Anonymous wrote:I'm a Fairfax County resident but with grown kids so I have no skin in the game at this point, and I honestly couldn't read through every page of this discussion (though I find it interesting how much attention it is garnering), but I get the gist of the varying viewpoints and why everyone would be so fired up. However, regardless of what anyone thinks about TJ, don't you think getting rid of it would affect our real estate values? I know it's a bit selfish of me, but I'm going to sell in about 5-10 years, and I'm fairly confident that an FCPS without TJ would not be as desirable to buyers and industry alike. OK, fire away... I've armoured myself for your abuse...

Anonymous wrote:It’s amazing how many of the arguments advanced by TJ parents track arguments by white supremacists to keep public schools segregated in the 50s. I hope the NAACP takes them on again when we have a less corrupt DOJ.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But TJ opened my eyes to how racist and clannish many Asian parents are. There is a definitely a Master Race/ superior culture/ unwillingness to consider American cultural norms/ sense of academic entitlement going on with many of the that is disturbing. Like PP.

As an Asian-American who has immigrant parents, this doesn't ring true to me. From my perspective, it always seemed like Asians would have rather associated with whites, but whites weren't interested in associating outside of their race (for the most part...of course, there are exceptions). And subtle (and not so subtle) racist interactions are painful, so it's just more comfortable to associate within your own race, especially when there is a language barrier. I think the only part of your comment about that rings true to me is the part about believing Asian culture is superior, but only in relation to nutrition. Asians think their eating habits are better because their food is more fresh and less processed. I do admit, there is a superiority complex about that. But doesn't every race think they're better for one reason or another? In the words of Rodney King, can't we all just get along?

Too many Asian TJ parents think “getting along“ means perpetuating a school that admits next to no blacks and Hispanics, where the Asian kids often stick to themselves, and where every call for FCPS to take a look at the impact that TJ has had on other schools and the surrounding neighborhoods is met with hostility and allegations of racism. It is beyond toxic and eventually our leaders will stop pandering. Replacing Moon on the School Board was a step in the right direction.

You are just projecting your insecurities and wrong perception on an entire community which is inherently racist by itself. We (as in Asians) do not actively preach or propagate racism of any sort. If fighting for a program that provides a higher level of education for our children is extrapolated using convoluted logic as racist, that's just moronic.

Here are the facts:
- Homes get rezoned all the time across the county. FCPS does provide bus service to schools. So I see the "kids can't walk to school" as a non-issue.
- TJ is open to EVERYONE who has an interest in STEM, willing to show STEM interest, and willing to put in a LOT of effort during the 4 years of school. I didn't make up the rules for admission. No Asian did. Change the rules to suit your convenience. No kid at TJ is actively building barricades to keep Blacks and Hispanics out. Fix the system without being jealous of the current beneficiaries, most of who are first gen immigrants who worked their ass off to be where they are today without handouts.
- Kids in a school tend to hangout with other kids in the school. Just so happens most of the kids in that school are Asian. What do you want them to do? Walk out on the street looking for non-Asians to hang out with? How can they "stick to themselves" if "themselves" are all there is?!?!
- Issues of equity need to be addressed across the system. As another posters have pointed out, a lot of programs have been put in place to fix the perceived inequity with no results. Why not make AAP pervasive? Everyone has access to it at all schools. See what that does. How do we pay for it? increase taxes. I'd gladly pay. I'm sure you would too.

At the end of the day we live in a capitalistic democracy (at least for now). Merit and hard work that made this country great still work. TJ is an institution where this manifests itself. Do we need to accommodate others who are less fortunate? Absolutely! Let's figure that out! That's equitable.
Do we we need to accommodate others that are less able in the name of equity? Absolutely not! They will eventually drag the institution down.

Before you jump on me and call me racist, I have 2 kids - one fitting the able category that goes to TJ and the other less able that's going to a base HS. No shame in that.

Shutting institutions that don't comply with your worldview is just a communist way of doing things. Disagreeing with that is not racist..

Guess what? TJ operated very nicely as a neighborhood school for decades. Returning it to its original, intended use given the current challenges makes a lot of sense Otherwise TJ is just the facade that FCPS likes to show off to make it seem like a good school system when a very large number of parents think it's declining fast.

