Experience with Macfarland?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Idk, this is a great case study in how schools stay segregated. Posters are actively trying to convince someone who they've never met and know nothing about to not attend a school.

Oh please. DCPS MS and HS stay segregated specifically because parents who ask for reasonable things (like appropriate curriculum and challenge, and basic safety) are called “Karens” and “Nice White Parents.” (Let’s leave aside for the moment that POC parents with resources generally don’t even entertain the idea of the poorly performing schools.) Look at schools like Hardy and Deal, where the IB parents bought in because school leadership acknowledged their kids needs and showed they were willing to meet them. That’s how you get white parents to attend. (Meanwhile most wealthy/educated POC depart for privates or the burbs, but I digress.)

So what specifically does Hardy offer that other DCPS middle schools don’t?

Classes with the majority of kids at or above grade level, which means teachers can teach accordingly. Much smaller proportion of kids completely failing, meaning resources can be distributed more evenly. I believe they also offer geometry.

That’s circular logic. The post above suggested that Hardy did something to attract IB parents to the school in the first place. What exactly did it do that other schools are not doing?

Hopefully a Hardy/Deal parent will chime in. My understanding was that the principals did a lot of outreach about ensuring that the school would offer appropriate classes.

Really? So Hardy offers classes that are different from the standard DCPS middle school curriculum?

They have Italian and Chinese.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Idk, this is a great case study in how schools stay segregated. Posters are actively trying to convince someone who they've never met and know nothing about to not attend a school.

Oh please. DCPS MS and HS stay segregated specifically because parents who ask for reasonable things (like appropriate curriculum and challenge, and basic safety) are called “Karens” and “Nice White Parents.” (Let’s leave aside for the moment that POC parents with resources generally don’t even entertain the idea of the poorly performing schools.) Look at schools like Hardy and Deal, where the IB parents bought in because school leadership acknowledged their kids needs and showed they were willing to meet them. That’s how you get white parents to attend. (Meanwhile most wealthy/educated POC depart for privates or the burbs, but I digress.)

So what specifically does Hardy offer that other DCPS middle schools don’t?

Classes with the majority of kids at or above grade level, which means teachers can teach accordingly. Much smaller proportion of kids completely failing, meaning resources can be distributed more evenly. I believe they also offer geometry.

That’s circular logic. The post above suggested that Hardy did something to attract IB parents to the school in the first place. What exactly did it do that other schools are not doing?

Hopefully a Hardy/Deal parent will chime in. My understanding was that the principals did a lot of outreach about ensuring that the school would offer appropriate classes.

Really? So Hardy offers classes that are different from the standard DCPS middle school curriculum?

Well yes, they offer geometry that most EOTP MS do not. And they used to offer more tracked classes. More to the point is that principals like Melissa Kim made sure the teachers were doing what they should be.

Melissa Kim is gone from DCPS, primarily bc she abused staff

Honestly would prefer that over a principal who encourages lazy teachers under the guise of “homework is inequitable.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Idk, this is a great case study in how schools stay segregated. Posters are actively trying to convince someone who they've never met and know nothing about to not attend a school.

Oh please. DCPS MS and HS stay segregated specifically because parents who ask for reasonable things (like appropriate curriculum and challenge, and basic safety) are called “Karens” and “Nice White Parents.” (Let’s leave aside for the moment that POC parents with resources generally don’t even entertain the idea of the poorly performing schools.) Look at schools like Hardy and Deal, where the IB parents bought in because school leadership acknowledged their kids needs and showed they were willing to meet them. That’s how you get white parents to attend. (Meanwhile most wealthy/educated POC depart for privates or the burbs, but I digress.)

So what specifically does Hardy offer that other DCPS middle schools don’t?

Classes with the majority of kids at or above grade level, which means teachers can teach accordingly. Much smaller proportion of kids completely failing, meaning resources can be distributed more evenly. I believe they also offer geometry.

That’s circular logic. The post above suggested that Hardy did something to attract IB parents to the school in the first place. What exactly did it do that other schools are not doing?

Hopefully a Hardy/Deal parent will chime in. My understanding was that the principals did a lot of outreach about ensuring that the school would offer appropriate classes.

Really? So Hardy offers classes that are different from the standard DCPS middle school curriculum?

Well yes, they offer geometry that most EOTP MS do not. And they used to offer more tracked classes. More to the point is that principals like Melissa Kim made sure the teachers were doing what they should be.

Melissa Kim is gone from DCPS, primarily bc she abused staff

Honestly would prefer that over a principal who encourages lazy teachers under the guise of “homework is inequitable.”

