http://mclean.patch.com/articles/naacp-cots-file-discrimination-complaint-against-fcps

It's not a lawsuit

yet.

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It's not a lawsuit
>
> yet.


well OP is a patch reader, what did you expect haha


and how sad the is the NAACP, they just can't come to terms with the fact that blcaks aren't as smart as asians and whites



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2012 07:39PM by meh.

This is how the Federal Government went to hell. They eliminated the PACE exam because it was "discriminatory". Yeah - it discriminated between smart people and dumb ones. Now look who you've got as "public servants".

I was wondering when the NAACP would get around to TJ. I fully expect FCPS to water down the requirements for entry basing less on scores more on race. Too bad, because in the real world, meaning the private sector, knowledge counts. In the government world race holds the key but then again the government never cared about results or profit just quotas.

"At press time, FCPS spokesman John Torre had not had time to review the complaint"
Press Time? What the hell? AFAIK, Patch is a soley online news source. What deadline do they have to meet?

Goodbye TJ! I understand the concern, but addressing diversity needs to happen long before the admissions process. Elementary school, maybe around 4th grade, is the place to start, but this is going to require a lot of effort outside the classroom and I don't see why FCPS needs to be responsible for addressing (correcting?) the range of cultural and social issues which are fundamental to making the classroom changes effective.

Does the current TJ admission process require racial or gender identification? Without an face-to-face interview it does not seem that difficult to make an unbiased selection based solely on academic performance and test results. Anything else turns TJ into the equivalent of house league soccer with everyone getting a trophy.

After you finish with the racist bull try reading the complaint. It alleges that FCPS failed to provide EQUAL OPPORTUNITY by creating level 4 advanced academic services at the elementary and middle schools ( TJ feeder schools) only in disproportionally white and Asian communities - which by definition is a violation of the Civil Right Act of 1964.

When will the NAACP sue the NFL and NBA for being disproportionately black? Based on the same statistical arguments of pro sports not being representative of the population as a whole, there's clearly discrimination against whites and asians going on there.

Fact vs Fiction Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> After you finish with the racist bull try reading
> the complaint. It alleges that FCPS failed to
> provide EQUAL OPPORTUNITY by creating level 4
> advanced academic services at the elementary and
> middle schools ( TJ feeder schools) only in
> disproportionally white and Asian communities -
> which by definition is a violation of the Civil
> Right Act of 1964.


I don't believe you are correct. It's not WHERE the level IV centers are, but the population of the kids involved with the level IV program at these schools.

For example, there are level IV programs at Twain, Sandburg, Jackson, and Glasgow which have free/reduced lunch populations of 35%, 42%, 41%, and 61% respectfully. But the population of the students participating in these level IV centers are significantly more white and asain than the school population as a whole.

Dr. King Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When will the NAACP sue the NFL and NBA for being
> disproportionately black? Based on the same
> statistical arguments of pro sports not being
> representative of the population as a whole,
> there's clearly discrimination against whites and
> asians going on there.


Troll

I really wish FCPS would just let TJHSST go and return our neighborhood school. I'm really loving driving my son to AHS when he could walk to TJ...

Dr. King Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When will the NAACP sue the NFL and NBA for being
> disproportionately black? Based on the same
> statistical arguments of pro sports not being
> representative of the population as a whole,
> there's clearly discrimination against whites and
> asians going on there.

I was wondering when the NAACP will sue METRO because 97%
of the employees are black.

The sissified white people will now all cower under their desks because the NAACP is after TJ.
Until you white people start standing up to these niggers, you're not going to have anything left.
UVA is no longer an elite institution becaue of all the niggers they let onto campus with SAT scores hundreds of points lower than white and Asian kids.
Not to mention the football coach bringing in nigger football players from Va. Beach area who are probably reading at the 5th grade level.
TJ will eventually be watered down so they can get enough niggers in there to satisfy the NAACP.

How is it TJ's fault that the blacks are too stupid to get into the school??? By the 8th grade most are using drugs and planning for their future life in jail.