And your profound disregard for the negative impact that it has on other families whose kids' experiences are diminished because they have to travel further to school or are forced into overcrowded facilities speaks volumes.

So call me Communist if you want. You will never understand what the American way really means.

You're just firing on all cylinders with your biased views and agenda that were backed up by only hollow words. Do you have any evidence that the overcrowding problem was caused by TJ?
I'd like to have a beer watching clowns like you entertaining us.

It's not even up for debate whether TJ led to overcrowding. Jefferson kids all got sent to Annandale and over the years Annandale boundaries had to be adjusted to move kids to Falls Church, Lake Braddock, Woodson and Edison because it was too crowded. In the process, they ended up concentrating apartments that had been split between Jefferson and Annandale at Annandale, making it one of the poorest schools in the county. And now there are multiple overcrowded high schools that would get relief if TJ exclusively served Fairfax students and boundaries were adjusted.

So your arrogance is matched only by your stupidity, which we knew already.

Anonymous wrote:Not sure that pointing to the option school model in APS is very relevant to the problems created or exacerbated by TJ. It's hardly a lottery school; rather, it's an invitation-only school that has very skewed admissions practices.

In addition, the option schools in APS educate kids in APS, not a whole host of other jurisdictions. So they don't take seats that otherwise might be available to other APS students. They simply reallocate them differently within APS. In contrast, TJ's operation as a regional magnet in a county with multiple overcrowded schools makes the overcrowding at other schools within FCPS worse.

And the very TJ parents who otherwise might play a role in addressing those problems throw up their hands, profess indifference to the impact on other schools and students, and insist vehemently that their kids should continue to get a better deal than everyone else. Absolutely revolting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where I live, there's a huge Russian community and, for the most part, they highly value education, and their kids do a LOT of math and science enrichment, and going to TJ is a highly regarded achievement for which families prepare from a young age. I wouldn't be surprised if a big percentage of the white demographic is Russian. That said, and be honest with yourself, if the Russian community were bigger, and made up a majority of TJ, would you be making the same arguments about equity and the same disparaging statements about them as you do Asians? I think not. I think you would admire and aspire to be them. You wouldn't say they're trying to keep blacks and Hispanics out (which is such a silly argument anyway because who at TJ would really be thinking about doing that?? That is a systemic issue). You might think you're not racist and just making rational, equitable arguments, but I don't believe that for one minute. You don't like Asians. Admit it and just put on your white pointy hat for everyone to see.

I agree with the above. There are large cultural differences that some people on this thread are misattributing as racism. The fact is that the "typical American" (I know it's stereotypical to use this term), doesn't really put too much value on science, and especially mathematics. Evidence for this is systemic and shown by the widespread math phobia present even among teachers in schools. Some say they do value it, (but if they do, they certainly don't realize that it takes a lot of work to learn math and science well, and become better at it). With this in mind, what we're seeing at TJ is normal; we will never have a very large percentage of whites sending their kids there because they are well aware of how hard it is to get in, and then to succeed in a further 4 years there. But I don't see anything wrong with that, it's everyone's personal choice. Other cultures, (especially Asian cultures, Russian communities, etc), are the exact opposite in this regard. They place a very high value on science and especially math, so it would be natural that many kids are very interested in wanting to go to TJ. I don't see any "systematic" racism or bias that some people in this thread implied.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But TJ opened my eyes to how racist and clannish many Asian parents are. There is a definitely a Master Race/ superior culture/ unwillingness to consider American cultural norms/ sense of academic entitlement going on with many of the that is disturbing. Like PP.

As an Asian-American who has immigrant parents, this doesn't ring true to me. From my perspective, it always seemed like Asians would have rather associated with whites, but whites weren't interested in associating outside of their race (for the most part...of course, there are exceptions). And subtle (and not so subtle) racist interactions are painful, so it's just more comfortable to associate within your own race, especially when there is a language barrier. I think the only part of your comment about that rings true to me is the part about believing Asian culture is superior, but only in relation to nutrition. Asians think their eating habits are better because their food is more fresh and less processed. I do admit, there is a superiority complex about that. But doesn't every race think they're better for one reason or another? In the words of Rodney King, can't we all just get along?