Thanks for being honest. We already know that there are many parents like you who openly support workplace abuse. They infect this place daily

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an idea who 17:32 is and can’t believe they are still at MacFarland; our kids attended elementary school together until we left after 3rd grade. Their child is really bright and I’m surprised they are sticking it out for whatever reason.

hint: it’s called “grandma is paying for private high school and college, so we aren’t worried about MS.”

If that’s the reason then I think there are very compelling arguments for putting your child in an environment like MacFarland before they go to a private school bubble. You can supplement at home for a few years.

Who wants to supplement all subjects for 3 years in addition to trying to fit in sports and extracurriculars? There is only so much time in the day.

Lastly, how many kids are going to buy into that? A full day of wasted school and then coming home to a few hours of more work?

I feel sorry for OP’s kid because of some abstract values he holds to send his kid there. His kid is not only not meeting his full potential academically but is missing out on all the extras like OP said with clubs, sports, etc…

DP. Since these schools have no homework there’s plenty of time to supplement. Also using the IB school often means a much shorter commute. We were considering MCPS with a long bus ride … instead DS will just have a 10 min walk. I wish the school was better but I’m not worried about the time spent in tutoring. Especially since 1:1 tutoring is so effective, you don’t have to spend that much time on it.

So let me see here. You are saying your kid is going to a school like MacFarland which means you are supplementing in all subjects - math, English, science, social studies, and maybe languages.

So unless you are supplementing that every single day, your kid is not getting an equivalent education as someone who goes to a good school and are getting the coursework they need at their level. 1-2 hours a week isn’t cutting it by a long shot. If you think they are then you are in denial.

DP, but... why do you care? What's it to you if this poster sends their kid to McFarland and is "in denial" about it? Is there some reason you think trying to persuade strangers on the Internet that they should make different choices than they already have is a good idea?

Why do you care if others point out something that is a fact?

I have to say, lots of posters on here are really, really defensive about anything negative or negative data presented on the school. Also some of these people are actually saying that parents should consider sending their kid here?? At a school where 6 6th graders are in grade level in math over hundreds? Seriously, how is a school like this even allowed to continue operating?

I won’t even go into the issues of lack of enriching extracurricular, sports, and clubs. I won’t go into the issue how someone found thought it was dangerous.

Standards are so damn low in DCPS. And people who are defending this just enable it to continue and DCPS can just continue chugging along failing the majority of the kids in this city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Idk, this is a great case study in how schools stay segregated. Posters are actively trying to convince someone who they've never met and know nothing about to not attend a school.

Oh please. DCPS MS and HS stay segregated specifically because parents who ask for reasonable things (like appropriate curriculum and challenge, and basic safety) are called “Karens” and “Nice White Parents.” (Let’s leave aside for the moment that POC parents with resources generally don’t even entertain the idea of the poorly performing schools.) Look at schools like Hardy and Deal, where the IB parents bought in because school leadership acknowledged their kids needs and showed they were willing to meet them. That’s how you get white parents to attend. (Meanwhile most wealthy/educated POC depart for privates or the burbs, but I digress.)

So what specifically does Hardy offer that other DCPS middle schools don’t?

Classes with the majority of kids at or above grade level, which means teachers can teach accordingly. Much smaller proportion of kids completely failing, meaning resources can be distributed more evenly. I believe they also offer geometry.

That’s circular logic. The post above suggested that Hardy did something to attract IB parents to the school in the first place. What exactly did it do that other schools are not doing?

Hopefully a Hardy/Deal parent will chime in. My understanding was that the principals did a lot of outreach about ensuring that the school would offer appropriate classes.

Really? So Hardy offers classes that are different from the standard DCPS middle school curriculum?

Well yes, they offer geometry that most EOTP MS do not. And they used to offer more tracked classes. More to the point is that principals like Melissa Kim made sure the teachers were doing what they should be.

Melissa Kim is gone from DCPS, primarily bc she abused staff

Honestly would prefer that over a principal who encourages lazy teachers under the guise of “homework is inequitable.”

Thanks for being honest. We already know that there are many parents like you who openly support workplace abuse. They infect this place daily

Give my kid challenging homework and *actually give them feedback on it* and you'll get all my support!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Idk, this is a great case study in how schools stay segregated. Posters are actively trying to convince someone who they've never met and know nothing about to not attend a school.