I don't know how familiar you all are with the TJ application process, but if I recall correctly:

-Everyone takes a standardized test
-A certain number of people move on to the next round based solely on their test scores.
-They then look through this as an applicant pool, basing their decision on factors such as race, gender, recommendations, essays, grades, extra-curriculars, etc.

Basically, if you're black/Hispanic and are able to do well enough on the first test, you're going to get into TJ assuming you're an honor roll student. In fact, you could probably have a C or two.

Nothing shouts 'racist' like a group of ignorant, retarded, irrelevent, angry african americans who ban together to create a group that is comprised of only their own race....when caucasians did that im pretty sure the group was called the KKK, and they were considered a hate group. But NAACP who discriminates against everyother race, is sueing the FCPS for discriminating...logical....

nah we'll leave that to the KKK, another refutable,legitamite, non-racist, racially-separated organization...

The admissions director at TJ must be racist against blacks....wait for it...her name is Tanisha Holland aaaannddd she's black

It seems that blacks are under-represented as airline pilots. too! NAACP should sue the airlines because they discriminate against people who cannot prove thy they can fly an airplane. Lets all work together to put an end to ethnocentric and culturally biased criteria such as this one and pass alaw that requires that such discrepancies be resolved. That would be "historic"

The NAACP is a racist HATE group, plain and simple. They should be opposed at every opportunity by non-racists.

Beginning tomorrow, blacks must make up at least 13% of all surgeons in this country. Also, all white liberals who support affirmative action will be required to have all surgeries performed on them to be done by nigger doctors!

Dr. Black, my approach to this ridiculous situatuion is to try and make my point using both reason albeit mixed with humor. The use of inappropriate name-calling ,I feel, drives away reasonable people that we both wish to attract to our arguments. Likewise retards who want to attend advanced educatioal institutions will be able to use such name calling to discreditit our points while ignoring the more important underlying theme. Thanks for your cooperation on this important matter.

TJ would be in a much stronger position if it was not offering remedial programs to some of its students, few of whom are blacks or hispanics. Once you switch from a standard of "objectively best qualified" to "most deserving" you open the door for others to argue about who is deserving.

NCAAP is a racist organization. They are too focused on entitlement programs for blacks to see that the best path to improvement is education and stronger families. But wait--that would require the blacks to be RESPONSIBLE. That's NOT fair!! <sarcasm

Bill.N. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> TJ would be in a much stronger position if it was
> not offering remedial programs to some of its
> students, few of whom are blacks or hispanics.
> Once you switch from a standard of "objectively
> best qualified" to "most deserving" you open the
> door for others to argue about who is deserving.

Why is TJ offering remedial instruction? In what? If you need remedial instruction in anything, I have to wonder why you were accepted.

@Bill N. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bill.N. Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > TJ would be in a much stronger position if it
> was
> > not offering remedial programs to some of its
> > students, few of whom are blacks or hispanics.
> > Once you switch from a standard of "objectively
> > best qualified" to "most deserving" you open
> the
> > door for others to argue about who is
> deserving.
>
> Why is TJ offering remedial instruction? In what?
> If you need remedial instruction in anything, I
> have to wonder why you were accepted.

They are offering remedial instruction in MATH... The principal said between 15 & 30% of the kids need it.

That is, in attempting to add Black/Hispanic kids, the TJ admissions idiots created a process lets in a lot of unqualified White/Asian kids.

The process has a significant fraction of second round results based on teacher "recommendations" from teachers who have no idea who the kids are and ask the kids (aka parents (aka TJ recommendation mills)) for the text for each recommendation section, the Student Information Sheet written by the kids (aka parents (aka TJ SIS mills)), and, of course, the essays - one of this year's was something about, if the government had money should it "fix" health care or attempt to contact aliens (heaven help the kid who picks aliens).

Wow, that is disturbing. A lesson in unintended consequences. If TJ wants to continue being know as a math/science school, there should be much more emphasis on objective testing and grades and less on subjective criteria. No one expects these kids to be eloquent writers or artistically talented; hell, no one even expects them to be well-rounded. But a math school offering remdedial math is ridiculous.

The problem isn't the tests or discrimination, it's the fucking tj prep classes letting obsessive/rich parents game the system and get their underqualified kid in.