Too many Asian TJ parents think “getting along“ means perpetuating a school that admits next to no blacks and Hispanics, where the Asian kids often stick to themselves, and where every call for FCPS to take a look at the impact that TJ has had on other schools and the surrounding neighborhoods is met with hostility and allegations of racism. It is beyond toxic and eventually our leaders will stop pandering. Replacing Moon on the School Board was a step in the right direction.

You are just projecting your insecurities and wrong perception on an entire community which is inherently racist by itself. We (as in Asians) do not actively preach or propagate racism of any sort. If fighting for a program that provides a higher level of education for our children is extrapolated using convoluted logic as racist, that's just moronic.

Here are the facts:
- Homes get rezoned all the time across the county. FCPS does provide bus service to schools. So I see the "kids can't walk to school" as a non-issue.
- TJ is open to EVERYONE who has an interest in STEM, willing to show STEM interest, and willing to put in a LOT of effort during the 4 years of school. I didn't make up the rules for admission. No Asian did. Change the rules to suit your convenience. No kid at TJ is actively building barricades to keep Blacks and Hispanics out. Fix the system without being jealous of the current beneficiaries, most of who are first gen immigrants who worked their ass off to be where they are today without handouts.
- Kids in a school tend to hangout with other kids in the school. Just so happens most of the kids in that school are Asian. What do you want them to do? Walk out on the street looking for non-Asians to hang out with? How can they "stick to themselves" if "themselves" are all there is?!?!
- Issues of equity need to be addressed across the system. As another posters have pointed out, a lot of programs have been put in place to fix the perceived inequity with no results. Why not make AAP pervasive? Everyone has access to it at all schools. See what that does. How do we pay for it? increase taxes. I'd gladly pay. I'm sure you would too.

At the end of the day we live in a capitalistic democracy (at least for now). Merit and hard work that made this country great still work. TJ is an institution where this manifests itself. Do we need to accommodate others who are less fortunate? Absolutely! Let's figure that out! That's equitable.
Do we we need to accommodate others that are less able in the name of equity? Absolutely not! They will eventually drag the institution down.

Before you jump on me and call me racist, I have 2 kids - one fitting the able category that goes to TJ and the other less able that's going to a base HS. No shame in that.

Shutting institutions that don't comply with your worldview is just a communist way of doing things. Disagreeing with that is not racist..

Guess what? TJ operated very nicely as a neighborhood school for decades. Returning it to its original, intended use given the current challenges makes a lot of sense Otherwise TJ is just the facade that FCPS likes to show off to make it seem like a good school system when a very large number of parents think it's declining fast.

And your profound disregard for the negative impact that it has on other families whose kids' experiences are diminished because they have to travel further to school or are forced into overcrowded facilities speaks volumes.

So call me Communist if you want. You will never understand what the American way really means.

You're just firing on all cylinders with your biased views and agenda that were backed up by only hollow words. Do you have any evidence that the overcrowding problem was caused by TJ?
I'd like to have a beer watching clowns like you entertaining us.

Anonymous wrote:Where I live, there's a huge Russian community and, for the most part, they highly value education, and their kids do a LOT of math and science enrichment, and going to TJ is a highly regarded achievement for which families prepare from a young age. I wouldn't be surprised if a big percentage of the white demographic is Russian. That said, and be honest with yourself, if the Russian community were bigger, and made up a majority of TJ, would you be making the same arguments about equity and the same disparaging statements about them as you do Asians? I think not. I think you would admire and aspire to be them. You wouldn't say they're trying to keep blacks and Hispanics out (which is such a silly argument anyway because who at TJ would really be thinking about doing that?? That is a systemic issue). You might think you're not racist and just making rational, equitable arguments, but I don't believe that for one minute. You don't like Asians. Admit it and just put on your white pointy hat for everyone to see.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But TJ opened my eyes to how racist and clannish many Asian parents are. There is a definitely a Master Race/ superior culture/ unwillingness to consider American cultural norms/ sense of academic entitlement going on with many of the that is disturbing. Like PP.