Oh please. DCPS MS and HS stay segregated specifically because parents who ask for reasonable things (like appropriate curriculum and challenge, and basic safety) are called “Karens” and “Nice White Parents.” (Let’s leave aside for the moment that POC parents with resources generally don’t even entertain the idea of the poorly performing schools.) Look at schools like Hardy and Deal, where the IB parents bought in because school leadership acknowledged their kids needs and showed they were willing to meet them. That’s how you get white parents to attend. (Meanwhile most wealthy/educated POC depart for privates or the burbs, but I digress.)

So what specifically does Hardy offer that other DCPS middle schools don’t?

Classes with the majority of kids at or above grade level, which means teachers can teach accordingly. Much smaller proportion of kids completely failing, meaning resources can be distributed more evenly. I believe they also offer geometry.

That’s circular logic. The post above suggested that Hardy did something to attract IB parents to the school in the first place. What exactly did it do that other schools are not doing?

Hopefully a Hardy/Deal parent will chime in. My understanding was that the principals did a lot of outreach about ensuring that the school would offer appropriate classes.

Really? So Hardy offers classes that are different from the standard DCPS middle school curriculum?

Well yes, they offer geometry that most EOTP MS do not. And they used to offer more tracked classes. More to the point is that principals like Melissa Kim made sure the teachers were doing what they should be.

Melissa Kim is gone from DCPS, primarily bc she abused staff

Honestly would prefer that over a principal who encourages lazy teachers under the guise of “homework is inequitable.”

Thanks for being honest. We already know that there are many parents like you who openly support workplace abuse. They infect this place daily

Give my kid challenging homework and *actually give them feedback on it* and you'll get all my support!

Giving feedback on challenging homework is often giving a grade to the amount of help that child got from their parent. Still doesn't excuse the fact that you condone workplace abuse

[Anonymous]

I think somebody should distill the key elements of this thread and save them. I think they reflect many things many of us think about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an idea who 17:32 is and can’t believe they are still at MacFarland; our kids attended elementary school together until we left after 3rd grade. Their child is really bright and I’m surprised they are sticking it out for whatever reason.

hint: it’s called “grandma is paying for private high school and college, so we aren’t worried about MS.”

If that’s the reason then I think there are very compelling arguments for putting your child in an environment like MacFarland before they go to a private school bubble. You can supplement at home for a few years.

Who wants to supplement all subjects for 3 years in addition to trying to fit in sports and extracurriculars? There is only so much time in the day.

Lastly, how many kids are going to buy into that? A full day of wasted school and then coming home to a few hours of more work?

I feel sorry for OP’s kid because of some abstract values he holds to send his kid there. His kid is not only not meeting his full potential academically but is missing out on all the extras like OP said with clubs, sports, etc…

DP. Since these schools have no homework there’s plenty of time to supplement. Also using the IB school often means a much shorter commute. We were considering MCPS with a long bus ride … instead DS will just have a 10 min walk. I wish the school was better but I’m not worried about the time spent in tutoring. Especially since 1:1 tutoring is so effective, you don’t have to spend that much time on it.

So let me see here. You are saying your kid is going to a school like MacFarland which means you are supplementing in all subjects - math, English, science, social studies, and maybe languages.

So unless you are supplementing that every single day, your kid is not getting an equivalent education as someone who goes to a good school and are getting the coursework they need at their level. 1-2 hours a week isn’t cutting it by a long shot. If you think they are then you are in denial.

DP, but... why do you care? What's it to you if this poster sends their kid to McFarland and is "in denial" about it? Is there some reason you think trying to persuade strangers on the Internet that they should make different choices than they already have is a good idea?

Why do you care if others point out something that is a fact?

I have to say, lots of posters on here are really, really defensive about anything negative or negative data presented on the school. Also some of these people are actually saying that parents should consider sending their kid here?? At a school where 6 6th graders are in grade level in math over hundreds? Seriously, how is a school like this even allowed to continue operating?

I won’t even go into the issues of lack of enriching extracurricular, sports, and clubs. I won’t go into the issue how someone found thought it was dangerous.

Standards are so damn low in DCPS. And people who are defending this just enable it to continue and DCPS can just continue chugging along failing the majority of the kids in this city.

Just more rhetoric without solutions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an idea who 17:32 is and can’t believe they are still at MacFarland; our kids attended elementary school together until we left after 3rd grade. Their child is really bright and I’m surprised they are sticking it out for whatever reason.

hint: it’s called “grandma is paying for private high school and college, so we aren’t worried about MS.”

