Anonymous
05/17/2014 20:02
Subject: Re:HGC demographics
Anonymous wrote:Personally, I think if a kid needs to have $600+ tutor to get into HGC, then kid doesn't belong there. Not saying all kids that have tutors are like this, but if a kid on his own can't get in, then it's questionable whether the kid belongs there
Why? The kid is clearly willing and able to do the work. The parents are willing to provide support at home so that he stays with or above the rest of the group. HGC isn't just high IQ. There are many high IQ students who have no motivation and would not be able to keep up with the workload.
This is such a strange American perspective. Achievement and work doesn't count or shouldn't be expected.
bolded... Those types of kids probably don't belong in HGC either. But to your point, well, kids who have to tutor to get in are taking spots from truly gifted kids that could benefit so much more from the HGC. Also, a child who otherwise on his/her own can't get into HGC without a tutor is "artificially" accelerated. On his/her own, this wouldn't happen. At what point, is this artificially accelerated kid going to stop having tutors to keep up? Are they going to have tutors in college? Or is the thought that by HS, the kid will be able to handle more advanced work on his/her own? Again, we are talking about kids who otherwise can't do it on their own, not kids that have tutors but are bright to begin with (that's a whole separate thread).
Actually, the American perspective is that talent and hard-work should be rewarded. That's why so many people from other countries come here.
Anonymous
05/17/2014 15:06
Subject: Re:HGC demographics
I grew up with a more rigorous curriculum in this country. The issue of watering down curriculum is real in MCPS and the entire US. That issue is a seperate issue from HGC testing and acceptance. HGC is for needs not met, read the MCPS orientation literature. Two kids both HGC and TPMS magnet.
Most of the kids in tutoring are there because their needs are not being met K-3. You can't tell them to just wait because MCPS decided not to offer any option for them until 4th grade. 2.0 doesn't meet the needs of many more students. Its a shame that dumbing down school is so popular among educators in this county.
Anonymous
05/17/2014 14:40
Subject: Re:HGC demographics
Agreed. All are watered down curriculum. That said, I think the other poster was correct in the idea that if your child needs a prep class or tutor to gain admission to the program, then your kid may not truly "need" the program.
Anonymous
05/17/2014 14:33
Subject: Re:HGC demographics
Anyone who thinks the HGC and middle school magnet curriculum is so rigorous as deserving some high intellectual/academic status is foolish. it is not according to my children as well as my own educational experience at their ages. Come to the jungle for a taste of rigor.
Anonymous
05/17/2014 14:22
Subject: Re:HGC demographics
I grew up with a more rigorous curriculum in this country. The issue of watering down curriculum is real in MCPS and the entire US. That issue is a seperate issue from HGC testing and acceptance. HGC is for needs not met, read the MCPS orientation literature. Two kids both HGC and TPMS magnet.
Anonymous
05/17/2014 14:11
Subject: Re:HGC demographics
Anonymous wrote:HGC are for kids whose NEEDS can not be met by their home school, not as a status symbol to attain ( paying 600 for a class so your kid scores higher)
That's your perspective because you have been used to less rigorous curriculum at school. I grew up with a more rigorous curriculum in another country. HGC curriculum seems to be an acceptable substitute for what I am used to.
No one in my group would think of it as a status symbol. This is not the same as winning the Nobel prize. If all schools had the same curriculum, I would be happier.
Anonymous
05/17/2014 14:05
Subject: HGC demographics
"This is such a strange American perspective. Achievement and work doesn't count or shouldn't be expected."
I think the American perspective is that this type of mentality drives a very negative atmosphere of hyper competitiveness and the kids who make the cut are those with parents fortunate enough to have both time an money to literally push them along. That I guess is where we are headed but it doesn't mean I need to like it at all.
I think the American perspective is that this type of mentality drives a very negative atmosphere of hyper competitiveness and the kids who make the cut are those with parents fortunate enough to have both time an money to literally push them along. That I guess is where we are headed but it doesn't mean I need to like it at all.
