Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP. They have reverted back to two different coordinators. Hopefully programs will regain rigor. Not too hopeful though.

This reversion was at least 4 years ago, when my oldest kid entered CAP, and the coordinator was a woman at that time. And the coordinator has been the same woman for the past 5 years. So maybe the white-flight Poolesville booster is relying on extremely dated information?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Poolesville booster,

The CAP and magnet coordinators are different people. One is a woman, the other is a man. It's available for all to see, here: http://www.mbhs.edu/about/directory/

Also: http://cap.mbhs.edu/contact.html and
http://www.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/contact.php

So please stop posting incorrect information about Blair!

If you had been at the presentations at Blair you would have known that the magnet coordinator identified himself as the magnet and CAP coordinator. Just because you can Google search doesn't mean you get up to date info. Stop name calling and accept reality. No one is boosting Poolesville.

Ahem. I have two kids in the CAP program. I don't know what presentation you thought you were attending, but you mixed things up a bit. Yes, the magnet coordinator does have an auxiliary role in CAP, but he doesn't run the program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Poolesville booster,

The CAP and magnet coordinators are different people. One is a woman, the other is a man. It's available for all to see, here: http://www.mbhs.edu/about/directory/

Also: http://cap.mbhs.edu/contact.html and
http://www.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/contact.php

So please stop posting incorrect information about Blair!

If you had been at the presentations at Blair you would have known that the magnet coordinator identified himself as the magnet and CAP coordinator. Just because you can Google search doesn't mean you get up to date info. Stop name calling and accept reality. No one is boosting Poolesville.

This is just untrue. My son is currently applying to CAP (awaiting word any day now!). The CAP coordinator is a woman. Not sure what presentation you were at, but benefit of the doubt, you misheard.

Amazing how much disinformation, misinformation, rumor, speculation, and outright fabrication litters these boards.

Honey, it is true that for awhile the magnet coordinator served as the CAP coordinator. Now there are two separate individuals listed. Perhaps the parents raising a stink about the dismantling of these programs helped. Whatever the case, it is good news. As for Poolesville, I don't see anyone mention it except you. Just leave it alone.

Er, I'm the PP with the son applying to CAP, and that was my first post on the matter. My bad for not saying so. I don't know anything about Poolesville or your agenda. But as one who actually WAS at the Blair presentations, I was just helpfully pointing out the fabrication bolded above.

Agree with PP. They have reverted back to two different coordinators. Hopefully programs will regain rigor. Not too hopeful though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Poolesville booster,

The CAP and magnet coordinators are different people. One is a woman, the other is a man. It's available for all to see, here: http://www.mbhs.edu/about/directory/

Also: http://cap.mbhs.edu/contact.html and
http://www.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/contact.php

So please stop posting incorrect information about Blair!

If you had been at the presentations at Blair you would have known that the magnet coordinator identified himself as the magnet and CAP coordinator. Just because you can Google search doesn't mean you get up to date info. Stop name calling and accept reality. No one is boosting Poolesville.

This is just untrue. My son is currently applying to CAP (awaiting word any day now!). The CAP coordinator is a woman. Not sure what presentation you were at, but benefit of the doubt, you misheard.

Amazing how much disinformation, misinformation, rumor, speculation, and outright fabrication litters these boards.

Honey, it is true that for awhile the magnet coordinator served as the CAP coordinator. Now there are two separate individuals listed. Perhaps the parents raising a stink about the dismantling of these programs helped. Whatever the case, it is good news. As for Poolesville, I don't see anyone mention it except you. Just leave it alone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Poolesville booster,

The CAP and magnet coordinators are different people. One is a woman, the other is a man. It's available for all to see, here: http://www.mbhs.edu/about/directory/

Also: http://cap.mbhs.edu/contact.html and
http://www.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/contact.php

So please stop posting incorrect information about Blair!

If you had been at the presentations at Blair you would have known that the magnet coordinator identified himself as the magnet and CAP coordinator. Just because you can Google search doesn't mean you get up to date info. Stop name calling and accept reality. No one is boosting Poolesville.

This is just untrue. My son is currently applying to CAP (awaiting word any day now!). The CAP coordinator is a woman. Not sure what presentation you were at, but benefit of the doubt, you misheard.

