Anonymous
03/15/2013 12:43
Subject: Re:Blair Magnet Program
[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The list of colleges attended by magnet graduates is impressive. Do only the top magnet students get admitted into the ivys/top colleges? Since many of the students who are not in the top of the class in the magnet program would likely have been in the top of their class in their home school, would they have gotten into a better college if they stayed in their home school? Do many of the magnet students receive academic scholarships not based on family income? (Are all academic scholarships based on income/networth?)[/quote][/quote]
Anonymous
03/15/2013 12:43
Subject: Re:Blair Magnet Program
[quote=Anonymous]The list of colleges attended by magnet graduates is impressive. Do only the top magnet students get admitted into the ivys/top colleges? Since many of the students who are not in the top of the class in the magnet program would likely have been in the top of their class in their home school, would they have gotten into a better college if they stayed in their home school? Do many of the magnet students receive academic scholarships not based on family income? (Are all academic scholarships based on income/networth?)[/quote]
Anonymous
04/03/2011 18:29
Subject: Blair Magnet Program
Looking over this thread, I see only see two negative posters. Only one these posters specifically addresses the Blair magnet, and that poster doesn't have a kid at Blair or actual experience with the school. That poster is concerned about possible gangs at Blair, and other posters with experience there (including me) have tried to allay this concern.
The second negative poster has said some pretty unbelievable (30% of kids have aspergers? TPMS kids are budding criminals?) things about the Takoma Park middle school magnet -- which is different from the Blair HS magnet. In fact I wonder why she's on a Blair thread slamming TPMS at all. I would ignore this poster.
DCUM is not always the most reliable source of information, especially when posters seem to have their own agendas. I see it like Amazon reviews - until you get a number like 25 reviews, you don't get a true sense of what's really going on.
I agree, talk to other parents and students, and form your own opinion. Please, don't let these two posters deter you from what is a terrific, nationally-recognized program. No, it's not easy. Yes, your kid will need to work very hard, and the other kids are also working hard.
The second negative poster has said some pretty unbelievable (30% of kids have aspergers? TPMS kids are budding criminals?) things about the Takoma Park middle school magnet -- which is different from the Blair HS magnet. In fact I wonder why she's on a Blair thread slamming TPMS at all. I would ignore this poster.
DCUM is not always the most reliable source of information, especially when posters seem to have their own agendas. I see it like Amazon reviews - until you get a number like 25 reviews, you don't get a true sense of what's really going on.
I agree, talk to other parents and students, and form your own opinion. Please, don't let these two posters deter you from what is a terrific, nationally-recognized program. No, it's not easy. Yes, your kid will need to work very hard, and the other kids are also working hard.
Anonymous
04/03/2011 17:56
Subject: Re:Blair Magnet Program
[quote=Anonymous][size=9][i]With all these "issue" (such as they are), students attend the program because it is excellent, challenges them, and takes them where they want to go. [/i][/size]
I don't want to sound simple, but why is the program and/or what is it about the magnet program that makes it so great? We will be new to Blair's magnet program and now, like some of the other PPs, I'm wondering whether the advantages out weigh the disadvantages. There have several posting discussing negative aspects of the the school and program in detail. It would be helpful to hear some of the details about what makes the program and/or school excellent. Thanks. [/quote]
Recommendation #1: Do not make a decision about whether to attend MCPS' most prestigious magnet program, and one of the best in the country, based upon anonymous postings on DCUM.
Talk to parents of real students. Talk to the students themselves. And do not overthink it. Send your child and if he/she hates it, return to your home school. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, after all.
I don't want to sound simple, but why is the program and/or what is it about the magnet program that makes it so great? We will be new to Blair's magnet program and now, like some of the other PPs, I'm wondering whether the advantages out weigh the disadvantages. There have several posting discussing negative aspects of the the school and program in detail. It would be helpful to hear some of the details about what makes the program and/or school excellent. Thanks. [/quote]
Recommendation #1: Do not make a decision about whether to attend MCPS' most prestigious magnet program, and one of the best in the country, based upon anonymous postings on DCUM.
Talk to parents of real students. Talk to the students themselves. And do not overthink it. Send your child and if he/she hates it, return to your home school. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, after all.
Anonymous
04/03/2011 17:24
Subject: Re:Blair Magnet Program
[size=9][i]With all these "issue" (such as they are), students attend the program because it is excellent, challenges them, and takes them where they want to go. [/i][/size]
I don't want to sound simple, but why is the program and/or what is it about the magnet program that makes it so great? We will be new to Blair's magnet program and now, like some of the other PPs, I'm wondering whether the advantages out weigh the disadvantages. There have several posting discussing negative aspects of the the school and program in detail. It would be helpful to hear some of the details about what makes the program and/or school excellent. Thanks.