Sincerely, an actual tj kid who never did anything "because it would help me make tj"

Blake Lane,
If you're referring to my use of the word "liberal" I could simply use the word Progressive, if that would make you feel better!

Tanisha Holland. Seems black enough for me. She should apply use this method to apply to TJ.

How about every child who wants to apply to TJ is given a number. Nothing else.

Take the test and see who can really get in.

Simple.

Really?? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Tanisha Holland. Seems black enough for me. She
> should apply use this method to apply to TJ.
>
> How about every child who wants to apply to TJ is
> given a number. Nothing else.
>
> Take the test and see who can really get in.
>
> Simple.

Not quite, the current test is far too easy to discriminate amongst the applicants. The merely OK at math score within the test's standard of error of those who are the really good at math.

If the test were decent, the merely good would weep and the really good would thoroughly enjoy the challenge...

I'm still waiting for the NAACP to apologize to the duke lax players for slandering their names during their famous speeches during the "rape" crime..


oh yeah that chick that cried rape, also shot someone a few years later.......

Whaere am I now?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawana_Brawley_rape_allegations

You are in Virginia.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/20-years-tawana-brawley-turned-back-article-1.258639

duke lax Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm still waiting for the NAACP to apologize to
> the duke lax players for slandering their names
> during their famous speeches during the "rape"
> crime..
>
>
> oh yeah that chick that cried rape, also shot
> someone a few years later.......



ao you seriously, SERIOUSLY feel you are owed an apology?

WTF is going on in that head of yrs, Hoss?

Keep in mind that every paid employee at the NAACP is counting on income from their job, which in turn depends on keeping the racial divide in America as alive as possible. The NAACP thrives on racial discord, so of course that's what they aim for. By definition, they are a Hate Group.

Jesse Jackmon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Keep in mind that every paid employee at the NAACP
> is counting on income from their job, which in
> turn depends on keeping the racial divide in
> America as alive as possible. The NAACP thrives
> on racial discord, so of course that's what they
> aim for. By definition, they are a Hate Group.


that's a pretty stupid thought, actually. That's like saying nurses at the hospital want you to be sick and soldiers in Iraq are happy that there's a war going on..............

I predict FCPS will fold under the pressure from the NAACP. A certain amount of seats will be set aside for blacks only. The program will of course suffer when students are admitted based on race and scores do not matter. The purpose of the school to take the best and brightest will no longer matter. It will soon fall into just another "Everybody gets a trophy day" program.

@WestfieldDad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wow, that is disturbing. A lesson in unintended
> consequences. If TJ wants to continue being know
> as a math/science school, there should be much
> more emphasis on objective testing and grades and
> less on subjective criteria. No one expects these
> kids to be eloquent writers or artistically
> talented; hell, no one even expects them to be
> well-rounded. But a math school offering remdedial
> math is ridiculous.

The remedial math is a concern, but keep in mind, this isn't 9th grade math. Most of these 9th graders took Algebra 2/Trig, and TJ requirement is to maintain a B average.

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jesse Jackmon Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Keep in mind that every paid employee at the
> NAACP
> > is counting on income from their job, which in
> > turn depends on keeping the racial divide in
> > America as alive as possible. The NAACP
> thrives
> > on racial discord, so of course that's what
> they
> > aim for. By definition, they are a Hate Group.
>
>
> that's a pretty stupid thought, actually. That's
> like saying nurses at the hospital want you to be
> sick and soldiers in Iraq are happy that there's a
> war going on..............

Wrong, worm-for-brains Gordo! Nurses don't spread illness, and soldiers don't start wars. Care to play again, moron?

Instead of lowering admission standards, why didn't TJ make a proactive attempt to locate qualified black and Hispanic students and encourage them to apply? There must be a decent of pool of these candidates who - for whatever reason - just don't apply. Wouldn't that satisfy everyone?

Consider... Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Instead of lowering admission standards, why
> didn't TJ make a proactive attempt to locate
> qualified black and Hispanic students and
> encourage them to apply? There must be a decent of
> pool of these candidates who - for whatever reason
> - just don't apply. Wouldn't that satisfy
> everyone?

