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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,639
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,639 |
The test-based admission process at Stuyvesant and other selective NYC public schools is again under attack, because the racial mix of admitted students is very different from that of New York City. I hope the process is retained. In Defense of New York City’s Elite Public High Schoolsby Jeffrey S Flier Quillette March 22, 2019 ...
Those of us who believe in the merit principle, and who have seen firsthand how these schools can improve the lives of the students who attend them, should raise their voice in defence of the current system.
That would include me. In early 1961, when I was a ninth grader at a Bronx junior high school, a teacher suggested that I take the entrance exam for the Bronx High School of Science, one of the city’s elite high schools (both then and now). Like most of the other kids who were encouraged to apply, I was a Jewish kid from either a working-class or middle-class household. Few of us had parents who’d attended college, and we had all seemed to have a knack for science.
Back then, there was no such thing as “test prep”: You simply showed up, took the test, and went home. Several months thereafter, some of us were informed we’d been accepted to “Science,” as the school was known colloquially. My attendance would require an hour of travel by two buses, rather than a short walk to the local high school, but I found the idea exciting. My parents encouraged me, and I entered 10th grade at the Bronx High School of Science in September, 1961.
My class of 700 or so was at least 80% Jewish. Perhaps a quarter were girls. The one constant among all students was unusually high intelligence. Of all the institutions I’ve gone on to attend or work at—including Harvard Medical School, where I served as dean—this was the place that featured, on average, the smartest people. The main currency in this realm was academic performance: Grades were published to two decimal points in the school newspaper twice per year (I could have done without that), and our heroes were the math team rather than the basketball team (we had no football team).
Like a good minor-league baseball player who faces a true major-league pitcher for the first time, I quickly realized that many of my classmates possessed brute intelligence that was simply on a higher level than my own—especially in math and physics. It was a safe school full of well-behaved bookworms. And not everyone pursued science. The class produced high achievers in every sphere—including future poets, writers, musicians and lawyers. One of ’64 classmates was famed mathematician Gregory Chaitin—after whom is named the Chaitin constant in algorithmic information theory. (He sat next to me on my first day of class in 1961. He was the one writing out long equations for fun during English class.) Another was science writer Dava Sobel. In all, the school’s alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, eight Pulitzer prizes, two Turing awards and, yes, Two Emmys. (I haven’t won any of these prizes.)
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,244 Likes: 1
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,244 Likes: 1 |
Another interesting and thought-provoking article, Bostonian! The comments run in every direction, here are some which I thought were particularly insightful: Tommy - March 23, 2019 The problem isn’t the neighborhood schools, but the students. There’s no accountability and little discipline. And by “discipline,” I mostly mean that the kids simply do not do their homework. Nor do they read on their own at home. This is a cultural problem. We’ve put so much time and money and effort into creating better teachers, but if students are not doing the work, what’s the point? ... these schools should not be dumbed down... these schools work, so don’t saddle them with social engineering.
C.G. - March 23, 2019 ...there aren’t enough safe schools where kids of all levels can learn.
ga gamba - March 23, 2019 ...Or, in other words, too many unsafe students allowed to remain at school to intimidate and attack fellow students and teachers to the detriment of learning.
Paul B - March 24, 2019 ...Should not be a binary choice, elite school or you are doomed. I also picked up a new word, whinge.
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 39 Likes: 1
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 39 Likes: 1 |
"Back then, there was no such thing as “test prep”: You simply showed up, took the test, and went home. Several months thereafter, some of us were informed we’d been accepted to “Science,” as the school was known colloquially..."
When I googled "high+intelligence+elite+schools" I had a pop-up tell me my child's IQ score could be improved in order that he/she could get into an elite school. It had testimonies of all things. You have to wonder how these preppers are even legal.
Re The Jewish percentage in Brooklyn's school.... similar story here in N.C. where I went to a private school in high school (I was about to drop out of public). The atmosphere went from a public school with all its fights, etc. to a place where high achievement was valued. Wonderful place. I just wish I could've gone earlier. Playing catchup with that crowd was tough.
Last edited by Alannc44; 03/25/19 11:01 AM.
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,244 Likes: 1
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,244 Likes: 1 |
"Back then, there was no such thing as “test prep”: You simply showed up, took the test, and went home. Yes! So glad you mentioned that point made by the author in the OP's article. ...I had a pop-up tell me my child's IQ score could be improved in order that he/she could get into an elite school. It had testimonies of all things. You have to wonder how these preppers are even legal. Yes! There is a distinction between preps offered by test companies themselves (often for free or at minimal cost, examples: ACT SAT), and preps available from other entities, including IQ test preps. While I believe the former are ethical and serve potential test-takers impartially, I have often wondered whether the latter involve violation of copyright, infringement on intellectual property rights, etc. I was about to drop out of public Unfortunately, dropping out and school refusal are not uncommon among the gifted. ... a place where high achievement was valued. Wonderful place. I just wish I could've gone earlier. Playing catchup with that crowd was tough. Sounds like you rose to the challenge.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,689
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,689 |
The thing about the majority being Jewish, is that because that was the main immigrant community after the war, where people lost everything and learned the only thing you have is your education. So now they are filled with Asian, children of immigrants. Different ethnicity, same story.
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