As an Asian-American who has immigrant parents, this doesn't ring true to me. From my perspective, it always seemed like Asians would have rather associated with whites, but whites weren't interested in associating outside of their race (for the most part...of course, there are exceptions). And subtle (and not so subtle) racist interactions are painful, so it's just more comfortable to associate within your own race, especially when there is a language barrier. I think the only part of your comment about that rings true to me is the part about believing Asian culture is superior, but only in relation to nutrition. Asians think their eating habits are better because their food is more fresh and less processed. I do admit, there is a superiority complex about that. But doesn't every race think they're better for one reason or another? In the words of Rodney King, can't we all just get along?

Too many Asian TJ parents think “getting along“ means perpetuating a school that admits next to no blacks and Hispanics, where the Asian kids often stick to themselves, and where every call for FCPS to take a look at the impact that TJ has had on other schools and the surrounding neighborhoods is met with hostility and allegations of racism. It is beyond toxic and eventually our leaders will stop pandering. Replacing Moon on the School Board was a step in the right direction.

You are just projecting your insecurities and wrong perception on an entire community which is inherently racist by itself. We (as in Asians) do not actively preach or propagate racism of any sort. If fighting for a program that provides a higher level of education for our children is extrapolated using convoluted logic as racist, that's just moronic.

Here are the facts:
- Homes get rezoned all the time across the county. FCPS does provide bus service to schools. So I see the "kids can't walk to school" as a non-issue.
- TJ is open to EVERYONE who has an interest in STEM, willing to show STEM interest, and willing to put in a LOT of effort during the 4 years of school. I didn't make up the rules for admission. No Asian did. Change the rules to suit your convenience. No kid at TJ is actively building barricades to keep Blacks and Hispanics out. Fix the system without being jealous of the current beneficiaries, most of who are first gen immigrants who worked their ass off to be where they are today without handouts.
- Kids in a school tend to hangout with other kids in the school. Just so happens most of the kids in that school are Asian. What do you want them to do? Walk out on the street looking for non-Asians to hang out with? How can they "stick to themselves" if "themselves" are all there is?!?!
- Issues of equity need to be addressed across the system. As another posters have pointed out, a lot of programs have been put in place to fix the perceived inequity with no results. Why not make AAP pervasive? Everyone has access to it at all schools. See what that does. How do we pay for it? increase taxes. I'd gladly pay. I'm sure you would too.

At the end of the day we live in a capitalistic democracy (at least for now). Merit and hard work that made this country great still work. TJ is an institution where this manifests itself. Do we need to accommodate others who are less fortunate? Absolutely! Let's figure that out! That's equitable.
Do we we need to accommodate others that are less able in the name of equity? Absolutely not! They will eventually drag the institution down.

Before you jump on me and call me racist, I have 2 kids - one fitting the able category that goes to TJ and the other less able that's going to a base HS. No shame in that.

Shutting institutions that don't comply with your worldview is just a communist way of doing things. Disagreeing with that is not racist..

Guess what? TJ operated very nicely as a neighborhood school for decades. Returning it to its original, intended use given the current challenges makes a lot of sense Otherwise TJ is just the facade that FCPS likes to show off to make it seem like a good school system when a very large number of parents think it's declining fast.

And your profound disregard for the negative impact that it has on other families whose kids' experiences are diminished because they have to travel further to school or are forced into overcrowded facilities speaks volumes.

So call me Communist if you want. You will never understand what the American way really means.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ My White kid is also graduating from TJ this year. No legacy admissions lined up (anywhere I would want my kid to attend). Saving like heck to pay college, but still needed in state or merit. My kid went through the Carson feeder pipeline and I used to like and defend the Asian parenting mentality. Kids work hard, focus on education, parents are actively involved, kids stay out of trouble. It was a peer group I wanted for my own kids. I still think the kids make great peers.

But TJ opened my eyes to how racist and clannish many Asian parents are. There is a definitely a Master Race/ superior culture/ unwillingness to consider American cultural norms/ sense of academic entitlement going on with many of the that is disturbing. Like PP.