Yeah right, just like there's a whole lot of 7ft white men who can play basketball. If only the NBA would encourage them to try out! Haha!

WestfieldDad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> They are offering remedial instruction in MATH...
> The principal said between 15 & 30% of the kids
> need it.
>
> That is, in attempting to add Black/Hispanic kids,
> the TJ admissions idiots created a process lets in
> a lot of unqualified White/Asian kids.
>
If you had actually followed the issue with math remediation, you would understand that if it is indeed between 15 and 30 percent of the kids, it means it isn't an attempt to assist the Black/Hispanic kids, because they certainly don't make up 15-30 percent of the kids enrolled in TJ.

In additon, the kids in remediation were there because they were getting low B's, not failing, and the course was Algebra 2 or above.

NAACP, Local Advocates File Discrimination Complaint Against FCPS
Discrimination in Thomas Jefferson admissions process begins even before applications are due, complaint to U.S. Department of Education says
By Nicole Trifone
July 23, 2012
http://fairfaxstation.patch.com/articles/naacp-cots-file-discrimination-complaint-against-fcps

A complaint filed Monday by two local advocacy groups alleges Fairfax County Public Schools is perpetuating discrimination against black, Latino and disabled students through the admission process for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST).

The Coalition of the Silence (COTS), a group former school board member Tina Hone founded to seek equity for all students within FCPS, and the Fairfax branch of the NAACP filed the discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, asserting FCPS has committed "clear violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964."

At press time, FCPS had not yet had time to review the complaint, spokesman John Torre said.

While black and Hispanic students make up about 10 percent and 22 percent of the FCPS student body, respectively, they make up 1.5 percent and 2.7 percent of the TJHSST student body, the complaint says.

The complaint, written by Hone and NAACP-Fairfax County's Education Chair Charisse Espy Glassman, comes two business days after a Fairfax County School Board work session on the TJHSST admission process. At the work session, the board discussed both the lack of diversity and the declining math scores at the the Governor's School for science and technology in recent years. The board has charged FCPS staff to begin researching how to improve in both areas.

But the work session did not satisfy those who argue the process is discriminatory long before a student chooses to apply to the prestigious school, which recently earned No. 2 on U.S. News and World Report's annual ranking of U.S. high schools.

Sixty-four percent of students admitted to TJHSST attend middle schools with Level 4 Advanced Academic Middle School Centers. Most of the centers have limited diversity, carrying minority populations that don't reflect the county's demographic makeup, the complaint says.

"In essence, Fairfax County operates a separate and unequal 'sub' school system within its overarching taxpayer-funded, public school system," the complaint reads. "That separate and unequal subsystem is comprised of a network of level 4 advanced academic centers where Black and Latino students are grossly underrepresented."

More than half of students admitted to TJHSST's class of 2016 come from four FCPS middle schools: Carson, Longfellow, Rocky Run and Kilmer. Black and Latino student populations at all four schools are far smaller than the percentage of black (10.4 percent) and Latino (20.6) students across the county's school system.

"In a room that was packed to capacity primarily by TJ parents and staff, the conversation almost immediately veered away from concerns regarding the underrepresentation of African American and Latino students at TJ and towards discussion about how to ensure the 'right' FCPS students would get into TJ," the complaint reads, referring to the July 19 work session on the admissions process.

At the session, board members and TJHSST officials said an increasing number of admitted students are struggling with their math courses — a sign that the application process is selecting students not ready for the rigorous TJHSST courses.

In the complaint, Hone and Glassman argue that adjusting the admissions criteria to weigh test scores more heavily will only lead to similar disproportionate numbers at TJHSST.

"Test scores — without additional context and balance — are not a reliable predictor of future success," the complaint reads. "On information and belief, FCPS has never been able to produce longitudinal data supporting the myth that test scores have predictive value."

The Office of Civil Rights can choose to open an investigation after it reads the complaint, but is not obligated to follow up on the document, Hone said in a Monday phone interview with Patch. An investigation would reveal data that to date has largely been unavailable, Hone said, along with a much deeper look at the admissions process and issues associated with it.

