Seems like MCPS is a mess

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Veteran Mcps staff member here- caught between a rock and a hard place -- private school would be a stretch on my income-- have seen the schools massively decline over the 20 years I've worked here. Special ed services are often terrible, there are schools that are completely out of control with behaviors, and the dumbing down of the education is upsetting. The principals they are hiring are not equipped for the job and they are often filling the staff positions with warm bodies. I would not choose to send my kids here if I made more money.

Are you saying you know for a fact that every single public school in MCPS is dumbed down and out of control, and that private schools have neither of these problems? What about top ranked publics?

I'm saying it's much harder for the majority of kids to get a good education at mcps these days. The affluent and involved parents can still heavily supplement to fill in the gaps- the majority of parents (those not on dcum) do not have the time or resources to do this. And yes, mcps schools are as a whole, are much less safe than they used to be.

So the problem is non-involved parents?

No, the problem is the lack of discipline, lack of supports for students and the curriculum. They stopped teaching many things like spelling, grammar and math facts so many of us do it ourselves, or via tutors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Veteran Mcps staff member here- caught between a rock and a hard place -- private school would be a stretch on my income-- have seen the schools massively decline over the 20 years I've worked here. Special ed services are often terrible, there are schools that are completely out of control with behaviors, and the dumbing down of the education is upsetting. The principals they are hiring are not equipped for the job and they are often filling the staff positions with warm bodies. I would not choose to send my kids here if I made more money.

Are you saying you know for a fact that every single public school in MCPS is dumbed down and out of control, and that private schools have neither of these problems? What about top ranked publics?

I'm saying it's much harder for the majority of kids to get a good education at mcps these days. The affluent and involved parents can still heavily supplement to fill in the gaps- the majority of parents (those not on dcum) do not have the time or resources to do this. And yes, mcps schools are as a whole, are much less safe than they used to be.

So the problem is non-involved parents?

No, the problem is the lack of discipline, lack of supports for students and the curriculum. They stopped teaching many things like spelling, grammar and math facts so many of us do it ourselves, or via tutors.

Both things are the problem. It’s not just one thing that has led MCPS to its current state.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think it really depends on your pain threshold. We were big MCPS supporters and now our kids are in private schools. What you get with MCPS is a free ride in a neighborhoodish school. What you don’t get with MCPS is general school safety (fights, drug dealing and drug taking in school are tolerated daily and not punishable thanks to restorative justice) a quality education (equity means dumbing down top students instead of bringing up the bottom students to the top) supports for those who need it (whether it is for the brilliant & gifted or those with learning disabilities although ESOL seems to be better supported) clean safe usable bathrooms and hallways, quiet classes where kids can focus (phones are out, tik toks being recorded teachers being ignored and disrespected during class.) It’s a little like the Wild West But if all of those things don’t bother you, then you’ll be fine. Howard County or schools in VA might be different and worth looking into if any of this bothers you. If you don’t expect much from MCPS you won’t be disappointed. If you want more for your kids then you will disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think it really depends on your pain threshold. We were big MCPS supporters and now our kids are in private schools. What you get with MCPS is a free ride in a neighborhoodish school. What you don’t get with MCPS is general school safety (fights, drug dealing and drug taking in school are tolerated daily and not punishable thanks to restorative justice) a quality education (equity means dumbing down top students instead of bringing up the bottom students to the top) supports for those who need it (whether it is for the brilliant & gifted or those with learning disabilities although ESOL seems to be better supported) clean safe usable bathrooms and hallways, quiet classes where kids can focus (phones are out, tik toks being recorded teachers being ignored and disrespected during class.) It’s a little like the Wild West But if all of those things don’t bother you, then you’ll be fine. Howard County or schools in VA might be different and worth looking into if any of this bothers you. If you don’t expect much from MCPS you won’t be disappointed. If you want more for your kids then you will disappointed.

You get may of these things in private too.. but the behavior problems are kept hush hush.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are the far-right astroturfers so vested in this false decline narrative?

Because they want to get rid of the public school system.

I see it another way. Those calling MCPS out for its decline are the ones trying to save it. Those with their eyes closed are willingly driving the system into the ground.

It’s okay to see the decline. Acknowledgement is the only way to fix what’s broken.

(And I’m nowhere near a far right Trumper, but I’m sure I’m about to be called one.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are the far-right astroturfers so vested in this false decline narrative?

Because they want to get rid of the public school system.

I see it another way. Those calling MCPS out for its decline are the ones trying to save it. Those with their eyes closed are willingly driving the system into the ground.