The academics at TJ are first rate. The kids are first rate. A lot of their parents are not. I think it has done my kid good to have the experience of being a minority. I think seeing how some of the “adults” like PP has been very eye opening to him. I find it disgusting. I certainly am much less comfortable with Asian parents and Asian parenting than I was 4 years ago. Then again, so are many of the Asian kids talking in the backseat of my car during carpools.

It wasn’t very kind of you to subject your DC to this. Asia’s are unapologetically racist at TJ.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But TJ opened my eyes to how racist and clannish many Asian parents are. There is a definitely a Master Race/ superior culture/ unwillingness to consider American cultural norms/ sense of academic entitlement going on with many of the that is disturbing. Like PP.

As an Asian-American who has immigrant parents, this doesn't ring true to me. From my perspective, it always seemed like Asians would have rather associated with whites, but whites weren't interested in associating outside of their race (for the most part...of course, there are exceptions). And subtle (and not so subtle) racist interactions are painful, so it's just more comfortable to associate within your own race, especially when there is a language barrier. I think the only part of your comment about that rings true to me is the part about believing Asian culture is superior, but only in relation to nutrition. Asians think their eating habits are better because their food is more fresh and less processed. I do admit, there is a superiority complex about that. But doesn't every race think they're better for one reason or another? In the words of Rodney King, can't we all just get along?

Too many Asian TJ parents think “getting along“ means perpetuating a school that admits next to no blacks and Hispanics, where the Asian kids often stick to themselves, and where every call for FCPS to take a look at the impact that TJ has had on other schools and the surrounding neighborhoods is met with hostility and allegations of racism. It is beyond toxic and eventually our leaders will stop pandering. Replacing Moon on the School Board was a step in the right direction.

You are just projecting your insecurities and wrong perception on an entire community which is inherently racist by itself. We (as in Asians) do not actively preach or propagate racism of any sort. If fighting for a program that provides a higher level of education for our children is extrapolated using convoluted logic as racist, that's just moronic.

Here are the facts:
- Homes get rezoned all the time across the county. FCPS does provide bus service to schools. So I see the "kids can't walk to school" as a non-issue.
- TJ is open to EVERYONE who has an interest in STEM, willing to show STEM interest, and willing to put in a LOT of effort during the 4 years of school. I didn't make up the rules for admission. No Asian did. Change the rules to suit your convenience. No kid at TJ is actively building barricades to keep Blacks and Hispanics out. Fix the system without being jealous of the current beneficiaries, most of who are first gen immigrants who worked their ass off to be where they are today without handouts.
- Kids in a school tend to hangout with other kids in the school. Just so happens most of the kids in that school are Asian. What do you want them to do? Walk out on the street looking for non-Asians to hang out with? How can they "stick to themselves" if "themselves" are all there is?!?!
- Issues of equity need to be addressed across the system. As another posters have pointed out, a lot of programs have been put in place to fix the perceived inequity with no results. Why not make AAP pervasive? Everyone has access to it at all schools. See what that does. How do we pay for it? increase taxes. I'd gladly pay. I'm sure you would too.

At the end of the day we live in a capitalistic democracy (at least for now). Merit and hard work that made this country great still work. TJ is an institution where this manifests itself. Do we need to accommodate others who are less fortunate? Absolutely! Let's figure that out! That's equitable.
Do we we need to accommodate others that are less able in the name of equity? Absolutely not! They will eventually drag the institution down.

Before you jump on me and call me racist, I have 2 kids - one fitting the able category that goes to TJ and the other less able that's going to a base HS. No shame in that.

Shutting institutions that don't comply with your worldview is just a communist way of doing things. Disagreeing with that is not racist..

Guess what? TJ operated very nicely as a neighborhood school for decades. Returning it to its original, intended use given the current challenges makes a lot of sense Otherwise TJ is just the facade that FCPS likes to show off to make it seem like a good school system when a very large number of parents think it's declining fast.

And your profound disregard for the negative impact that it has on other families whose kids' experiences are diminished because they have to travel further to school or are forced into overcrowded facilities speaks volumes.

So call me Communist if you want. You will never understand what the American way really means.