Does anyone feel they made the wrong school choice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WES. We got both children out.

That's interesting -- we had dinner with a couple the other night and they were saying the same thing (except they only have 1 child). Switched to St Andrews and now everyone is very happy. Everything I'd heard about WES (from multiple sources) prior to this had been very positive, so I think this was probably a "not a match" situation, though, from what they said, it wouldn't have been a match for us either.

[Anonymous]

WES has very big turnover. Ask around.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]WES. We got both children out.[/quote]

That's interesting -- we had dinner with a couple the other night and they were saying the same thing (except they only have 1 child). Switched to St Andrews and now everyone is very happy. Everything I'd heard about WES (from multiple sources) prior to this had been very positive, so I think this was probably a "not a match" situation, though, from what they said, it wouldn't have been a match for us either.[/quote]

There is one class at WES that had two bad years. More than a few of the families left for St Andrews. I hope they are happy and from what I've heard they are.

But I have to say that while some parents tried very hard to raise serious issues with the school but some (but not all) of the families that have since left the school steadfastly denied that there was a problem. They thought the parents raising concerns were over-reacting. When they eventually learned that we weren't over-reacting they looked elsewhere and left the school. Don't get me wrong, I feel that it was a good thing that families left because the school learned that there are real world consequences to the mistakes they make, especially since those mistakes adversely affect children. I also think the change in leadership coming our way this summer is another direct consequence of the mishandling of these issues. The families who have stuck it out are getting rewarded in an odd way: the class size for this particular class makes for better a teacher-student ratio and my kid, for one, has benefited from that. I also think the teachers have tried very hard to pay particular attention to this class and I applaud them for that.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]WES. We got both children out.[/quote]

That's interesting -- we had dinner with a couple the other night and they were saying the same thing (except they only have 1 child). Switched to St Andrews and now everyone is very happy. Everything I'd heard about WES (from multiple sources) prior to this had been very positive, so I think this was probably a "not a match" situation, though, from what they said, it wouldn't have been a match for us either.[/quote]

There is one class at WES that had two bad years. More than a few of the families left for St Andrews. I hope they are happy and from what I've heard they are.

But I have to say that while some parents tried very hard to raise serious issues with the school but some (but not all) of the families that have since left the school steadfastly denied that there was a problem. They thought the parents raising concerns were over-reacting. When they eventually learned that we weren't over-reacting they looked elsewhere and left the school. Don't get me wrong, I feel that it was a good thing that families left because the school learned that there are real world consequences to the mistakes they make, especially since those mistakes adversely affect children. I also think the change in leadership coming our way this summer is another direct consequence of the mishandling of these issues. The families who have stuck it out are getting rewarded in an odd way: the class size for this particular class makes for better a teacher-student ratio and my kid, for one, has benefited from that. I also think the teachers have tried very hard to pay particular attention to this class and I applaud them for that. [/quote]

What was the problem that caused people to leave?

[Anonymous]

Nosey?

[Anonymous]

"What was the problem that caused people to leave?"

The underlying issues weren't the big problem; the school's mismanagement of the issues was the big problem.

Over the years, with experiences at three different private schools, I have been truly surprised by the ability of school administrations to delude themselves into thinking that if they say the right thing but do nothing that parents will be mollified. In this particular case the Board did it's job and, hopefully, limited the damage to the school.

[Anonymous]

What the hell are you talking about? Why are you dense and diffuse?

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]What the hell are you talking about? Why are you dense and diffuse?[/quote]

One might ask the same of you.

Dense and diffuse? A bit contradictory, don't you think? Sticking with the aliteration, you could try "discrete."

[Anonymous]

Wow, the fall-out from that bad teacher (and the administration's response to the issue) just never seems to cease. At what point does this anti-WES poster ever feel that she can move on? Or at least acknowledge all the other extraordinary faculty and great community. Our children absolutely love WES.

[Anonymous]

We did not have a good experience at WES. I posted on this thread, but I'm not the only one. It looks like several other folks have had a similar negative experience. There is not just one "anti-WES" poster.

[Anonymous]

The couple I had dinner with did not talk about a bad teacher or about problems with the adminstration or about being part of a mass exodus. They talked about pedagogy and an emphasis on memorization rather than understanding and critical thinking. Their DC was doing well (by WES's standards) but the parents wanted more/different and the kid ended up delighted with the change and became much more enthusiastic about school generally once at St Andrews's. Curricular examples/contrasts then followed.

YMMV -- personally, I had/have no interest in either school (we don't do religion and DC's happy where she is).

[Anonymous]

I am another poster who had a bad experience with WES.
They teach rote memorization and do not work to advance critical thinking. The administration makes every effort to say the correct things to parents, but makes decisions by not acting. Very stale and lazy. The third grade is not good and many families try to get out before their children enter third grade. They really need to change their business/academic model.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]I am another poster who had a bad experience with WES.
They teach rote memorization and do not work to advance critical thinking. The administration makes every effort to say the correct things to parents, but makes decisions by not acting. Very stale and lazy. The third grade is not good and many families try to get out before their children enter third grade. They really need to change their business/academic model.[/quote]

1) I am familiar with the "bad" teacher and it was an extraordinarily bad situation that should have been dealt with quickly and professionally. The administration did too little too late and I have since learned that this "all talk and no action" management style was pervasive.

2). Interestingly, I hear parents complain about the lack of memorization and drilling, especially in Math.

3) DC entered in 4th so I can't comment on early grades but 4th and up have been wonderful and challenging. DC was a year ahead of the "bad" teacher so we not only dodged that bullet but had the wonderful predecessor as a teacher for that grade. DC has found the trips and the preparation for the trips to be anything but stale and is looking forward to excellent placement options for high school next year.

4) I feel confident that the change in leadership will lead to a more hands-on management style. I hope parents take advantage of the opportunities available to speak up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am another poster who had a bad experience with WES.
They teach rote memorization and do not work to advance critical thinking. The administration makes every effort to say the correct things to parents, but makes decisions by not acting. Very stale and lazy. The third grade is not good and many families try to get out before their children enter third grade. They really need to change their business/academic model.

I think stale and lazy is a good description. Some of the teachers repeat the same projects over and over each year. The school is in need of some new, innovative teachers.

[Anonymous]

What is WES?