I don't want to sound simple, but why is the program and/or what is it about the magnet program that makes it so great? We will be new to Blair's magnet program and now, like some of the other PPs, I'm wondering whether the advantages out weigh the disadvantages. There have several posting discussing negative aspects of the the school and program in detail. It would be helpful to hear some of the details about what makes the program and/or school excellent. Thanks.
Anonymous
04/03/2011 17:09
Subject: Blair Magnet Program
Anonymous wrote:8:28 Here. Yes, I am for real. Some of the magnet students are what you would expect: studious, nice well behaved children. The others- well..... Many sabotage work since they know they will be pitted against each other for the coveted Blair spots. Many are 13 year old hackers and very much into things their parents don't know about, such as pirating and illegal use of electronics and computers (such as jail breaking iphones and downloading uppaid for programs.) Then, you have your socially awkward aspergers kids (30%?) that interrupt and are rude. Yes, it IS sometimes hard to tell them apart from the hacking, non aspergers kids that are rude, but you get my drift. Please don't think that because your kid is smart that they are perfect. They are not. Being smart comes with a whole different other set of issues, and my experience has shown me that the gifted kids are also gifted at being devious little crap asses.
This is just nutty. The kids are NERDS, not budding criminals. Please don't trust any post that gives a number (30%?) that isn't collected or published anywhere besides the poster's own mind. Don't trust a poster who accuses kids of doing something (jailbreaking) she doesn't understand and thinks might be illegal because the word "jail" happens to be in the name. And ask yourself if someone who calls kids aged 10-13 "devious little crap asses" deserves your respect, or if she sounds like one herself.
Anonymous
04/03/2011 15:15
Subject: Blair Magnet Program
Woo hoo! More slots for my kid and his friends.
Anonymous
04/03/2011 14:57
Subject: Blair Magnet Program
I'm afraid it's homeschooling or bust for PP's kid. Private schools are competitive too, and in ways that go beyond academics. Even at our 2nd tier private, there were plenty of really rich kids who took fabulous vacations. And while there may not be gangs, there are probably drugs at every private HS in the area.
Anonymous
04/03/2011 13:39
Subject: Re:Blair Magnet Program
[quote=Anonymous]Based on the comments about the extreme cut throat atmosphere, gang members (?) and other problems, I'm now thinking twice about the magnet program. I didn't know there are students with mild autism in the program; a PP said upwards of 30%. That doesn't sound right, but is it true? [b]With all these issues, why should students attend the program at Blair?[/b][/quote]
I don't know what you mean by "issues." Cut-throat atmosphere? Not sure about that, but competitive for sure. That's what happens in magnets populated by self-selected high-achievers. Same with workplaces.
Gang members - don't know what you are talking about.
Mild autism - I think you mean Asperger's. Yes, probably a fair number of Aspies since they tend to have very high intelligence. 30% seems like an exaggeration though. Either way - how/why is that an issue for you?
With all these "issue" (such as they are), students attend the program because it is excellent, challenges them, and takes them where they want to go.
I don't know what you mean by "issues." Cut-throat atmosphere? Not sure about that, but competitive for sure. That's what happens in magnets populated by self-selected high-achievers. Same with workplaces.
Gang members - don't know what you are talking about.
Mild autism - I think you mean Asperger's. Yes, probably a fair number of Aspies since they tend to have very high intelligence. 30% seems like an exaggeration though. Either way - how/why is that an issue for you?
With all these "issue" (such as they are), students attend the program because it is excellent, challenges them, and takes them where they want to go.
Anonymous
04/03/2011 13:27
Subject: Blair Magnet Program
Anonymous wrote:8:28 Here. Yes, I am for real. Some of the magnet students are what you would expect: studious, nice well behaved children. The others- well..... Many sabotage work since they know they will be pitted against each other for the coveted Blair spots. Many are 13 year old hackers and very much into things their parents don't know about, such as pirating and illegal use of electronics and computers (such as jail breaking iphones and downloading uppaid for programs.) Then, you have your socially awkward aspergers kids (30%?) that interrupt and are rude. Yes, it IS sometimes hard to tell them apart from the hacking, non aspergers kids that are rude, but you get my drift. Please don't think that because your kid is smart that they are perfect. They are not. Being smart comes with a whole different other set of issues, and my experience has shown me that the gifted kids are also gifted at being devious little crap asses.
Your post is devious crap. I'm serious. Most of it is untrue and unfair to kids who work hard and play fair.