It’s okay to see the decline. Acknowledgement is the only way to fix what’s broken.

(And I’m nowhere near a far right Trumper, but I’m sure I’m about to be called one.)

I see it another way. Those trying to help call out the challenges and applaud the positives AND they actually do things to try to help. They also acknowledge that change takes time.

You can see challenges without trying to tear down the system and folks in it trying to make improvements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are the far-right astroturfers so vested in this false decline narrative?

Because they want to get rid of the public school system.

I see it another way. Those calling MCPS out for its decline are the ones trying to save it. Those with their eyes closed are willingly driving the system into the ground.

It’s okay to see the decline. Acknowledgement is the only way to fix what’s broken.

(And I’m nowhere near a far right Trumper, but I’m sure I’m about to be called one.)

I see it another way. Those trying to help call out the challenges and applaud the positives AND they actually do things to try to help. They also acknowledge that change takes time.

You can see challenges without trying to tear down the system and folks in it trying to make improvements.

Yet there are people on this thread who refuse to accept any criticism, assuming critical voices are merely right-wing operatives set to destroy public schools.

Are they helping? Because I don’t see that as help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think it really depends on your pain threshold. We were big MCPS supporters and now our kids are in private schools. What you get with MCPS is a free ride in a neighborhoodish school. What you don’t get with MCPS is general school safety (fights, drug dealing and drug taking in school are tolerated daily and not punishable thanks to restorative justice) a quality education (equity means dumbing down top students instead of bringing up the bottom students to the top) supports for those who need it (whether it is for the brilliant & gifted or those with learning disabilities although ESOL seems to be better supported) clean safe usable bathrooms and hallways, quiet classes where kids can focus (phones are out, tik toks being recorded teachers being ignored and disrespected during class.) It’s a little like the Wild West But if all of those things don’t bother you, then you’ll be fine. Howard County or schools in VA might be different and worth looking into if any of this bothers you. If you don’t expect much from MCPS you won’t be disappointed. If you want more for your kids then you will disappointed.

You get may of these things in private too.. but the behavior problems are kept hush hush.

The typical private schools parent's comments, who wants to feel good about paying for an inferior product.

[Anonymous]

Talking about the previous poster

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think it really depends on your pain threshold. We were big MCPS supporters and now our kids are in private schools. What you get with MCPS is a free ride in a neighborhoodish school. What you don’t get with MCPS is general school safety (fights, drug dealing and drug taking in school are tolerated daily and not punishable thanks to restorative justice) a quality education (equity means dumbing down top students instead of bringing up the bottom students to the top) supports for those who need it (whether it is for the brilliant & gifted or those with learning disabilities although ESOL seems to be better supported) clean safe usable bathrooms and hallways, quiet classes where kids can focus (phones are out, tik toks being recorded teachers being ignored and disrespected during class.) It’s a little like the Wild West But if all of those things don’t bother you, then you’ll be fine. Howard County or schools in VA might be different and worth looking into if any of this bothers you. If you don’t expect much from MCPS you won’t be disappointed. If you want more for your kids then you will disappointed.

You get may of these things in private too.. but the behavior problems are kept hush hush.

The typical private schools parent's comments, who wants to feel good about paying for an inferior product.

I’ve done public and private, as a parent and as a teacher.

I know not to compare whole systems. Some publics are better than some privates. Some privates are better than some publics.

You can’t compare whole systems, nor can you comment on schools you haven’t experienced. I’ve experienced two publics and three privates. All three privates have been far superior to the publics, but that’s just my small sample and I know they don’t represent all privates.

Similarly, you can’t say all of MCPS is better than private alternatives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are the far-right astroturfers so vested in this false decline narrative?

Because they want to get rid of the public school system.

I see it another way. Those calling MCPS out for its decline are the ones trying to save it. Those with their eyes closed are willingly driving the system into the ground.

It’s okay to see the decline. Acknowledgement is the only way to fix what’s broken.

(And I’m nowhere near a far right Trumper, but I’m sure I’m about to be called one.)

The vast majority of these people don't even have kids in MCPS, "saving MCPS" is far from their agenda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Veteran Mcps staff member here- caught between a rock and a hard place -- private school would be a stretch on my income-- have seen the schools massively decline over the 20 years I've worked here. Special ed services are often terrible, there are schools that are completely out of control with behaviors, and the dumbing down of the education is upsetting. The principals they are hiring are not equipped for the job and they are often filling the staff positions with warm bodies. I would not choose to send my kids here if I made more money.

