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发帖数: 822 | 1 The following letter is a response to the recent story surrounding a
graduate from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology,
referred to as “Sara” in different media reports. The story identifies a
false account of admissions to Harvard College and Stanford University.
The actions of “Sara” are very unfortunate and are not representative of
the student body at Thomas Jefferson (also known as TJ), and they are also
not representative of the Korean heritage community. We should not
stereotype a group of people based on the actions of an individual. As a
school community, we take pride in our honor code, “I will uphold academic
and personal integrity in the TJ community,” and discuss with students the
importance of addressing ethical conflicts using student advocacy guidelines
. Advocacy is very difficult, and takes time, for teenagers because they do
not want to disappoint their teachers and parents. Teens also struggle with
the realization they have limitations when comparing themselves to their
peers. However, stress levels and expectations can become much more
manageable when adults and children openly communicate about challenges that
impact their mental health. This means acknowledging a grade of a “B” is
OK if it’s not a strong suit -- studying an extra 10 hours a week is not
worth it to earn the A.
College admissions are not the focus of TJ’s education. Instead, our
priority is to provide a challenging environment in STEM, promote joy at the
prospect of discovery, and foster a culture of innovation amidst a
comprehensive school community filled with activities, athletics, and rich
diversity. We recognize the college admissions process is important to
students and their families. Through a counseling process, we encourage
students to apply to a wide variety of schools and choose one based on best
fit rather than by reputation. Many of our graduates attend prestigious
universities around the country, although getting into all Ivy League
colleges is not the standard nor is encouraged; about 40% of our graduates
attend an excellent state college in Virginia and perform exceptionally well
there.
Shaming a child in the media for a mistake she has made, even after a father
has made a sincere apology, is a sad display of our humanity. I hope
children can be forgiven particularly after they demonstrate they have
accepted consequences and learned a lesson. For the betterment of society,
we owe our youth proper care and guidance so they grow into responsible
adults by teaching them how to manage stress and cope with disappointment
and mistakes. I try to reinforce this message by promoting advocacy and
accepting responsibility through restorative justice. Success in these
arenas requires a continual commitment from everyone, and as a school
community, we will strive to be more effective in our efforts. Sara’s
father is a remarkable man who has owned responsibility for helping his
child, and I believe we should praise him for taking action.
This letter has been written by Evan Glazer, principal, Thomas Jefferson
High School for Science and Technology. His email is [email protected]
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