Anonymous wrote:This is such a fun-reading site! The “complaint” is well-written and packed with facts. But is it still true that many low-income families have no computers or transportation? In my child’s middle school in Fairfax County, there are many variety of after school extra-curriculum activities and interest groups that cost nothing. All kids need is the commitment of their time and efforts. So for TJ, asking for extra-curriculum activities is not in any means discriminating. Kids from minority groups do not have any disadvantage or extra-barriers to be in the interest groups.

My elder kid is not in TJ. We did not do any prep for her at all. In fact, I have never realized that AAP is such an important issue and can provide kids with so many additional advantages. Now my 7 year old is in second grade and I will start to prep him for the test. I regret for wasting his entire summer on tennis, hockey, swimming, and all sports camps...

I have always thought that AAP includes only 5% of kids because the cut-off score for the tests is 95%. How on earth can the program have 20-25% of kids? My 7 year old definitely belongs to the 20-25%! Now does anybody know the method of preparation? Reading, reading comprehension, math, reasoning, logic? What else? I am so late in the game and need to find the best ways…

I read the FCPS site regarding the FxAT and it also has the same three sections: verbal, math and non-verbal. I am wondering how will the county make the test different from the COGAT, maybe with several difficult questions to further differentiate the kids? Since this is the first year they will use FxAT, where will they get the reference for the age-adjusted score? Kids born in November 2004 will do better on average than kids born in August 2005. Will the county have a large enough pool of kids born in each month to compute the age-adjusted score? Does anybody know the length of the test? 2 hours? My first task is to make my son sit still and concentrate for the length of the test.

All young male animals except humans are physically playing and learning. To make our youngsters sitting for 6 hours in school during the day, and sitting more after getting home to watch TV, play games and study, I am wondering what effects will the prolonged sitting have on the future of human-being? BTW, I have already read alot about increased diabetes, early heart disease, obesity etc. Here I am wondering the developmental effects of sitting on other things.

Anonymous wrote:

From my reading and understanding of the history of America over the last 300 years, African Americans should be at no disadvantage today compared to other American immigrants (even discounting SES). After all, they have had, and continue to have, equal access to opportunities (and choice) in this country such as land, land ownership, generational wealth, libraries, schools and universities, country clubs, swimming pools and lacrosse, real estate, bank and other business loans, the ballot box, the board rooms and voting rights. I am at a loss to explain thier plight. They did not suffer the Indian ethnic cleansing and holocaust (well over 100 million) over the same period by the hands of other American immigrants from across the Atlantic.


This is a joke, right?



Not the pp but I absolutely agree that African Americans are at no disadvantage compared to other immigrants. I am talking about the 21st century and not previous centuries including the 20th century. The president of the United States is African American!!!!

If anything, there are more resources available to African Americans compared to any other minority. I am totally not saying that they did not have to overcome
immense obstacles in previous times but when it comes to African Americans in this generation, there are abundant resources for them.

Excellent analysis worthy of 20th and 21st century high educational standards.

I recount a story visiting a former college roommate at his farm and estate outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. He was a 5th generation Southern aristocratic patrician gentleman. The family money and wealth accrued from the illegal trading in alcohol during the prohibition days. I was not sure what his true line of work was at the time; however, he made similar remarks about his surprise blacks were not at the top of the pecking order in America because of the abundant resources available to them. He believed if one was bankrupt yesterday it should have no bearing on financial status today and tomorrow. Time was plenty reparations enough for a history of genocide and holocaust.

I agree with my friend's analysis. I am surprised blacks in South Africa are not in the highest SES.

Accumulated wealth or compound wealth. Wealth begets more wealth.