I actually did not miss the point. The parent tells us that the child did great on her own in school without extra tutors and missed TJ acceptance by a hair because she did not show "genuine interest" in math and science. I don't know why the parent put the words "genuine interest" in quotes, but it appears to indicate that the child did not have a true passion for math and science. If the child truly loved math and science, it would have been evident to her middle school teachers who would have written their strongest recommendations to the committee for this child. If the child was close to the edge of acceptance, then very strong recommendations would have put her over the top.
If the child is not passionate about math and science, telling the child to fake it to gain acceptance is wrong and does a disservice to the child and the child's classmates. It is no benefit to the child to be in an inappropriate learning situation. This child has a great chance to follow her true educational passions in her regular school, and that will benefit her in the long run.

And this thread really isn't about general academic enrichment for children, it is about second graders who are being taught specific test questions in advance that are supposed to be seen for the first time on test day.

Crap. If my scores are over the top and I am admitted why can't I fake that I do not like math and science as much as reading and writing? Hey, I didn't like milk and spinach, I faked it, I consumed because it was good for me in the long run.

Anonymous wrote:Proove that children have the "specific test questions" in advance of the test. I have not heard of this.

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/pdfs/FAQre2012CustomizedCogAT.pdf

FCPS staff members chose to administer the custom form of the CogAT this year after it came to our attention that some students, in previous years, had prepared for the CogAT using the exact form of the CogAT being administered in FCPS.

I actually did not miss the point. The parent tells us that the child did great on her own in school without extra tutors and missed TJ acceptance by a hair because she did not show "genuine interest" in math and science. I don't know why the parent put the words "genuine interest" in quotes, but it appears to indicate that the child did not have a true passion for math and science. If the child truly loved math and science, it would have been evident to her middle school teachers who would have written their strongest recommendations to the committee for this child. If the child was close to the edge of acceptance, then very strong recommendations would have put her over the top.
If the child is not passionate about math and science, telling the child to fake it to gain acceptance is wrong and does a disservice to the child and the child's classmates. It is no benefit to the child to be in an inappropriate learning situation. This child has a great chance to follow her true educational passions in her regular school, and that will benefit her in the long run.

And this thread really isn't about general academic enrichment for children, it is about second graders who are being taught specific test questions in advance that are supposed to be seen for the first time on test day.

Proove that children have the "specific test questions" in advance of the test. I have not heard of this. Hallucinating plenty today. I you claiming if your test is in prealgebra a student must not study or review any prealgebra. Is this how you approach your job. Donald Trump would fire your lazy bum in a second.

I see on the other thread that Fairfax County has finally come out and said that studying exact tests ahead of time, otherwise known as test prep, is against policy and invalidates test results.

Another scurrying blind mouse. What is an "exact test"? To my knowledge unless the "exact test" is leaked I'm not sure anyone in Fairfax County has them. Studying and prepping for tests and exams is laudable.

I see on the other thread that Fairfax County has finally come out and said that studying exact tests ahead of time, otherwise known as test prep, is against policy and invalidates test results.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ is not the end all and be all and it is not necessarily the right place for every child. A child can get a challenging and very rigorous education at any Fairfax County high school by selecting the right courses. Being involved in an out of school activity that allows her to learn about something she really cares about will add immeasurably to her long term education.

You completely missed the point of the post. The poster was pointing out that his daughter was really disappointed that she did not make it into TJ and that had the parent prepped, provided additional outside academic opportunity, etc., then she may have made the cut. It certainly seems that had she made it, TJ would have been the right place for her given her strong desire to attend (the first step in enjoying the program). No one is debating that one can get a good and challenging education outside of TJ, of course they can, but in this case, a little parent intervention (especially when she was requesting it) could have made the difference, and the parent feels somewhat guilty for not helping. What is being said, is, do not let others, like many of the moral police on this board, dictate that prepping or helping your child gain an edge is wrong and you should feel guilty or dirty for doing it. Give you child every opportunity to succeed at every turn. In the long run it will benefit them.

I applaud the poster and their honesty. Good advice for all.

+1000

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ is not the end all and be all and it is not necessarily the right place for every child. A child can get a challenging and very rigorous education at any Fairfax County high school by selecting the right courses. Being involved in an out of school activity that allows her to learn about something she really cares about will add immeasurably to her long term education.