Anonymous
04/03/2011 13:24
Subject: Blair Magnet Program
Anonymous wrote:8:28 Here. Yes, I am for real. Some of the magnet students are what you would expect: studious, nice well behaved children. The others- well..... Many sabotage work since they know they will be pitted against each other for the coveted Blair spots. Many are 13 year old hackers and very much into things their parents don't know about, such as pirating and illegal use of electronics and computers (such as jail breaking iphones and downloading uppaid for programs.) Then, you have your socially awkward aspergers kids (30%?) that interrupt and are rude. Yes, it IS som
I'm another poster who thinks your characterization of TPMS magnet kids is utter BS. You don't describe a single kid I know at the magnet. And covering yourself with lines like "things their parents don't know about" isn't convincing.
- Where on earth are you getting a figure of "30% aspergers kids"? This is laughable and undermines the rest of your post, even if the rest of your post weren't so laughable.
- I haven't seen a single instance of sabotage, let alone "many" instances of sabotage. Kids take tests and hand in homework, just like everywhere else. Are you suggesting that kids steal each others' homework, or maybe sneak up to the teacher's desk to change test answers given by other kids, or maybe deface each others' science fair poster boards? I have never, ever heard of a single instance of anything like this happening.
- If you are the poster who pulled her kid out of a magnet, then presumably you did this before your kid reached age 13 and 8th grade, which is the final year of the magnet. So I wonder where you get your information about what the 13-year-olds at TPMS are doing?
(FWIW, jail breaking iPhones isn't illegal, it just voids your warranty. Unless you're trying to jailbreak a stolen iPhone, which is a different set of issues. I suppose next you'll be telling us that TPMS runs a black market for stolen iPhones!)
Anonymous
04/03/2011 13:02
Subject: Blair Magnet Program
Anonymous wrote:11:28 - I think it's objectively true that your kid won't take many classes with non-magnet kids.
actually, that's not true: magnet students have english/sociall studies/electives with non-magnet students. CAP students have science/math with non-CAP, non-magnet students.
As I said in my post, magnet and CAP kids are put into honors and AP classes for the non-magnet or non-CAP classes. (You quoted the first part but not the second part of my post.) OK, you're right, they are technically with "non-magnet" kids.
But the point is this: they are unlikely to meet many gang members in their honors and AP classes.
Anonymous
04/03/2011 12:54
Subject: Re:Blair Magnet Program
Based on the comments about the extreme cut throat atmosphere, gang members (?) and other problems, I'm now thinking twice about the magnet program. I didn't know there are students with mild autism in the program; a PP said upwards of 30%. That doesn't sound right, but is it true? With all these issues, why should students attend the program at Blair?
Anonymous
04/03/2011 11:17
Subject: Blair Magnet Program
Anonymous wrote:8:28 Here. Yes, I am for real. Some of the magnet students are what you would expect: studious, nice well behaved children. The others- well..... Many sabotage work since they know they will be pitted against each other for the coveted Blair spots. Many are 13 year old hackers and very much into things their parents don't know about, such as pirating and illegal use of electronics and computers (such as jail breaking iphones and downloading uppaid for programs.) Then, you have your socially awkward aspergers kids (30%?) that interrupt and are rude. Yes, it IS sometimes hard to tell them apart from the hacking, non aspergers kids that are rude, but you get my drift. Please don't think that because your kid is smart that they are perfect. They are not. Being smart comes with a whole different other set of issues, and my experience has shown me that the gifted kids are also gifted at being devious little crap asses.
I am well aware of the social makeup of programs for gifted kids, as I have a child in the HGC and another in one of the middle school magnets. Neither of them is a "devious little crap ass."
For the record, Aspergers kids are not "rude." They are learning how to interact socially.
The "are you for real" question related to your seeming paranoia about the Blair environment. If your child is such a special snowflake, then no, s/he should not be at Blair, magnet program or not, or in any other large public school environment.
Anonymous
04/03/2011 09:56
Subject: Blair Magnet Program
8:28 Here. Yes, I am for real. Some of the magnet students are what you would expect: studious, nice well behaved children. The others- well..... Many sabotage work since they know they will be pitted against each other for the coveted Blair spots. Many are 13 year old hackers and very much into things their parents don't know about, such as pirating and illegal use of electronics and computers (such as jail breaking iphones and downloading uppaid for programs.) Then, you have your socially awkward aspergers kids (30%?) that interrupt and are rude. Yes, it IS sometimes hard to tell them apart from the hacking, non aspergers kids that are rude, but you get my drift. Please don't think that because your kid is smart that they are perfect. They are not. Being smart comes with a whole different other set of issues, and my experience has shown me that the gifted kids are also gifted at being devious little crap asses.