Amazing how much disinformation, misinformation, rumor, speculation, and outright fabrication litters these boards.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You make a good case for the fact that Blair is not a good option. RM has to maintain certain standards to maintain IB school status. So, dismantling it will be difficult if not impossible. Dismantling Blair programs would be EASIER.
I think RM-IB is the better choice. The comment from the junior matters--she has been through the program. If you had children in the program you would know she was right. You would also know that the magnet coordinator is also the CAP coordinator.

This is illogical. Dismantling the RMIB program would be just as easy as dismantling the Blair magnet and CAP programs. MoCo just has to say the program is discontinued, and poof - not that I want that to happen to any of the magnets. But if you think the Swiss IB people are going to somehow penalize MoCo for not "upholding standards" in the wake of discontinuing the whole program, you aren't thinking about this clearly. And your assimilation argument is really stretching the truth.

Also, you really shouldn't hang your hat on one quote from one junior. If you actually knew some kids in the program (like I do), your opinions would carry a lot more weight.

This is a bizarre hatchet job, and I'm trying to figure out your agenda. Care to enlighten us?

Thanks for posting this, PP. I have a theory that the poster in question is the one who also periodically posts about Poolesville being far superior to Blair ... at least it seems like the same general writing style and attitude. It is odd, really, but far from unusual around here. People always seem to want to cut down certain programs or schools, as if there could only be one good one! And anyone who likes something else is delusional!

I wonder if it's the white-flight-from-Silver-Spring-to-Olney-Brookeville poster.

Anonymous wrote:Dear Poolesville booster,

The CAP and magnet coordinators are different people. One is a woman, the other is a man. It's available for all to see, here: http://www.mbhs.edu/about/directory/

Also: http://cap.mbhs.edu/contact.html and
http://www.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/contact.php

So please stop posting incorrect information about Blair!

If you had been at the presentations at Blair you would have known that the magnet coordinator identified himself as the magnet and CAP coordinator. Just because you can Google search doesn't mean you get up to date info. Stop name calling and accept reality. No one is boosting Poolesville.

Dear Poolesville booster,

The CAP and magnet coordinators are different people. One is a woman, the other is a man. It's available for all to see, here: http://www.mbhs.edu/about/directory/

Also: http://cap.mbhs.edu/contact.html and
http://www.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/contact.php

So please stop posting incorrect information about Blair!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You make a good case for the fact that Blair is not a good option. RM has to maintain certain standards to maintain IB school status. So, dismantling it will be difficult if not impossible. Dismantling Blair programs would be EASIER.
I think RM-IB is the better choice. The comment from the junior matters--she has been through the program. If you had children in the program you would know she was right. You would also know that the magnet coordinator is also the CAP coordinator.

This is illogical. Dismantling the RMIB program would be just as easy as dismantling the Blair magnet and CAP programs. MoCo just has to say the program is discontinued, and poof - not that I want that to happen to any of the magnets. But if you think the Swiss IB people are going to somehow penalize MoCo for not "upholding standards" in the wake of discontinuing the whole program, you aren't thinking about this clearly. And your assimilation argument is really stretching the truth.

Also, you really shouldn't hang your hat on one quote from one junior. If you actually knew some kids in the program (like I do), your opinions would carry a lot more weight.

This is a bizarre hatchet job, and I'm trying to figure out your agenda. Care to enlighten us?

Thanks for posting this, PP. I have a theory that the poster in question is the one who also periodically posts about Poolesville being far superior to Blair ... at least it seems like the same general writing style and attitude. It is odd, really, but far from unusual around here. People always seem to want to cut down certain programs or schools, as if there could only be one good one! And anyone who likes something else is delusional!

I'm PP and I wondered the same thing, actually. You mean the poster who always writes as though Blair gangs are checking tats at the entry doors. It's unfortunate that she's often on here spreading untruths and exaggerations about schools she doesn't even know. Combing Silver Chips for stray, isolated quotes to further her agenda is really odd, I agree. There are lots of good schools in MoCo and just because mine is good doesn't mean someone else's can't be good, too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You make a good case for the fact that Blair is not a good option. RM has to maintain certain standards to maintain IB school status. So, dismantling it will be difficult if not impossible. Dismantling Blair programs would be EASIER.
I think RM-IB is the better choice. The comment from the junior matters--she has been through the program. If you had children in the program you would know she was right. You would also know that the magnet coordinator is also the CAP coordinator.