"We felt it was our responsibility to sort of lay out with as much clarity as we could what we think the actual problem is ... a lot of the conversation has been around the edges but there's something much bigger going on that we have to deal with," Hone said. "We'll see what happens. I'm hopeful."

Vienna Patch Editor Erica R. Hendry contributed reporting for this story.

To read the actual complaint, go here...

http://fairfaxstation.patch.com/articles/naacp-cots-file-discrimination-complaint-against-fcps#pdf-10739343

demboyz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you had actually followed the issue with math
> remediation, you would understand that if it is
> indeed between 15 and 30 percent of the kids, it
> means it isn't an attempt to assist the
> Black/Hispanic kids, because they certainly don't
> make up 15-30 percent of the kids enrolled in TJ.

WestfieldDad is acknowledging that the problem isn't with Black and Hispanic students specifically.

> In additon, the kids in remediation were there
> because they were getting low B's, not failing,
> and the course was Algebra 2 or above.

And the reason for many are objecting to the practice is because there are kids in other FCPS high schools who are easily getting As and Bs in Algebra 2/Trig without remediation.

To be fair there is no such thing as a perfect admissions system. It is what the school does to deal with the problems that its imperfect admissions system cause that helps define the school.

If TJ is truly a school for the best and brightest kids who just happen to share an interest in science and technology and math, then given the large number of highly qualified kids in FCPS who meet that criteria, remediation has no place. Kids (including those "right kids") who can't handle the workload or get the required grades should be sent packing to open up slots for those who can. If you have remediation and recognition for special circumstances though, you are saying that some kids should be admitted or permitted to stay even though they need help or can't be held to the same standards as the rest. Once you do this you open the door to the question "Which kids? If you are going this route, the answer needs to be better than "The kids offered admission to TJ."

Too bad TJ was one of the few things that actually worked in the FCPS empire. Now it is to be taken down to fill quotas instead of sending the smartest to attend.

It appears this will cost the county millions in defense and in the end I suspect they will just roll over for this group and let the academics suffer to satisfy an agenda.

demboyz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> WestfieldDad Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > They are offering remedial instruction in
> MATH...
> > The principal said between 15 & 30% of the kids
> > need it.
> >
> > That is, in attempting to add Black/Hispanic
> kids,
> > the TJ admissions idiots created a process lets
> in
> > a lot of unqualified White/Asian kids.
> >
> If you had actually followed the issue with math
> remediation, you would understand that if it is
> indeed between 15 and 30 percent of the kids, it
> means it isn't an attempt to assist the
> Black/Hispanic kids, because they certainly don't
> make up 15-30 percent of the kids enrolled in TJ.
>
> In additon, the kids in remediation were there
> because they were getting low B's, not failing,
> and the course was Algebra 2 or above.


Do base high schools offer free remediation to students getting low B's??? Who pays for that crap???

You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

taxpayer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> demboyz Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > WestfieldDad Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> >
> > > They are offering remedial instruction in
> > MATH...
> > > The principal said between 15 & 30% of the
> kids
> > > need it.
> > >
> > > That is, in attempting to add Black/Hispanic
> > kids,
> > > the TJ admissions idiots created a process
> lets
> > in
> > > a lot of unqualified White/Asian kids.
> > >
> > If you had actually followed the issue with
> math
> > remediation, you would understand that if it is
> > indeed between 15 and 30 percent of the kids,
> it
> > means it isn't an attempt to assist the
> > Black/Hispanic kids, because they certainly
> don't
> > make up 15-30 percent of the kids enrolled in
> TJ.
> >
> > In additon, the kids in remediation were there
> > because they were getting low B's, not failing,
> > and the course was Algebra 2 or above.
>
>
> Do base high schools offer free remediation to
> students getting low B's??? Who pays for that
> crap???


Remember that tj policy is that students with a b average or lower are sent back to their base schools. Also, I'm not sure what payment you are referring to, as the tutoring is done during school by teachers who, as far as I know, volunteer to tutor.