Anonymous
05/17/2014 13:12
Subject: Re:HGC demographics
HGC are for kids whose NEEDS can not be met by their home school, not as a status symbol to attain ( paying 600 for a class so your kid scores higher)
Anonymous
05/17/2014 12:54
Subject: Re:HGC demographics
Anonymous wrote:Personally, I think if a kid needs to have $600+ tutor to get into HGC, then kid doesn't belong there. Not saying all kids that have tutors are like this, but if a kid on his own can't get in, then it's questionable whether the kid belongs there
Why? The kid is clearly willing and able to do the work. The parents are willing to provide support at home so that he stays with or above the rest of the group. HGC isn't just high IQ. There are many high IQ students who have no motivation and would not be able to keep up with the workload.
This is such a strange American perspective. Achievement and work doesn't count or shouldn't be expected.
+ 1000
Kids have to work hard and parents also have to work hard. When your kids are getting enrichment outside of school, they need to be driven to these places, they need to be provided with materials, they need you to be there to clarify questions, they need your presence - it is a shift in lifestyle and it requires the parent's time, effort and money.
Anonymous
05/17/2014 12:50
Subject: Re:HGC demographics
Anonymous wrote:Personally, I think if a kid needs to have $600+ tutor to get into HGC, then kid doesn't belong there. Not saying all kids that have tutors are like this, but if a kid on his own can't get in, then it's questionable whether the kid belongs there
Why? The kid is clearly willing and able to do the work. The parents are willing to provide support at home so that he stays with or above the rest of the group. HGC isn't just high IQ. There are many high IQ students who have no motivation and would not be able to keep up with the workload.
This is such a strange American perspective. Achievement and work doesn't count or shouldn't be expected.
+ 1000
Also, the whole issue of parents providing support to the kids is what irks most people with this perspective. That is the commitment they are not willing to make because it is a sacrifice and it is not easy.
When your kids are getting enrichment outside of school, they need to be driven to these places, they need to be provided with materials, they need you to be there to clarify questions - it is a shift in lifestyle and it requires the parent's time, effort and money.
Anonymous
05/17/2014 11:11
Subject: Re:HGC demographics
Personally, I think if a kid needs to have $600+ tutor to get into HGC, then kid doesn't belong there. Not saying all kids that have tutors are like this, but if a kid on his own can't get in, then it's questionable whether the kid belongs there
Why? The kid is clearly willing and able to do the work. The parents are willing to provide support at home so that he stays with or above the rest of the group. HGC isn't just high IQ. There are many high IQ students who have no motivation and would not be able to keep up with the workload.
This is such a strange American perspective. Achievement and work doesn't count or shouldn't be expected.
Anonymous
05/17/2014 11:03
Subject: HGC demographics
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was curious about this, so thanks for posting. I think AA and Latino are under-represented at our HGC and Asian/Indian are over-represented. I was surprised to find out that there was test prep going on to the tune of $600 or more, so this may be influencing the demographic.
Personally, I think if a kid needs to have $600+ tutor to get into HGC, then kid doesn't belong there. Not saying all kids that have tutors are like this, but if a kid on his own can't get in, then it's questionable whether the kid belongs there.[/quote]
+1000
Anonymous
05/17/2014 09:59
Subject: Re:HGC demographics
Admissions tests first...maybe some race quotas (for inclusion, not exclusion)
The pool is pretty large so a gender/race quota for inclusion means that those of the non-desirable race or gender are being excluded if they have to hit a higher bar. I don't think its only test scores or you would see a significantly higher population of white and Asian girls. The heavy focus on language, writing, and social skills in education greatly favors girls over boys. Boys have other advantages but not in academics.
Anonymous
05/17/2014 09:39
Subject: HGC demographics
Anonymous wrote:I don't know if gender is considered or not. All the students went to HGC were boys in my DS's class.
And my daughters class was probably 65% girls; I don't think they consider gender either.
Anonymous
05/17/2014 01:49
Subject: HGC demographics
I don't know if gender is considered or not. All the students went to HGC were boys in my DS's class.