Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is true. Largely because of the difference in how Clemente/King is set up compared to TPMS and Eastern. Which means the former model could be replicated in at least five more MS in the County. Adding another thousand slots. But then it won’t be as “special” to the parents who want the bragging rights. Look at what that demographic did to the poor Global Humanities course. Parents demanded it be offered to so many kids outside the target group that certain W feeder schools just enrolled everyone who would have been in advanced. Teachers were not trained in how to implement to average learners a curriculum that was designed for gifted ones. The extra students weren’t motivated to learn in these ways and/or were overwhelmed.

The what?

You don’t know the difference between the upcountry and downcounty magnets?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is true. Largely because of the difference in how Clemente/King is set up compared to TPMS and Eastern. Which means the former model could be replicated in at least five more MS in the County. Adding another thousand slots. But then it won’t be as “special” to the parents who want the bragging rights. Look at what that demographic did to the poor Global Humanities course. Parents demanded it be offered to so many kids outside the target group that certain W feeder schools just enrolled everyone who would have been in advanced. Teachers were not trained in how to implement to average learners a curriculum that was designed for gifted ones. The extra students weren’t motivated to learn in these ways and/or were overwhelmed.

The what?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've been able to help my 2 magnet kids, but there are others who have been studying above grade level math privately for years. They are not more gifted than kids who don't take extra classes or have parent academic support.

May be some of them were taking those "above grade level math" classes privately because they were geniuses who were not getting challenged by the grade level material - who knows! It is ridiculous to assert that someone is not gifted because he or she is taking private classes.

Are there kids who are above grade level in a subject but are not really what many would consider gifted (i.e.) wired differently? Yes, there are. But are there kids who study privately because they are gifted? Also YES. We know of kids in both categories, and outside enrichment was even more essential for the kids in the second category.

Most of the kids in the Clemente MS magnet programs aren't "wired differently" - they're just regular smart kids with motivated parents.

This is true. Largely because of the difference in how Clemente/King is set up compared to TPMS and Eastern. Which means the former model could be replicated in at least five more MS in the County. Adding another thousand slots. But then it won’t be as “special” to the parents who want the bragging rights. Look at what that demographic did to the poor Global Humanities course. Parents demanded it be offered to so many kids outside the target group that certain W feeder schools just enrolled everyone who would have been in advanced. Teachers were not trained in how to implement to average learners a curriculum that was designed for gifted ones. The extra students weren’t motivated to learn in these ways and/or were overwhelmed.

Anonymous wrote:

This is true. Largely because of the difference in how Clemente/King is set up compared to TPMS and Eastern. Which means the former model could be replicated in at least five more MS in the County. Adding another thousand slots. But then it won’t be as “special” to the parents who want the bragging rights. Look at what that demographic did to the poor Global Humanities course. Parents demanded it be offered to so many kids outside the target group that certain W feeder schools just enrolled everyone who would have been in advanced. Teachers were not trained in how to implement to average learners a curriculum that was designed for gifted ones. The extra students weren’t motivated to learn in these ways and/or were overwhelmed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've been able to help my 2 magnet kids, but there are others who have been studying above grade level math privately for years. They are not more gifted than kids who don't take extra classes or have parent academic support.

May be some of them were taking those "above grade level math" classes privately because they were geniuses who were not getting challenged by the grade level material - who knows! It is ridiculous to assert that someone is not gifted because he or she is taking private classes.

Are there kids who are above grade level in a subject but are not really what many would consider gifted (i.e.) wired differently? Yes, there are. But are there kids who study privately because they are gifted? Also YES. We know of kids in both categories, and outside enrichment was even more essential for the kids in the second category.

Most of the kids in the Clemente MS magnet programs aren't "wired differently" - they're just regular smart kids with motivated parents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've been able to help my 2 magnet kids, but there are others who have been studying above grade level math privately for years. They are not more gifted than kids who don't take extra classes or have parent academic support.

May be some of them were taking those "above grade level math" classes privately because they were geniuses who were not getting challenged by the grade level material - who knows! It is ridiculous to assert that someone is not gifted because he or she is taking private classes.

Are there kids who are above grade level in a subject but are not really what many would consider gifted (i.e.) wired differently? Yes, there are. But are there kids who study privately because they are gifted? Also YES. We know of kids in both categories, and outside enrichment was even more essential for the kids in the second category.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've been able to help my 2 magnet kids, but there are others who have been studying above grade level math privately for years. They are not more gifted than kids who don't take extra classes or have parent academic support.

May be some of them were taking those "above grade level math" classes privately because they were geniuses who were not getting challenged by the grade level material - who knows! It is ridiculous to assert that someone is not gifted because he or she is taking private classes.

Are there kids who are above grade level in a subject but are not really what many would consider gifted (i.e.) wired differently? Yes, there are. But are there kids who study privately because they are gifted? Also YES. We know of kids in both categories, and outside enrichment was even more essential for the kids in the second category.

Anonymous wrote:

I've been able to help my 2 magnet kids, but there are others who have been studying above grade level math privately for years. They are not more gifted than kids who don't take extra classes or have parent academic support.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A number of magnet teachers are leaving from RCMS magnet. MCPS’s assault to magnets continues...