TJ had a program when the school first started called visions. It went to elementary and middle schools to promote math and science to minorities. We were told that was not acceptable because it targeted certain groups, so they eliminated the program. We are kept totally separate from the admissions process, but I do know that about 3700 applicants apply each year for 480 slots. only a little over 200 of these applicants are black or hispanic. Some middle schools in the route 1 corridor don't even push their kids to apply to TJ.

Well hell...lets lower the test standards so some retard can make it into a science and technology school. That's like lowering the standards for the Marine Corps so that Anderson Cooper could make it.

Only 1% of the country's cardiologists are Black. We should give out medical licenses to 20,000 Blacks today and make them cardiologists to erase this disparity! Think of the benefits to society!

tjstudent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> taxpayer Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > demboyz Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > WestfieldDad Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > >
> > > > They are offering remedial instruction in
> > > MATH...
> > > > The principal said between 15 & 30% of the
> > kids
> > > > need it.
> > > >
> > > > That is, in attempting to add
> Black/Hispanic
> > > kids,
> > > > the TJ admissions idiots created a process
> > lets
> > > in
> > > > a lot of unqualified White/Asian kids.
> > > >
> > > If you had actually followed the issue with
> > math
> > > remediation, you would understand that if it
> is
> > > indeed between 15 and 30 percent of the kids,
> > it
> > > means it isn't an attempt to assist the
> > > Black/Hispanic kids, because they certainly
> > don't
> > > make up 15-30 percent of the kids enrolled in
> > TJ.
> > >
> > > In additon, the kids in remediation were
> there
> > > because they were getting low B's, not
> failing,
> > > and the course was Algebra 2 or above.
> >
> >
> > Do base high schools offer free remediation to
> > students getting low B's??? Who pays for that
> > crap???
>
>
> Remember that tj policy is that students with a b
> average or lower are sent back to their base
> schools. Also, I'm not sure what payment you are
> referring to, as the tutoring is done during
> school by teachers who, as far as I know,
> volunteer to tutor.


http://www.tjhsst.edu/studentlife/publications/tjtoday/wordpress/?p=1658

The new students would be those just admitted for the class of 2016 so if any need remediation they should be dropped from the roster. I translate this statement to the school doubting the performance and abilities of some admitted students prior to them attending. So why were they admitted in the first place? Unless the kid starting drin king and smoking weed or had a major illness what could have changed???? The school itself has admitted the admissions is crap. quote from article:


A remedial bootcamp over the summer is possible depending on results of a diagnostic test that Class of 2016 students will take.

“We still need to look at data from the final exams. For the new students, we will be looking at their middle school grades and performance on a diagnostic test,” Glazer said. “Depending on the results, we might set up a summer bootcamp.”

News Flash: the NBA discrimiates against people who cant play basketball. While qoutas for "people of color" seem to be met, NAAWP seeks to sue so that 50% of the teams be comprised of white people so that they will be represented in proportion to thier segment of the population. They are especially are in need of fat white guys who cant play ,a group that has been identified as especially discriminated against.Boycott NBA

taxpayer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I translate
> this statement to the school doubting the
> performance and abilities of some admitted
> students prior to them attending. So why were
> they admitted in the first place? Unless the kid
> starting drin king and smoking weed or had a major
> illness what could have changed???? The school
> itself has admitted the admissions is crap. quote
> from article:
>
>
> A remedial bootcamp over the summer is possible
> depending on results of a diagnostic test that
> Class of 2016 students will take.
>
> “We still need to look at data from the final
> exams. For the new students, we will be looking at
> their middle school grades and performance on a
> diagnostic test,” Glazer said. “Depending on
> the results, we might set up a summer bootcamp.”

One of the admissions "reforms" enacted over the years insure that the academic types (teachers/principal) have no input into the admissions process...

did anybody even bother to read the news story- it's not the NAACP suing FCPS, it's some local branch of it..............prolly the most elitist, stuck up, snotty, branch of it I'm willing to bet LoLz

No winners here. TJ's "elite" status brings out the worst in parents, kind of like travel soccer or AAU basketball. But then again, I dislike the whole "gifted and talented" nonsense. Doesn't such a designation explicitly proclaim that all the other students are not gifted or talented?

