Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have some friends whose kids go to Woodson. They've told me that the environment there is like a pressure cooker. Because the school is known for its high test scores, it's ingrained in the culture that it is very important that it be maintained. Test scores are everything.

That doesn't stand up to the logic test. If that were true, then schools like Langley, McLean, Madison, Oakton and others in the DMV area would also have a lot of suicides... but as far as I know, they don't. Something is going on. I suspect that when it happens once, there is a sense that it's a possibility for other kids. But, something needs to be done.

I don't know about Madison or Oakton, but in the years that my DCs have attended McLean- both McLean and Langley have had suicides nearly every year- some years more than one. Some have not been covered by the media or even here on DCUM.

I hit submit too soon. I don't mean to make it a competition, but just to note that the "pressure cooker" theory could have merit. My own theory is that the pressure cooker is really in the home and not as much in the school. That mixed with mental illness is a recipe for it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have some friends whose kids go to Woodson. They've told me that the environment there is like a pressure cooker. Because the school is known for its high test scores, it's ingrained in the culture that it is very important that it be maintained. Test scores are everything.

That doesn't stand up to the logic test. If that were true, then schools like Langley, McLean, Madison, Oakton and others in the DMV area would also have a lot of suicides... but as far as I know, they don't. Something is going on. I suspect that when it happens once, there is a sense that it's a possibility for other kids. But, something needs to be done.

I don't know about Madison or Oakton, but in the years that my DCs have attended McLean- both McLean and Langley have had suicides nearly every year- some years more than one. Some have not been covered by the media or even here on DCUM.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have some friends whose kids go to Woodson. They've told me that the environment there is like a pressure cooker. Because the school is known for its high test scores, it's ingrained in the culture that it is very important that it be maintained. Test scores are everything.

That doesn't stand up to the logic test. If that were true, then schools like Langley, McLean, Madison, Oakton and others in the DMV area would also have a lot of suicides... but as far as I know, they don't. Something is going on. I suspect that when it happens once, there is a sense that it's a possibility for other kids. But, something needs to be done.

There have been many recent suicides at Langley as well. As well as South Lakes, Fairfax, Robinson, Lake Braddock, West Springfield, Centreville that I know of. Possibly other schools as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't mean this disrespectfully, but have all the suicides been Asian-American students?

And male?

Several, but not all.

Anonymous wrote:I don't mean this disrespectfully, but have all the suicides been Asian-American students?

What do you try to mean then?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't mean this disrespectfully, but have all the suicides been Asian-American students?

And male?

My understanding is that the demographics are all different. Male and female, popular and loner, high academics and low. Whatever the commonality is, it's not obvious. I wonder if the administration could get someone in from the outside to really study the issue, talk to kids' friends, see if they can figure out what's going on, what is triggering these kids and causing them to do this. Why this school, and not the other ones in the area?

Anonymous wrote:I don't mean this disrespectfully, but have all the suicides been Asian-American students?

And male?

I don't mean this disrespectfully, but have all the suicides been Asian-American students?

PP here - in any event - no matter what is going on, it feels like the trend is starting back today negative and I hope the community can all come together ,,,,

And the bullying. Seriously - the word is that kids at Woodson are harassed if they are perceived as different - and school looks the other way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have some friends whose kids go to Woodson. They've told me that the environment there is like a pressure cooker. Because the school is known for its high test scores, it's ingrained in the culture that it is very important that it be maintained. Test scores are everything.

That doesn't stand up to the logic test. If that were true, then schools like Langley, McLean, Madison, Oakton and others in the DMV area would also have a lot of suicides... but as far as I know, they don't. Something is going on. I suspect that when it happens once, there is a sense that it's a possibility for other kids. But, something needs to be done.

It's not just because they have a good test record. According to the students I've spoken with, it's the over the top culture of perfectionism and lofty standards, specific to Woodson's administration.

Anonymous wrote:I have some friends whose kids go to Woodson. They've told me that the environment there is like a pressure cooker. Because the school is known for its high test scores, it's ingrained in the culture that it is very important that it be maintained. Test scores are everything.

That doesn't stand up to the logic test. If that were true, then schools like Langley, McLean, Madison, Oakton and others in the DMV area would also have a lot of suicides... but as far as I know, they don't. Something is going on. I suspect that when it happens once, there is a sense that it's a possibility for other kids. But, something needs to be done.

Not just academic pressure - have heard that there is uncontrolled bullying too. The combination could be lethal.

I have some friends whose kids go to Woodson. They've told me that the environment there is like a pressure cooker. Because the school is known for its high test scores, it's ingrained in the culture that it is very important that it be maintained. Test scores are everything.

Anonymous wrote:Question is, how does this originate?

It's presented as an option. In the media, in movies, in the books their own teachers assign for them to read.