of areas. Just because you have an interest and aptitude in STEM doesn't mean you can't also have an interest and aptitude in the humanities.

Try talking to actual TJ students and maybe you'll see what I mean.

Anonymous wrote:If your child doesn't like math/science/tech, then ignore what I'm about to say... but the humanities at TJ are very strong. The kids are bright, motivated and intellectually curious. The teachers thrive off of that. Most everything taught at that school is excellent.

I might get pushback on this from parents who want to pigeonhole the school for just being for science/math/tech nerds...

And Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts gets "pigenholed" as a school for performing arts. Gee, I wonder how that happens?

Anonymous wrote:If your child doesn't like math/science/tech, then ignore what I'm about to say... but the humanities at TJ are very strong. The kids are bright, motivated and intellectually curious. The teachers thrive off of that. Most everything taught at that school is excellent.

I might get pushback on this from parents who want to pigeonhole the school for just being for science/math/tech nerds...

it's not the parents, it's FCPS and the school's many sponsors. And students interested in STEM aren't necessarily nerds.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your child doesn't like math/science/tech, then ignore what I'm about to say... but the humanities at TJ are very strong. The kids are bright, motivated and intellectually curious. The teachers thrive off of that. Most everything taught at that school is excellent.

I might get pushback on this from parents who want to pigeonhole the school for just being for science/math/tech nerds...

It's not a matter of pigeon holing, it's that TJ intends to only accept those with a focused interest in STEM. Those who are focused on humanities are only there because they lied on their applications.

Quite an accusation. How do you know this?

I'm not sure if they lied per se, but they certainly had to indicate somehow that they were interested in a career in STEM and not the humanities. The school's website clearly states that the school is for thjose who wish to pursue a career in STEM. And this "pigeonhole" comment is just bullshit. It is a STEM school, hence the name: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your child doesn't like math/science/tech, then ignore what I'm about to say... but the humanities at TJ are very strong. The kids are bright, motivated and intellectually curious. The teachers thrive off of that. Most everything taught at that school is excellent.

I might get pushback on this from parents who want to pigeonhole the school for just being for science/math/tech nerds...

It's not a matter of pigeon holing, it's that TJ intends to only accept those with a focused interest in STEM. Those who are focused on humanities are only there because they lied on their applications.

Quite an accusation. How do you know this?

Actually, I see a lot of kids there who really like and are good at science and math, but are such bright kids that they are strong humanities students also. AP versions of the humanities subjects are offered at TJ and many kids take them.
And it wouldn't be that unusual for such a bright kid who loved science or math the best in eighth grade to discover an equal or greater love for Latin or English or history by senior year of high school. Sometimes the combination of growth and maturity along with exposure to new subject material leads to a change in focus and/or passion. These are young teens still in the process of becoming adults, after all.

Anonymous wrote:If your child doesn't like math/science/tech, then ignore what I'm about to say... but the humanities at TJ are very strong. The kids are bright, motivated and intellectually curious. The teachers thrive off of that. Most everything taught at that school is excellent.

I might get pushback on this from parents who want to pigeonhole the school for just being for science/math/tech nerds...

It's not a matter of pigeon holing, it's that TJ intends to only accept those with a focused interest in STEM. Those who are focused on humanities are only there because they lied on their applications.

If your child doesn't like math/science/tech, then ignore what I'm about to say... but the humanities at TJ are very strong. The kids are bright, motivated and intellectually curious. The teachers thrive off of that. Most everything taught at that school is excellent.

I might get pushback on this from parents who want to pigeonhole the school for just being for science/math/tech nerds...

One could argue that there is no need for a humanities magnet, since that seems to be the focus of all schools other than TJ.

If we asked FCPS for a humanities magnet, they would point toward the IB program.
If we asked for an arts magnet, they would point toward the Fairfax HS academy.
If we asked for another STEM magnet, they would point toward the governors STEM academies.

In their mind (however wrong it may be), they have all bases covered.

Thanks, PPs! Good suggestions for me to think about.

H-B Woodlawn in Arlington comes close to what you're describing -- built on the 70s experiential/open school model. but it's lottery to get in.

All the FCPS high schools offer a good number of APs in the humanities, so a student could fill their schedule junior and senior year with APs in English, history, government, and foreign language. Also, a number of schools have the IB program which has an emphasis on writing well.

I think my kids would thrive at a school similar to TJ, but with the emphasis on the humanities rather than math/science/tech. I'm sure there are many other kids in the same boat. Anyone know of a high school in Northern VA that fits the bill? I don't believe there is one, and I would be thrilled if FCPS decided to build one.