Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if the all-consuming nature of TJ is any different from the base schools? I remember being very busy with homework and activities in HS. Family was definitely on the periphery.

Our non-TJ kid (at another phenomenal school) has a much better balance of school, work, and activities. I had a senior TJ mom warn me about the workload/stressful climate when my son got in and to be honest, I thought she was exaggerating. She was not and I wish I had listened to her. In the end, you have to do what is best for your child and your family.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak to the commute from North Arlington but in terms of work, it is a HUGE difference from my DS' not-so-challenging middle school. He is often up until after midnight doing work, especially when he's involved in a sport. You will hear repeated over and over again: "Your child just needs to learn good time management" when the load of work feels crushing. The culture for the kids is the best part: I-Night, the askings to the dances, the lock-ins, and 8th period but the crazy amounts of work make it hard for my son to fully enjoy them. He -- once very carefree in attitude -- says, "I spend the whole time worrying about how I'll pay for having fun with having to stay up." The kids are not typically cutthroat but there's enormous pressure and there are many stressed-out kids. The school will tell you about its mental health initiatives and how they have "homework guidelines" in place to minimize the craziness but some of my child's teachers will circumvent the guidelines i.e. assign a major project on the Thursday before Spring Break and say, "You had Thursday night before break to work on it so technically, you didn't have to complete it over Spring Break." If your child gets the IBET with Glotfelty and Hohlman, asked to be switched. They are two of the worst offenders in terms of actively undermining the guidelines.

In many ways TJ is a special place so I find it even more disheartening that all the good is undermined by ridiculous amounts of work. Smart 15-year-olds are still 15 year-olds; they shouldn't be walking around with their brows furrowed and the weight of the world on their shoulders. I hope it changes and that this isn't your child's experience, too. So sad!

I have a 10th grader at TJ -- this is all 100% accurate.

Anonymous wrote:My kid has been accepted to TJ. How is the commute from North Arlington? How much homework for a kid that normally finds middle school easy? How is the culture? Do the kids support each other? Cutthroat?

Thank you!!!!!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if the all-consuming nature of TJ is any different from the base schools? I remember being very busy with homework and activities in HS. Family was definitely on the periphery.

Our non-TJ kid (at another phenomenal school) has a much better balance of school, work, and activities. I had a senior TJ mom warn me about the workload/stressful climate when my son got in and to be honest, I thought she was exaggerating. She was not and I wish I had listened to her. In the end, you have to do what is best for your child and your family.

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if the all-consuming nature of TJ is any different from the base schools? I remember being very busy with homework and activities in HS. Family was definitely on the periphery.

Anonymous wrote:My child is on the wait list. Does anyone know how many kids typically get accepted from the wait list of 50.

Anonymous wrote:You moms are awesome! How about diversity? I hear minority is majority and majority is minority there?

Anonymous wrote:My kid has been accepted to TJ. How is the commute from North Arlington? How much homework for a kid that normally finds middle school easy? How is the culture? Do the kids support each other? Cutthroat?

Thank you!!!!!!!

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak to the commute from North Arlington but in terms of work, it is a HUGE difference from my DS' not-so-challenging middle school. He is often up until after midnight doing work, especially when he's involved in a sport. You will hear repeated over and over again: "Your child just needs to learn good time management" when the load of work feels crushing. The culture for the kids is the best part: I-Night, the askings to the dances, the lock-ins, and 8th period but the crazy amounts of work make it hard for my son to fully enjoy them. He -- once very carefree in attitude -- says, "I spend the whole time worrying about how I'll pay for having fun with having to stay up." The kids are not typically cutthroat but there's enormous pressure and there are many stressed-out kids. The school will tell you about its mental health initiatives and how they have "homework guidelines" in place to minimize the craziness but some of my child's teachers will circumvent the guidelines i.e. assign a major project on the Thursday before Spring Break and say, "You had Thursday night before break to work on it so technically, you didn't have to complete it over Spring Break." If your child gets the IBET with Glotfelty and Hohlman, asked to be switched. They are two of the worst offenders in terms of actively undermining the guidelines.

In many ways TJ is a special place so I find it even more disheartening that all the good is undermined by ridiculous amounts of work. Smart 15-year-olds are still 15 year-olds; they shouldn't be walking around with their brows furrowed and the weight of the world on their shoulders. I hope it changes and that this isn't your child's experience, too. So sad!

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if the all-consuming nature of TJ is any different from the base schools? I remember being very busy with homework and activities in HS. Family was definitely on the periphery.