A call to action from the TJ principal
The principal of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Ann Bonitatibus, acknowledges there are significant issues that need to be addressed. The following excerpt is from an email Bonitatibus sent to TJ families. It was published in the Connection on June 9.
“I would like to simultaneously call the TJ community to action in three areas.
“First, our school is a rich tapestry of heritages; however, we do not reflect the racial composition in FCPS. Our 32 black students and 47 Hispanic students fill three classrooms. If our demographics actually represented FCPS, we would enroll 180 black and 460 Hispanic students, filling nearly 22 classrooms. The most recent TJ admissions trend, unfortunately, does not close the equity gap. Do all FCPS children who have high interest and aptitude for STEM enjoy the same privileges that put them on a path to TJ? Do the TJ admissions outcomes affirm that we believe TJ is accessible to all talented STEM-focused students regardless of race or personal circumstance?
“Second, consider colonialism’s role in our country’s history where certain classes exerted power over others as a means to economically exploit, oppress and enslave them. During the Colonial period, there were leaders who believed those with black or brown skin were uncivilized and not capable of being educated. I speak for us all when I assert this is not a value we share as a TJ community. Yet, our mascot is a Colonial. Can our community support dismantling a symbol that perpetuated racism in our country?
“Finally, the heart of public education is in the classroom. This is where students learn to become ethical and global citizens as espoused in the FCPS Portrait of a Graduate. Our students learn to understand and accept, not merely tolerate, diverse cultures and perspectives. Curriculum will need to be adapted to better equip our TJ students. As expressed by TJ alumni who have written to me, ‘STEM alone is not enough.’ Can our community support the new conversations, lessons and activities that will need to be infused across our entire TJ program of study in all content areas?
“I acknowledge some of the questions I am asking may not equally resonate with everyone as we examine our school’s place within FCPS and the world. I also know that my words may not always be eloquent, my ideas may miss the mark, and I will make mistakes. I also know that I have enjoyed growing with you these past three years and have immense trust and faith in our community to pull together and do what is right, particularly for those in our community experiencing the most pain right now.
“By evaluating the racial equity at our school, dismantling a long-held symbol of racism, and embracing curricula to better prepare TJ graduates for a truly diverse and culturally responsive world, you will play a role in how TJHSST continues to lead the nation as a public school that prepares students for the shared interests of humanity. Thank you for joining in this important work.”
15 responses to “A call to action from the TJ principal”
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if you read "the 5 negro presidents" by the prolific herstorian J.A Rogers, he points to evidence that Jefferson was a "mulatto"…meaning so called mixed race…its quite ridiculous that a high school is still named after a scoundrel, rich bloodsucker of the poor like him…eye like how that one school was renamed to the 10th degree in Allah's alphabet, Justice
Kind of hollow words, not sure what they’re planning here that has any substance. Just feels like then getting ahead of bad press.
How is TJ racist if the class of 2024 is 76% Asian?
Racism in this day and age seems to apply only to African Americans.
No one thinks that, stop devaluing they conversation.
Remove the labels from the recently released racial breakdown of the newly admitted class of 2024 and just look at the numbers. Almost 3/4 of the group appear to come from a single ethnic group. That's troubling and reflects a playing field that is in some way biased. Trying to identify and correct for this bias is critical if TJ is to be considered a non-racist school.
I see good old anonymous is back.
Oh TJ is racist because for these woke artists, Asians are not brown enough. Even the hypocritical NAACP no longer represents all colored people. Only the ones that currently run the show. And that guy is running for Lt Governor. And why is the current Superintendent eager to change it now? He wants a renewal of his 300k+ contract next year. And he shamelessly invoked George Floyd to justify a lottery system
TJ has a woeful decades-long history of discrimination against Black and Hispanic students in FCPS. While I admire the principal's effort to find a place in this discussion, it is noteworthy that this is directed to the inclusive community of students and families. She failed to suggest any remedies to the enrollment problem beyond rhetoric. My suggestion? Move on from this model because it serves our whole community poorly, rename the school and the mascot, find other ways to provide advanced STEM opportunities to students. TJ is NOT the only way to to that.
Same with the NBA. They have discriminated against Asians for the past few decades.
When my kids were in elementary school, they were enrolled in the School Aged Child Care (SACC) Program. This program was not free but instead had a sliding cost scale based on the family's income, i.e. the more you earned, the more you paid. Families at the lowest end of the scale paid zero. Perhaps it's time to institute a similar system at TJHSST with families of wealthy students paying tuition comparable to the best national private high schools, and the funds collected would be directed to STEM programs in those FCPS elementary schools with the fewest TJ admission rates.
It's really hard to read the principal's letter and not think this is an empty exercise in damage control. TJHSST has had decades to become a more inclusive institution and instead has only become more segregated and polarizing over time. Wouldn't the restoration of Jefferson High be great for the local community and also provide more seats for FCPS students? Come on, School members – show that you are at least as brave as your student representative from Lee HS!
TJHSST is a public school. Tax money is what runs it, and upper-class citizens already pay more than they should in income, estate, and inheritance tax. It is logical to direct tax funds to underprivileged schools, but creating another fee for a PUBLIC MAGNET high school is complete madness.
How about leaving the best high school for the really smart kids and improve the other high schools so that those who are not quite as brilliant get a good and appropriate education. I know plenty of white kids that did not get into Jefferson.
Hmm, yes TJ is 76% Asian because of their Asian Privilege and the fact that we live in an Asian-supremacist society. Nope. It's because different races have different cultures that emphasize educational grinding differently. Blacks in the aggregate are not as education-focused and don't have the same ability to do well at TJ. If everyone faces the same entrance test, there can be no discrimination. Dumbing down standards makes the school worse for everyone.