Anonymous
04/05/2019 16:12
Subject: Disappointed about CES
Anonymous wrote:CES parent here. Honestly, with the new curriculum and tracking at our local school, we’re thinking of pulling our kid. There doesn’t seem to me to be that much difference and you lose a lot by not going to the local school. I think there might be more difference in the curriculum at the high school or middle school level. This stuff just doesn’t seem all that advanced to me and the peer group doesn’t seem all that different either. Don’t sweat it, really.
Sounds like it goes back to bragging rights on the part of the parents.
Anonymous
04/05/2019 15:53
Subject: Disappointed about CES
CES parent here. Honestly, with the new curriculum and tracking at our local school, we’re thinking of pulling our kid. There doesn’t seem to me to be that much difference and you lose a lot by not going to the local school. I think there might be more difference in the curriculum at the high school or middle school level. This stuff just doesn’t seem all that advanced to me and the peer group doesn’t seem all that different either. Don’t sweat it, really.
Anonymous
04/05/2019 15:27
Subject: Disappointed about CES
I have two examples to tell you: Two of my coworkers had sons in the same grade, zoned for Wootton, both Asian boys, both very smart and strongly STEM oriented. One went along CES-TP-Blair path, one got accepted but reluctant to take the traffic, and had the philosophy that standing at the top of Wotton may increase the chance to get accepted by Ivy than standing in the medium of Blair.
Then the Blair kid went to Carnegie Mellon, the Wootton boy went to MIT. After that many years, the Carnegie Mellon boy is on his last year to residence (majored in dermatology), the MIT boy is creating his own unicorn company in Silicon Valley. Both are successful, in slightly different ways.
The point for me is, it doesn't really matter that much. The career and happiness largely depend on kids born IQ and EQ, and environment they grow up from (e.g., if you work hard, that's a positive role model for them). CES is not the only magic way, not even close to.
Then the Blair kid went to Carnegie Mellon, the Wootton boy went to MIT. After that many years, the Carnegie Mellon boy is on his last year to residence (majored in dermatology), the MIT boy is creating his own unicorn company in Silicon Valley. Both are successful, in slightly different ways.
The point for me is, it doesn't really matter that much. The career and happiness largely depend on kids born IQ and EQ, and environment they grow up from (e.g., if you work hard, that's a positive role model for them). CES is not the only magic way, not even close to.
Anonymous
04/05/2019 15:11
Subject: Re:Disappointed about CES
Anonymous wrote:
I agree that appropriately rigorous challenge is the best, but the absence of it just means that parent and child have to do more on their own.
And this is the rub. Many parents want their kids in the CES program because the advanced learning goes on during the school day - so that they don't have to do more on their own. Many of these parents have very demanding careers and little time to engage in home school-type activities. Many others don't have the educational expertise to teach advanced curriculum to their kids.
NP. I refuse to supplement w/academics at home. My 99th %ile kids will do just fine in school, life, whatever. At home, we focus on play, social interaction, chores/life skills, sports, the arts, etc. I’ve been told they can register for whatever level classes they want in high school (as long as they have the prereqs), so I feel like all this ES/MS angst over placement is unnecessary. Yes, they’re a little bored in school, but as long as they’re doing ok socially, it doesn’t really bother me.
Anonymous
04/05/2019 14:58
Subject: Re:Disappointed about CES
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have same concerns as OP. I am less worried about the title of being in CES or Magnet. Rather how do I give them at least some of the opportunities they are getting in these advanced programs? MOCO curriculum is just not rigorous enough in some cases.
Former ES and MS magnet parent. I think it's all about supporting their passions. If your kid loves to write, sign them up for an outside writing program. My kid loves a certain topic and one year we sent her to a CTY day camp to take a "class" in that area -- she loved it. If they like science, go to science museums and watch science videos, etc.
Magnets can be a mixed blessing. Both MS magnet kids are bored to tears in HS, despite AP classes. Everyone has to learn to deal with their boredom. Everyone has to learn that not being picked for a rigorous academic program is not about inadequacy, but rather that there are more kids that could benefit from these programs than there are seats. It's OK for your kid in ES or MS to bring other stuff to do if they finish their boring busy work in school. Or, they can use that time to finish work from other classes so they don't have homework after school.
I agree that appropriately rigorous challenge is the best, but the absence of it just means that parent and child have to do more on their own.
And this is the rub. Many parents want their kids in the CES program because the advanced learning goes on during the school day - so that they don't have to do more on their own. Many of these parents have very demanding careers and little time to engage in home school-type activities. Many others don't have the educational expertise to teach advanced curriculum to their kids.
Anonymous
04/05/2019 14:44
Subject: Re:Disappointed about CES
Anonymous wrote:I have same concerns as OP. I am less worried about the title of being in CES or Magnet. Rather how do I give them at least some of the opportunities they are getting in these advanced programs? MOCO curriculum is just not rigorous enough in some cases.
Former ES and MS magnet parent. I think it's all about supporting their passions. If your kid loves to write, sign them up for an outside writing program. My kid loves a certain topic and one year we sent her to a CTY day camp to take a "class" in that area -- she loved it. If they like science, go to science museums and watch science videos, etc.
Magnets can be a mixed blessing. Both MS magnet kids are bored to tears in HS, despite AP classes. Everyone has to learn to deal with their boredom. Everyone has to learn that not being picked for a rigorous academic program is not about inadequacy, but rather that there are more kids that could benefit from these programs than there are seats. It's OK for your kid in ES or MS to bring other stuff to do if they finish their boring busy work in school. Or, they can use that time to finish work from other classes so they don't have homework after school.
I agree that appropriately rigorous challenge is the best, but the absence of it just means that parent and child have to do more on their own.
Anonymous
04/05/2019 14:41
Subject: Disappointed about CES
Actually both CES and non-CES share the same curriculum. I'd rather say at CES teachers may better focus on carrying out the curriculum, with less diversified students, with less need for bridging gap. The 'peer' effect once ever works!
Anonymous wrote:There are many smart kids and very few slots. It makes no sense that MCPS doesn't have a gifted classroom in each elementary school. You supplement at home. 4th grade compacted math picks up but everything else is school specific.
Perhaps, but isn't it better they're moving away from one we know doesn't work.
Yes, but the CES bound kids are getting a well tested and well-honed curriculum. where the teachers have been able to iron out the kinks and share wisdom. The non-CES but CES ready kids have to play guinea pig again.