+1. If you don't like the machine, leave. Some of us chose BASIS because we want the machine, not an independent thinker. |
We just enrolled, but I liked that the incoming head was already responsive to parents -- they originally had no way for the potential families to see inside the building before enrolling, but enough families asked, and she created 6 shadow days for students in April and an open house for parents as a result. Hugely helpful for our family, and I'm sure she has strengths and weaknesses, but the fact that she was actually responsive is such a good sign. Her emails have also been really warm, and she stresses that she hopes that kids with all kinds of educational goals (art school, Ivy, HBCU) can find a path at BASIS. Good vibes IMO. |
(also I have noticed some slight shade towards the outgoing head... teachers saying things like "the current head says ____, but...") |
what it is doing is giving promotions to several incompetent people ..... |
Garrett found a lower stress higher paying job in educational consulting |
That nice, but you might want to go in with your eyes open. Warmth and responsiveness to parents isn't BASIS' MO. This is a decidedly top-down franchise, helping explain why each BASIS campus sheds most students between 6th and 12th grades. The rigor doesn't drive families out as much as heavy-handed management, crappy facilities and a learning experience that's unnecessarily dreary (whatever lip service might be paid to broad-minded educational goals). Many parents and students get fed up with being given their marching orders over the years. Parents also dislike a corporate franchise hitting them up for money to top up teachers' pay. |
Bitter much? You must be fun at parties. |
What does bolded even mean in this context? Schools are systems. There is a management hierarchy that goes from Central/BASIS HQ to the Principal/HOS and trickles on down. That is how all schools run. Of all the legitimate criticisms of BASIS one can make, this ain't it. I legitimately feel sorry for you. |
PP wants a independent, stand-alone school that is not part of a system. Why this PP ever applied to BASIS knowing that BASIS doesn't fit that model is a mystery. Sounds like PP didn't research the school beforehand and now wants to blame everyone but herself for the mistake. |
Including the new HOS, who has turned off many current parents. Hoping she's too busy running the entire school to get back to her tone-deaf, ignorant ways in regards to student safety and having empathy for people from other cultures. |
Ah, to be a naive 5th grade parent again … |
As if DCPS is not a top down system?
I mean, the options in DC are few. So unless you are moving, I'd just take BASIS as is for a rigorous education. Beggars can't be choosers. |
Beggars? Is that what DC voters are these days? |
Ha, truth! |
Even elite independent prep schools have Trustees, Head of Schools and chains of command. Demanding bitter parents don't get to dictate curriculum or policies there either. PPP's never ending whining about "top down" makes no sense outside of the context of homeschooling. |