Teachers leaving would probably have more to do with principal than mcps. Look at poor Pine Crest. That principal has done everything humanly possible to run off the best teachers (she doesn't want anyone who might challenge her).

Or, could be personal reasons coincidentally.

It has to do with the Humanities program moving to MLK MS. At least one of the teachers, neither principal wanted.

Are you talking about Mr. D? He is an amazing teacher and instrumental in many of his students winning prestigious contests and competitions= There is a systemic assault on magnet teachers by administration. Now one of the best media teachers is not there for Humanities program. Ask the parents and students about how great he was. The administration is hugely disliked, so to be disliked by them is the greatest compliment a magnet teacher can get.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A number of magnet teachers are leaving from RCMS magnet. MCPS’s assault to magnets continues...

Teachers leaving would probably have more to do with principal than mcps. Look at poor Pine Crest. That principal has done everything humanly possible to run off the best teachers (she doesn't want anyone who might challenge her).

Or, could be personal reasons coincidentally.

It has to do with the Humanities program moving to MLK MS. At least one of the teachers, neither principal wanted.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A number of magnet teachers are leaving from RCMS magnet. MCPS’s assault to magnets continues...

Teachers leaving would probably have more to do with principal than mcps. Look at poor Pine Crest. That principal has done everything humanly possible to run off the best teachers (she doesn't want anyone who might challenge her).

Or, could be personal reasons coincidentally.

Anonymous wrote:A number of magnet teachers are leaving from RCMS magnet. MCPS’s assault to magnets continues...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have two teachers at our CES who have been very vocal about their disapproval of the changes to both the CES and the MS Magnets.

One has commented that she ends up spending way more time with some of the students this year at our CES, trying to get them up to speed.

The one great thing about the CES and the Magnets were that the teachers were teaching kids who were all at a similar level. It was a way to avoid the nonsense that MCPS embraces with mixed ability classrooms. But these past two years have changed that.

Let’s get real. The kids were never all at the same level. There was always a variation in skills, interests, background knowledge, and work ethic. The difference I see now is that we get some parents who are less educated themselves so they can’t help at home, less equipped financially to assist with extra materials, less aware of the intense commitment the entire family is making, and less confident in asking teachers to explain a concept differently or reconsider a grade. Under the old system, a family might send three kids through magnet although only the first one was truly gifted and others average because they learned from experience how to make it work. Or they had lots of advice from friends and neighbors with kids who went to magnet. Now there are more kids who are truly trailblazers.

I’ve taught mixed ability general ed. This year’s classes were nothing like that. When MCPS starts admitting to MS magnet fifteen year olds or students reading on a pre-primer level, I’ll be the loudest one protesting.

Signed,
A middle school magnet teacher

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ what’s wrong with it?

Not that poster, but here is what I hear from some families:

*Disrupted family schedules because of the bus.
*Tension between students and parents over the workload at home.
*Unfairness to other kids in the family who lose parental attention or have to adjust their schedule.

NP here. I have not heard that in my 15 years as a magnet teacher. Most parents are aware of the time committment and they consider themselves a partner in their child's education. Most students are happy within the program, even if some have to work harder to catch up with some of their peers. The truth is that these children are able to do the work and they thrive also because of a very like-ability cohort.

- Magnet teacher.

We turned down CES due to the amount of endless projects. Yes, this is going much deeper into the material, but often projects seem like more work from parents than for students. Honestly, is very clear when parents have done most of the work.

Our daughter is capable of doing the work, but she is already extremely busy with a multitude of language, music, and dance programs. She has at least 10 hours of work from her language program each week already.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Let’s get real. The kids were never all at the same level. There was always a variation in skills, interests, background knowledge, and work ethic. The difference I see now is that we get some parents who are less educated themselves so they can’t help at home, less equipped financially to assist with extra materials, less aware of the intense commitment the entire family is making, and less confident in asking teachers to explain a concept differently or reconsider a grade. Under the old system, a family might send three kids through magnet although only the first one was truly gifted and others average because they learned from experience how to make it work. Or they had lots of advice from friends and neighbors with kids who went to magnet. Now there are more kids who are truly trailblazers.

I’ve taught mixed ability general ed. This year’s classes were nothing like that. When MCPS starts admitting to MS magnet fifteen year olds or students reading on a pre-primer level, I’ll be the loudest one protesting.

Signed,
A middle school magnet teacher

That was my impression as a parent with kids in the magnet programs, too.

Also, as a parent with kids in the magnet program, my opinion is that participation in the magnet program should not require an intense commitment by the entire family.

Whether you like it or not, it does. Sending kids to magnet is a family commitment. We are perfectly okay with that.

Not in my family. My oldest requires less commitment than most parents give their kids in local schools (pick ups and drop offs notwithstanding). Perhaps if my youngest had been pushed and prepped and made to go to magnet it would have required that kind of commitment, but that's because he's not an appropriate kid for that program. He's perfectly happy being a straight-A student with all his various interests and activities in his local MS.