This is a good read, breaking down the pros and cons of math and science magnet schools. Growing up a geek, I would have loved the option to attend one of these schools, but beware, they might not be right for all kids.
Most Geeklets, by definition, are genetically susceptible to a passion for subjects like math, science or computers. Every school covers the basics within these areas well enough, but if a kid wants to go beyond that, there is usually a limit to what they can access. There are several reasons for this. One is the typical cultural climate of most public schools. The fact is that learning has never been and will probably never be considered ‘cool’. Anyone who appears to be too eager to learn in class, or spends too much time learning on their own outside of class usually acquires the social standing of a leper.
Students who are willing to drop a few spots in the pecking order for the sake of intellectual curiosity eventually reach the point where their school can no longer offer courses in the advanced subjects that interest them. Regular public schools do the best with what they have, but with state and local education budgets being slashed across the country, most schools don’t have the money or manpower to teach classes that go very far beyond the basics. Of course, in the internet age, kids have access to much more information outside of school that they can access in the privacy and wedgie-free environment of their own homes. However, most universities still won’t accept “Stuff I Looked Up On Wikipedia” for advanced credit. Full article here »
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