You completely missed the point of the post. The poster was pointing out that his daughter was really disappointed that she did not make it into TJ and that had the parent prepped, provided additional outside academic opportunity, etc., then she may have made the cut. It certainly seems that had she made it, TJ would have been the right place for her given her strong desire to attend (the first step in enjoying the program). No one is debating that one can get a good and challenging education outside of TJ, of course they can, but in this case, a little parent intervention (especially when she was requesting it) could have made the difference, and the parent feels somewhat guilty for not helping. What is being said, is, do not let others, like many of the moral police on this board, dictate that prepping or helping your child gain an edge is wrong and you should feel guilty or dirty for doing it. Give you child every opportunity to succeed at every turn. In the long run it will benefit them.

I applaud the poster and their honesty. Good advice for all.

I actually did not miss the point. The parent tells us that the child did great on her own in school without extra tutors and missed TJ acceptance by a hair because she did not show "genuine interest" in math and science. I don't know why the parent put the words "genuine interest" in quotes, but it appears to indicate that the child did not have a true passion for math and science. If the child truly loved math and science, it would have been evident to her middle school teachers who would have written their strongest recommendations to the committee for this child. If the child was close to the edge of acceptance, then very strong recommendations would have put her over the top.
If the child is not passionate about math and science, telling the child to fake it to gain acceptance is wrong and does a disservice to the child and the child's classmates. It is no benefit to the child to be in an inappropriate learning situation. This child has a great chance to follow her true educational passions in her regular school, and that will benefit her in the long run.

And this thread really isn't about general academic enrichment for children, it is about second graders who are being taught specific test questions in advance that are supposed to be seen for the first time on test day.

TJ is not the end all and be all and it is not necessarily the right place for every child. A child can get a challenging and very rigorous education at any Fairfax County high school by selecting the right courses. Being involved in an out of school activity that allows her to learn about something she really cares about will add immeasurably to her long term education.

But, neither is Bethesda Lacrosse/Soccer or PVS Zone Team. What's wrong with goal setting? Nothing ventured and nothing gained. Hell, do you think the average child/adult with a 50 percentile doesn't understand these goals are not the end all and be all. That's why goal setting is a moving target continually getting re-adjusted and re-set.

I would never discourage a 6 year-old from setting TJ as a goal even if is not necessarily the right place for every child and they do not have a seat for every qualified child. There is nothing in life (station or goal) that is right for every child. I am surprised you didn't know this.

You completely missed the point of the post. The poster was pointing out that his daughter was really disappointed that she did not make it into TJ and that had the parent prepped, provided additional outside academic opportunity, etc., then she may have made the cut. It certainly seems that had she made it, TJ would have been the right place for her given her strong desire to attend (the first step in enjoying the program). No one is debating that one can get a good and challenging education outside of TJ, of course they can, but in this case, a little parent intervention (especially when she was requesting it) could have made the difference, and the parent feels somewhat guilty for not helping. What is being said, is, do not let others, like many of the moral police on this board, dictate that prepping or helping your child gain an edge is wrong and you should feel guilty or dirty for doing it. Give you child every opportunity to succeed at every turn. In the long run it will benefit them.

I applaud the poster and their honesty. Good advice for all.

Most people can benefit from extra help, even though they may not needed. I wish I had prepared my elder kid when she was little. I trusted her intelligence and thought she would be fine on her own for everything - which she did. When other parents hired tutors, I refused to even think about it because my daughter was doing great in class. Guess what, she missed TJ by a hair. She was in the pool but did not have extra-curriculum math-science activities to show "genuine interest" in science and technology! My daughter regretted even to this day which makes me feel guilty. She did ask for a few Johns Hopkins talented youth summer programs but I never signed her up for any for various reasons.
So my advice for young parents: do all you can when your kids want them!

See I fall into this category too but now have come to the realization that you did - there is benefit to the extra help.[/quot

How many parents here cheat and game the system by providing their children tutors, coaches, club and summer activities when they (or the parents) wish their kids to play piano, violin, lacrosse, baseball, swim, gymnastics and skating?

Does this extra preparation and hard work in these disciplines constitute low down cheating knowing full well there may be trophies, awards, rewards, advancement and big bucks at the end of the line?

I guess preparation and studying is considered cheating by the brilliant DCUM minds but shelling out big bucks for private coaching, clubs, extra-intensive sleep away camps in music and sports ain't?

I think the kids have a little more sense than the adults here. Some want to go to math or chess camp and do not feel these desires are immoral. Some kids want to go to TJ and are prepared to work hard to get in provided their bone-headed parents can guide and assist them. It's not immoral or cheating to have these goals and desires and then work to attain them. Kids, that's what life is about.