This is illogical. Dismantling the RMIB program would be just as easy as dismantling the Blair magnet and CAP programs. MoCo just has to say the program is discontinued, and poof - not that I want that to happen to any of the magnets. But if you think the Swiss IB people are going to somehow penalize MoCo for not "upholding standards" in the wake of discontinuing the whole program, you aren't thinking about this clearly. And your assimilation argument is really stretching the truth.

Also, you really shouldn't hang your hat on one quote from one junior. If you actually knew some kids in the program (like I do), your opinions would carry a lot more weight.

This is a bizarre hatchet job, and I'm trying to figure out your agenda. Care to enlighten us?

Thanks for posting this, PP. I have a theory that the poster in question is the one who also periodically posts about Poolesville being far superior to Blair ... at least it seems like the same general writing style and attitude. It is odd, really, but far from unusual around here. People always seem to want to cut down certain programs or schools, as if there could only be one good one! And anyone who likes something else is delusional!

Anonymous wrote:
You make a good case for the fact that Blair is not a good option. RM has to maintain certain standards to maintain IB school status. So, dismantling it will be difficult if not impossible. Dismantling Blair programs would be EASIER.
I think RM-IB is the better choice. The comment from the junior matters--she has been through the program. If you had children in the program you would know she was right. You would also know that the magnet coordinator is also the CAP coordinator.

This is illogical. Dismantling the RMIB program would be just as easy as dismantling the Blair magnet and CAP programs. MoCo just has to say the program is discontinued, and poof - not that I want that to happen to any of the magnets. But if you think the Swiss IB people are going to somehow penalize MoCo for not "upholding standards" in the wake of discontinuing the whole program, you aren't thinking about this clearly. And your assimilation argument is really stretching the truth.

Also, you really shouldn't hang your hat on one quote from one junior. If you actually knew some kids in the program (like I do), your opinions would carry a lot more weight.

This is a bizarre hatchet job, and I'm trying to figure out your agenda. Care to enlighten us?

NP here. I'm another CAP parent.

There is no "assimilation," that's just silly. The fraction of non-CAP kids in CAP classes is minuscule, and I'm pretty sure the same is true of the fraction of non-magnet kids in magnet math/science classes. Also, this occurs in what are, for lack of a better word, non-core CAP classes, like theater. Even if it were more than a sprinkling of non-CAP kids (which, again, it isn't), I don't get the 13:59's assertion that this "necessarily means" magnet or CAP classes have to be watered down - that simply doesn't follow.

I have no personal experience with Principal Johnson, but contrary to what 13:59 would have you believe, lots of parents love her. She was also popular at her last post, at Takoma Middle School, where one of my kids attended the magnet.

Re the supposed CAP brain drain of teachers, I can think of only a couple (well, only one, but I may be missing some) long-time CAP teachers who have retired in the past few years. I can think of a few other CAP teachers who were not invited to stay on after unsuccessful years, but I'm not sure that's a bad thing.

And what's with the random hostility to the Blair magnet, which isn't even the subject of OP's question?

Whatever the "assimilation" poster's agenda is, she's wrong on several counts. She clearly knows very little about the CAP program.

Anonymous wrote:The institutional knowledge is also declining as magnet staff move on. The hostility towards the magnet from Principal Johnson-- a croney of Jeanette Dixon has created disallusionment. Magnet kid used to have their own councillors........NO MORE. They are dismantling it slowly so that it will be too late when anyone finds out it is gone.

Why is the principal hostile toward the magnet?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i wish one of the PPs would clarify what they mean by assimilation.

It's my understanding that CAP (and Magnet) kids have always had their magnet classes separate and the rest of the classes they choose from the same course selection as all other kids. They can select AP level courses for much of these. So how are things different now?

I know they have stopped having a separate counselor for magnets and I can see where that's disadvantageous. But is that all you are referring to?

As the student was quoted in the Silver Chips online edition as saying, the regular school kids are being allowed to take magnet courses. That necessarily means that they lower the standards for the course. A number of teachers have also left or retired resulting in inexperienced teachers taking over. RM, it seems, has a better retention rate for teachers. If you look at the staff directory you will see that most of the original teachers have left.

The fact that this may be a careful effort to dismantle the magnets is supported by the recent integration of magnet students with the counselors for all students in the school. Remember that Blair is a massive school and counselors have a big load. So, they don't get to give the magnet students the type of one-to-one service they used to receive.

How often does this actually happen though? Is it true for CAP? I have always heard that nonmagnet kids can take math/science courses but I can't imagine that many kids do that.