That being said, it WAS inevitable that blacks would start complaining about the lack of their children at TJ. That's pretty much what blacks do full time- complain. You simply cannot use standard testing in any country where blacks live. They will always lag behind, and in our p.c. society, they will always get their way.

America decided long ago that endangering the public by lowering standards for police, fire fighters, doctors, lawyers, etc. was acceptable, if it meant quieting the childish racist demands of blacks who couldn't honestly qualify. It's not like quality matters in any part of our civilization any more.

So overall I think it will be a victory for egalitarianism if TJ's elitist status was damaged by an influx of black students. However, it would be yet another defeat of common sense and justice if blacks are again granted favoritism.

Admissions for magnet schools should be blind to external characteristics like race, sex, social background, etc, and should focus on aptitude and past performance.

No surprise that TJ has remedial students when only 35% of the admssions criteria were quantifiable measures of math / science aptitude. This is what happens when 65% of the admission criteria are subjective and not related to math or science:
25% essay (take home, so easy to get outside assistance)
20% teacher recommendation (biased, unquanitified, self-selected)
20% information submitted during process (short answer, take home)

Although I understand the frustration of the black and hispanic communities over this matter, the complaint doesn't address the fundamental reality behind attending TJ.

It is not a place to go if you have to scrape in, or engage in numerous preparation and test taking activities. Yes, I realize that status seeking parents do just this, but as an observer of the process, it makes no sense. I was told this by a number of parents after I expressed my guilt at having an incredibly laissez faire attitude striving for TJ. TJ is only a sound choice if it is a good fit - meaning that it gives the right kind of challenge to the right kind of kid - which means frankly means both a gifted kid (top 2-3% percent at least) who can also, no doubt about it, grind away at studies.

I think a certain percentage of TJ students would have been far better off attending their base school. And that goes to college admission, too. The groups of 8-10 students who go to Harvard, Yale, Princeton and MIT each year are really hypercompetitive - with less than perfect test scores (SAT's, AP scores, SAT II) occuring considerably less often than perfect ones. And it goes beyond the test scores. This group goes well beyond calculus, deep into college math. This doesn't make for automatic success in life; lots of things factor into success and I have seen kids at base schools do things every bit as fantastic years on (Ivy League Medical Schools, Phd's in Comp Sci, summa cum laudes at top 25 universities and so on). TJ is what it is - a very challenging experience for the right kind of kid.

Which brings me to the complaint lodged by the NAACP. TJ's average math and verbal SAT is around 1500. Yes, that is average. Although statistics are hard to come by, the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education published a piece a few years back that explained that only about a 1000 black students each year scored 700 on the math section of the SAT, and again only about 700 on the verbal section. Black student performance does not improve on relative basis even with higher incomes, and rest assured it is the dominating worry of virtually every school system in the country, Fairfax included. It is difficult to hazard a guess, but it is likely that perhaps only 400 each year reach a combined score of 1500. That even may be generous. How many of those are living in the Fairfax County area? 6 or 7? That is likely the number (and good for them, too). So TJ's current minority population likely is representative of the rest of the country, and the number of black students (1.5%) viewed in this way is not disproporationately low. I know it bothers the Tina Hone's of the universe the numbers are low, but really, is she looking out for the kids? Is scraping into TJ an enjoyable experience (I would say no, given how competitive it is)? Higher numbers may be good for racial identity politics but not necessarily for the students. And are the Fairfax numbers really any different than any other jurisdiction in the country? No. There is nothing magic in the water here because of Fairfax's proximity to the titanium economic shield known as the federal government that would make the numbers higher.

dave86 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Admissions for magnet schools should be blind to
> external characteristics like race, sex, social
> background, etc, and should focus on aptitude and
> past performance.
>
> No surprise that TJ has remedial students when
> only 35% of the admssions criteria were
> quantifiable measures of math / science aptitude.
> This is what happens when 65% of the admission
> criteria are subjective and not related to math or
> science:
> 25% essay (take home, so easy to get outside
> assistance)
> 20% teacher recommendation (biased,
> unquanitified, self-selected)
> 20% information submitted during process (short
> answer, take home)

25% essay is not take home. The essays are part of the TJ exam taken in December along with the Math and Verbal exams.

