TJHSST Alumni Association

The Official TJ Alumni Site

TJHSST Alumni Association
6560 Braddock Road
Alexandria, VA 22312
alumni@tjhsstalumni.org
Š2004

Thomas Jefferson High School
for Science & Technology
Alumni Association
Alumni Author Seeks Input

A message from Chris Colin '93...

Greetings,

I'm a TJHSST class of '93 grad and also a writer. (A couple years ago I wrote a book about what became of my classmates, called "What Really Happened to the Class of '93.") On the occasion of the 20th anniversary, I'm doing a story for the Washington Post on the two TJs that have existed over the years -- the pre-magnet version and the current one. Partly this is in response to the strong feelings on the subject that came out on the alumni email list back in March (some original Jefferson grads feeling nudged aside by the current Jefferson, other more recent grads defending TJHSST), but not entirely. Anyway, I'm posting this because I'd love to chat with anyone who's got two or three cents to share, from both the science and tech days and the ones that came before.

This is not an attempt to get to the bottom of the whole magnet school debate, rather I'd just like to hear more folks' thoughts and feelings on the two versions of Jefferson we've known. I've already heard incredible stories about the transition period in the '80s, and would love to hear more. As for that brief email debate some weeks back, I'd like to give a more thoughtful forum for those thoughts, too. This seems like a subject that not everybody got to weigh in on originally, and one that can sometimes (and not always logically) cut into some rather deep issues in our country -- exclusivity, opportunity, education, class, money, etc. Plus there's the 20-year anniversary coming up. Anyway, I'd love to hear from anyone who's interested in sharing any thoughts whatsoever. No need to censor your feelings. Happy or sad or angry or indifferent is fine.

Oh, and since I, myself, am a TJHSST alum, I should clarify my own position: I guess I don't really have one. Or rather I sympathize with both sides. Dunno, maybe I'll be convinced in one direction or another by the end of this. Or maybe I'll just remain a boring fence- sitter...

Thanks very much for your time, everybody. If you're game, email me back as soon as you can (deadline) and, ideally, let me know a good way to call you, in case I have quick follow-up questions (which I promise will be painless and informal).

Hope this finds everyone well,

Chris Colin
chris@chriscolin.com