Are you saying you know for a fact that every single public school in MCPS is dumbed down and out of control, and that private schools have neither of these problems? What about top ranked publics?

I'm saying it's much harder for the majority of kids to get a good education at mcps these days. The affluent and involved parents can still heavily supplement to fill in the gaps- the majority of parents (those not on dcum) do not have the time or resources to do this. And yes, mcps schools are as a whole, are much less safe than they used to be.

So the problem is non-involved parents?

No, the problem is the lack of discipline, lack of supports for students and the curriculum. They stopped teaching many things like spelling, grammar and math facts so many of us do it ourselves, or via tutors.

Denial doesn’t look good on you. The parents are the problem. Stop making excuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think it really depends on your pain threshold. We were big MCPS supporters and now our kids are in private schools. What you get with MCPS is a free ride in a neighborhoodish school. What you don’t get with MCPS is general school safety (fights, drug dealing and drug taking in school are tolerated daily and not punishable thanks to restorative justice) a quality education (equity means dumbing down top students instead of bringing up the bottom students to the top) supports for those who need it (whether it is for the brilliant & gifted or those with learning disabilities although ESOL seems to be better supported) clean safe usable bathrooms and hallways, quiet classes where kids can focus (phones are out, tik toks being recorded teachers being ignored and disrespected during class.) It’s a little like the Wild West But if all of those things don’t bother you, then you’ll be fine. Howard County or schools in VA might be different and worth looking into if any of this bothers you. If you don’t expect much from MCPS you won’t be disappointed. If you want more for your kids then you will disappointed.

You get may of these things in private too.. but the behavior problems are kept hush hush.

The typical private schools parent's comments, who wants to feel good about paying for an inferior product.

I’ve done public and private, as a parent and as a teacher.

I know not to compare whole systems. Some publics are better than some privates. Some privates are better than some publics.

You can’t compare whole systems, nor can you comment on schools you haven’t experienced. I’ve experienced two publics and three privates. All three privates have been far superior to the publics, but that’s just my small sample and I know they don’t represent all privates.

Similarly, you can’t say all of MCPS is better than private alternatives.

What it comes down to is the quality and skill of the teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Veteran Mcps staff member here- caught between a rock and a hard place -- private school would be a stretch on my income-- have seen the schools massively decline over the 20 years I've worked here. Special ed services are often terrible, there are schools that are completely out of control with behaviors, and the dumbing down of the education is upsetting. The principals they are hiring are not equipped for the job and they are often filling the staff positions with warm bodies. I would not choose to send my kids here if I made more money.

Are you saying you know for a fact that every single public school in MCPS is dumbed down and out of control, and that private schools have neither of these problems? What about top ranked publics?

I'm saying it's much harder for the majority of kids to get a good education at mcps these days. The affluent and involved parents can still heavily supplement to fill in the gaps- the majority of parents (those not on dcum) do not have the time or resources to do this. And yes, mcps schools are as a whole, are much less safe than they used to be.

So the problem is non-involved parents?

Parents are no longer encouraged to be active in their kids education. May schools don't allow parents to volunteer and don't respond to emails or alls. May of us are involved and try very hard.

No, the problem is the lack of discipline, lack of supports for students and the curriculum. They stopped teaching many things like spelling, grammar and math facts so many of us do it ourselves, or via tutors.

Denial doesn’t look good on you. The parents are the problem. Stop making excuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Veteran Mcps staff member here- caught between a rock and a hard place -- private school would be a stretch on my income-- have seen the schools massively decline over the 20 years I've worked here. Special ed services are often terrible, there are schools that are completely out of control with behaviors, and the dumbing down of the education is upsetting. The principals they are hiring are not equipped for the job and they are often filling the staff positions with warm bodies. I would not choose to send my kids here if I made more money.

Are you saying you know for a fact that every single public school in MCPS is dumbed down and out of control, and that private schools have neither of these problems? What about top ranked publics?

I'm saying it's much harder for the majority of kids to get a good education at mcps these days. The affluent and involved parents can still heavily supplement to fill in the gaps- the majority of parents (those not on dcum) do not have the time or resources to do this. And yes, mcps schools are as a whole, are much less safe than they used to be.

So the problem is non-involved parents?

No, the problem is the lack of discipline, lack of supports for students and the curriculum. They stopped teaching many things like spelling, grammar and math facts so many of us do it ourselves, or via tutors.

Denial doesn’t look good on you. The parents are the problem. Stop making excuses.

What are your policy solutions for fixing parents? "Parents should be better!" is not a policy solution.