Is each child given a number and then they take the test?

Just by name alone some kids may not be given a fair chance.

Benita Jackson or Tyrone Washington may not make the cut.

Be fair or be square.

Testing question? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is each child given a number and then they take
> the test?
>
> Just by name alone some kids may not be given a
> fair chance.
>
> Benita Jackson or Tyrone Washington may not make
> the cut.
>
> Be fair or be square.

Aspects (essays, SIS, and teacher recommendations) of the admissions process might be viewed as subjective, but not discriminatory.

http://dailycaller.com/2012/07/27/obama-backs-race-based-school-discipline-policies/

New executive order by the President to address "disparate" treatment of African Americans in schools.

It's the schools fault......

Clarification Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> 25% essay is not take home. The essays are part
> of the TJ exam taken in December along with the
> Math and Verbal exams.

Which is why the best TJ prep classes spend so much time on the essays.

Study Hard Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Clarification Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > 25% essay is not take home. The essays are
> part
> > of the TJ exam taken in December along with the
> > Math and Verbal exams.
>
> Which is why the best TJ prep classes spend so
> much time on the essays.

If that's a fact, are you saying it's a bad thing?

alright calm down people. first of all, there are a lot of racist fucking people in this county and it shocks and appalls me. second, as a tj student i can tell you that the quality of our most recent accepted class is abysmal but the only change in demographics is that there is an increase in asian students. read into that what you will. additionally, as a black person from a part of fairfax county that ISN'T langley or great falls i can tell you that IT is in fact the fault of black parents who refuse to evolve and teach their kids to be any better than they are and it's very depressing to see. the point i'm trying to make is that tj isn't at fault here. they DO try to help minorities through a program that tutored promising kids from the county. there's so much fuss about tj because at the same time the asian population cracked 60%, there was a a dramatic drop in math proficiency so the school was now vulnerable for two fronts of attack but i don't think the two are related. the school is not going to shit. not while mr.sleete and mr.kelly around.

Just watched the U.S. men's basketball team. They are in no way representative of the U.S. population demographics. Therefore, per the NAACP, they are clearly discriminating against whites, asians, and hispanics. When will the NAACP get on this and ensure equal opportunities for whites, asians, and hispanics in this very lucrative field?

Right on! If stupid people MUST be admitted to advanced schools, airline pilots and doctors who cant pass thier respective qualifying tests Must be allowed to practic these professions regardless of thier incompetance .Regrettably, this sort of BLACKwards thinking is unconsiously being accepted my many in society.

The NAACP demand that racial quotas be established and enforced brings into doubt and undermines the achievements of all minorities. You have to question whether that doctor, lawyer, pilot, etc. is in their position because of ability or due to racial allowances/preferences. Shame the impact this has on those whose ability and hard work actually got them there.

When were Asians no longer minorities? I can see an argument because a majority of the kids come from certain schools. Maybe the new rules should be let's say there's 300 spots for Freshman. There are 30 schools. So each school would get 5 spots guaranteed. The school would have to recommend 5 kids that no matter their score should get it. Not based on color based on classroom performance over the last 2 years. Then you test all the kids at a school and the 5 highest get in to TJ. Now there may be some duplicates in that 5/5 scenario. Those names are put into a lottery system. This way every school gets representation. It's not fair that certain schools have an advantage when they are all under the same system. This is coming from someone who's daughter was selected for TJ. She didn't want to go just wanted to see if she could get in. I truly believe that the top 10 kids from any fairfax school are just as smart as the top 10 from another ffx school. Especially in the 7th and 8th grade.

Face it the Asians just kick our asses. The family unit is usually in tact and they place a high value on education. Meanwhile the rest of society is on their third divorce and the only thing they value is Facebook

lol..what rot..the oh-so-brilliant chinese are planning to land a man on the moon in 2013..a full 44 years AFTER a buch of white guys did it.. and oh yeah, when we went head-to-head with theJapanese, they groveled and begged when surrendering to, you guessed it, a bunch of white guys...Hiroshima still makes me giggle....asians "kick our asses"? pffffft.....