While we have avoided the entitlement encephalitis syndrome by foregoing private primary education it was refreshing to see representation from STA (even if from progeny of DHHS employees). What is quite telling is absent representation from the slew of "Big 3" elite private schools in D.C. that champion first rate and top dollar 21st century education. On the other hand, if subscription to the "who you know rather than what you know" philosophy is still the prevailing and proud operative ... it's no surprise at all.

Anonymous wrote:http://www.societyforscience.org/sts/2010/semifinalists

Interesting, our semifinalist appears to be Asian. Do you think he's going the connections route?

2010 List Now Available. The only D.C. student candidate representatives were 2 from STA and NCS.

The list of the semi-finalists in this year’s Intel Science Talent Search (Intel STS) is now available on the web. If you prefer, a downloadable brochure, is also available.

Probably America's most prestigious pre-college science competition, Intel STS alumni of STS have made extraordinary contributions to science and, according to the website, “hold more than 100 of the world's most coveted science and math honors, including seven Nobel Prizes and three National Medals of Science.”

Take a look at the list and you will notice local powerhouses like Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, in Alexandria, Virginia are well represented.

Shouldn’t we strive to have such a school in every one of our neighborhoods? It is not that the Washington, DC, metropolitan area lacks the talent to mentor students to rise to such heights. The National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology are but two of the myriad of institutions that harbor talent pools for schools to tap into.

Consequently, the surprise is not that just two schools fielded so many semi-finalists. Instead, it is that many more school didn’t appear on the list. Public school systems in the region need to recognize the opportunities in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, and create partnerships for developing and mentoring burgeoning talent.

I am still waiting for my orgasm.

Listen, you've masterbated with your TJ scores enough on this thread. Don't you think you want to spread your good will elsewhere?

Anonymous wrote:

I think even in this century, the old adage about "it's not what you know, it's who you know" trumps all. STA will provide those connections. TJ will not.

You are quite right in acknowledging the trump card of privilege, power and who you know in making the world go round. Indeed, affirmative action for landed gentry and wealthy based on these connections was the rule for a century and a half at elite private schools -- like your beloved STA. As you rightly point out, who you knew trumped what you knew. You also rightly point out this is still the rule at STA. By contrast, what you know trumps who you know at TJ and other free and public magnet programs.

As what you know takes on increasing importance for many of us the preferential treatment from privilege, connections and who you know will slowly fade. You are infected with encephalitis of entitlement. This is a disease that afflicts the minds of many of your kind intoxicated with worship of who you know and not what you know.

For these reasons we strategically opted to take infectious precautions with our children at the young and formative stages of social and intellectual development to avoid entitlement encephalitis. We have put them in the big pond -- prime time -- where they engage with children from all walks and stations in life. They will learn to compete on life's bigger stage, based on what they know and not who they know.

The behaviour and attitudes of parents (and many of their children) like you simply reaffirms our wise decision to turn down the Big 3 for the primary school education of our boys and put our checkbook back in the purse. It's a no brainer.

Well said! Personally, I think a few (not all) of the St. Albans posters on this thread are upset, because they feel they were gypped. It kills them to think that they're spending $400K on St. Albans, when others are getting similar--and sometimes better--results at a free magnet like TJ. Ouch!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What on earth makes you think there is one St. Albans family conversing with you? And what makes you think I am one of them? I simply asked the person who said St. Albans connections are drying up whether they felt connections in TJ were increasing, or if it were even important in today's world.

I personally think TJ is a great environment for really bright kids. But I'm not sure that the school opens any doors beyond what would be expected for your run-of-the-mill great student. I'm not saying St. Albans does. I'm asking whether these things are relevent.

Give us a break, very clear that you are sock puppetting most of these posts.

I agree. How pathetic!

I think even in this century, the old adage about "it's not what you know, it's who you know" trumps all. STA will provide those connections. TJ will not.

You are quite right in acknowledging the trump card of privilege, power and who you know in making the world go round. Indeed, affirmative action for landed gentry and wealthy based on these connections was the rule for a century and a half at elite private schools -- like your beloved STA. As you rightly point out, who you knew trumped what you knew. You also rightly point out this is still the rule at STA. By contrast, what you know trumps who you know at TJ and other free and public magnet programs.

As what you know takes on increasing importance for many of us the preferential treatment from privilege, connections and who you know will slowly fade. You are infected with encephalitis of entitlement. This is a disease that afflicts the minds of many of your kind intoxicated with worship of who you know and not what you know.

For these reasons we strategically opted to take infectious precautions with our children at the young and formative stages of social and intellectual development to avoid entitlement encephalitis. We have put them in the big pond -- prime time -- where they engage with children from all walks and stations in life. They will learn to compete on life's bigger stage, based on what they know and not who they know.

The behaviour and attitudes of parents (and many of their children) like you simply reaffirms our wise decision to turn down the Big 3 for the primary school education of our boys and put our checkbook back in the purse. It's a no brainer.

We prefer a solid educational foundation for the children based on WHAT they know ... not WHO they know. This is not based on the school they attend; therefore STA and TJ are irrelevant.

Anonymous wrote:What on earth makes you think there is one St. Albans family conversing with you? And what makes you think I am one of them? I simply asked the person who said St. Albans connections are drying up whether they felt connections in TJ were increasing, or if it were even important in today's world.

I personally think TJ is a great environment for really bright kids. But I'm not sure that the school opens any doors beyond what would be expected for your run-of-the-mill great student. I'm not saying St. Albans does. I'm asking whether these things are relevent.

Give us a break, very clear that you are sock puppetting most of these posts.

What on earth makes you think there is one St. Albans family conversing with you? And what makes you think I am one of them? I simply asked the person who said St. Albans connections are drying up whether they felt connections in TJ were increasing, or if it were even important in today's world.

I personally think TJ is a great environment for really bright kids. But I'm not sure that the school opens any doors beyond what would be expected for your run-of-the-mill great student. I'm not saying St. Albans does. I'm asking whether these things are relevent.

Anonymous wrote:And those TJ connections are increasing, are they?

Or...do you think connections are no longer important?

My boys are still toddlers, but I've always heard such wonderful things about St. Albans and thought it might be nice for them to attend such a school one day. But I admit that the nasty tone of this thread has me wondering. St. Albans has an international reputation and has produced many fine graduates. So why are you intimidated or even flustered by those who favor TJ? If you are as happy with St. Albans as you claim to be, why do you care what anyone else thinks?

And those TJ connections are increasing, are they?

Or...do you think connections are no longer important?

We prefer a solid educational foundation for the children based on what they know ... not who they know.

And those TJ connections are increasing, are they?

Or...do you think connections are no longer important?