Actually, strictly by population numbers, white kids still outnumber Asians in the W schools and magnets, whatever the test scores are. So stiffing "their" own white kids by eliminating math pathways, just to hold Asian kids back, would be beyond stupid: your theory defies credibility.

Is there an achievement and performance gap between Asian Americans and European Americans (whites) in Montgomery County and in MCPS?

The achievement gap is generally considered to be between whites/Asians on the one hand and blacks/hispanics on the other hand. I really don't see how your theory of keeping the Asians back does a thing about the real gap. Unless MCPS wants to keep both the whites and Asians back. But that doesn't support your conspiracy theory because presumably the old guard is white and has white progeny.

Is there an achievement or performance gap between Asian Americans and European Americans in this country?

Do European Americans (whites) perform at the same level as Asian Americans in this country?

"The achievement gap shows up in grades, standardized-test scores, course selection, dropout rates, and college-completion rates, among other success measures. It is most often used to describe the troubling performance gaps between African-American and Hispanic students, at the lower end of the performance scale, and their non-Hispanic white peers, and the similar academic disparity between students from low-income families and those who are better off."

http://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/achievement-gap/

The achievement gap is generally considered to be between whites/Asians on the one hand and blacks/hispanics on the other hand. I really don't see how your theory of keeping the Asians back does a thing about the real gap. Unless MCPS wants to keep both the whites and Asians back. But that doesn't support your conspiracy theory because presumably the old guard is white and has white progeny.

I don't know of any MoCo administrators' kids in the two magnets my kids attend. So why don't you try explaining how your conspiracy theory makes any sense at all for the W schools.

You still haven't explained why MoCo administrators would do something that runs so contrary to the interests of their own kids in magnets and W schools. Because it's obvious that high-achieving white kids abound at these schools. Go for it, explain how this resolves the gaping hole in your theory!

What percentage of the magnet schools would be filled with children of the fading old guard if admission were strictly based on academic performance and entrance test scores? 50%, 75%, 90% ? or would the demographics mirror TJ in VA?

Yup, try to keep 'em close. There are a myriad of ways to "close the gap". One way is to try and pull those ahead down (rather than bring those down up). This closes the gap from the top (in reverse manner). I'm not saying such a foolish strategy works in real life. But, in real life, policy blunders are made by fools.

Anonymous wrote:...interesting policy theme permeating education at the primary, secondary and undergraduate levels.

You still haven't explained why MoCo administrators would do something that runs so contrary to the interests of their own kids in magnets and W schools. Because it's obvious that high-achieving white kids abound at these schools. Go for it, explain how this resolves the gaping hole in your theory!

No

A conspiracy theorist who sock puppets - does anyone else see the irony?

...interesting policy theme permeating education at the primary, secondary and undergraduate levels.

This must be the poster who's worried about anti-Asian discrimination at Harvard on the College forum. I have some sympathy for that argument although I have no stake in it. But this MoCo conspiracy argument makes no sense from the supposed "old guard's" own POV.

I am not sure, but if you read the California papers over the last 5 years regarding the U of of C systems actively attempting to avoid matiriculation dominance from another group of children of recent immigrants (based on high academic performance), the lawsuits at Harvard and Princeton over the last 2 years, the recent about turn by the College Board, and MCPS decision to prevent able and capable students (high academic performers) from advancing (after allowing them to advance --some inappropriately--via Math pathways); these posters have a damn good point regarding the resistance (conscious or unconscious) by the "fading old guard".

Spot on points and observations. Of course, one will always expect the "fading old guard" to deny. It's always happened that way if you read the history books.

We can wait for time and the history books to be written on this score.

This must be the poster who's worried about anti-Asian discrimination at Harvard on the College forum. I have some sympathy for that argument although I have no stake in it. But this MoCo conspiracy argument makes no sense from the supposed "old guard's" own POV.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But isn't this hypocrisy. MCPS and MoCo leadership cared in 1960, 1970 and 1980 when these high achieving kids were European Americans (Whites) even if they did well on the standardized tests then without help. Why in 2010 when these high achieving kids are no longer white does MoCo and MCPS leadership decide to refocus and drop there caring souls?

I understand from your preamble to your post ... the truth is out there and you have spoken it well.

Oh, I see. You think this is a white vs. Asian thing. I'm curious why you think whites are no longer at the top of the SES heap, and their kids aren't still duking it out for the Ivy slots at the magnets and W schools. Sure, there are plenty of Asians at many of these schools, and other races too, but there are still plenty of whites too. Frankly it would be a good thing if some of these schools had more of some races. I have to conclude you don't have kids at any of these schools, otherwise you'd know this.

So, contrary to your conspiracy theory: if white "rulers" of MoCo are deliberately sabotaging the school system to hold down those upstart Asians, this would be totally self-defeating.

Exactly - in what universe are white kids at the W schools considered low achieving?

Anonymous wrote:

But isn't this hypocrisy. MCPS and MoCo leadership cared in 1960, 1970 and 1980 when these high achieving kids were European Americans (Whites) even if they did well on the standardized tests then without help. Why in 2010 when these high achieving kids are no longer white does MoCo and MCPS leadership decide to refocus and drop there caring souls?

I understand from your preamble to your post ... the truth is out there and you have spoken it well.

Oh, I see. You think this is a white vs. Asian thing. I'm curious why you think whites are no longer at the top of the SES heap, and their kids aren't still duking it out for the Ivy slots at the magnets and W schools. Sure, there are plenty of Asians at many of these schools, and other races too, but there are still plenty of whites too. Frankly it would be a good thing if some of these schools had more of some races. I have to conclude you don't have kids at any of these schools, otherwise you'd know this.

So, contrary to your conspiracy theory: if white "rulers" of MoCo are deliberately sabotaging the school system to hold down those upstart Asians, this would be totally self-defeating.