If that’s the reason then I think there are very compelling arguments for putting your child in an environment like MacFarland before they go to a private school bubble. You can supplement at home for a few years.

Who wants to supplement all subjects for 3 years in addition to trying to fit in sports and extracurriculars? There is only so much time in the day.

Lastly, how many kids are going to buy into that? A full day of wasted school and then coming home to a few hours of more work?

I feel sorry for OP’s kid because of some abstract values he holds to send his kid there. His kid is not only not meeting his full potential academically but is missing out on all the extras like OP said with clubs, sports, etc…

DP. Since these schools have no homework there’s plenty of time to supplement. Also using the IB school often means a much shorter commute. We were considering MCPS with a long bus ride … instead DS will just have a 10 min walk. I wish the school was better but I’m not worried about the time spent in tutoring. Especially since 1:1 tutoring is so effective, you don’t have to spend that much time on it.

So let me see here. You are saying your kid is going to a school like MacFarland which means you are supplementing in all subjects - math, English, science, social studies, and maybe languages.

So unless you are supplementing that every single day, your kid is not getting an equivalent education as someone who goes to a good school and are getting the coursework they need at their level. 1-2 hours a week isn’t cutting it by a long shot. If you think they are then you are in denial.

DP, but... why do you care? What's it to you if this poster sends their kid to McFarland and is "in denial" about it? Is there some reason you think trying to persuade strangers on the Internet that they should make different choices than they already have is a good idea?

Why do you care if others point out something that is a fact?

I have to say, lots of posters on here are really, really defensive about anything negative or negative data presented on the school. Also some of these people are actually saying that parents should consider sending their kid here?? At a school where 6 6th graders are in grade level in math over hundreds? Seriously, how is a school like this even allowed to continue operating?

I won’t even go into the issues of lack of enriching extracurricular, sports, and clubs. I won’t go into the issue how someone found thought it was dangerous.

Standards are so damn low in DCPS. And people who are defending this just enable it to continue and DCPS can just continue chugging along failing the majority of the kids in this city.

Just more rhetoric without solutions.

The solution is not to send your child to a failing school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Idk, this is a great case study in how schools stay segregated. Posters are actively trying to convince someone who they've never met and know nothing about to not attend a school.

Oh please. DCPS MS and HS stay segregated specifically because parents who ask for reasonable things (like appropriate curriculum and challenge, and basic safety) are called “Karens” and “Nice White Parents.” (Let’s leave aside for the moment that POC parents with resources generally don’t even entertain the idea of the poorly performing schools.) Look at schools like Hardy and Deal, where the IB parents bought in because school leadership acknowledged their kids needs and showed they were willing to meet them. That’s how you get white parents to attend. (Meanwhile most wealthy/educated POC depart for privates or the burbs, but I digress.)

So what specifically does Hardy offer that other DCPS middle schools don’t?

Classes with the majority of kids at or above grade level, which means teachers can teach accordingly. Much smaller proportion of kids completely failing, meaning resources can be distributed more evenly. I believe they also offer geometry.

That’s circular logic. The post above suggested that Hardy did something to attract IB parents to the school in the first place. What exactly did it do that other schools are not doing?

Hopefully a Hardy/Deal parent will chime in. My understanding was that the principals did a lot of outreach about ensuring that the school would offer appropriate classes.

Really? So Hardy offers classes that are different from the standard DCPS middle school curriculum?

Well yes, they offer geometry that most EOTP MS do not. And they used to offer more tracked classes. More to the point is that principals like Melissa Kim made sure the teachers were doing what they should be.

Melissa Kim is gone from DCPS, primarily bc she abused staff

Honestly would prefer that over a principal who encourages lazy teachers under the guise of “homework is inequitable.”

Thanks for being honest. We already know that there are many parents like you who openly support workplace abuse. They infect this place daily

Give my kid challenging homework and *actually give them feedback on it* and you'll get all my support!

Giving feedback on challenging homework is often giving a grade to the amount of help that child got from their parent. Still doesn't excuse the fact that you condone workplace abuse

Thanks for reinforcing why MS need principals that actually believe in having standards for kids and teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Idk, this is a great case study in how schools stay segregated. Posters are actively trying to convince someone who they've never met and know nothing about to not attend a school.

Oh please. DCPS MS and HS stay segregated specifically because parents who ask for reasonable things (like appropriate curriculum and challenge, and basic safety) are called “Karens” and “Nice White Parents.” (Let’s leave aside for the moment that POC parents with resources generally don’t even entertain the idea of the poorly performing schools.) Look at schools like Hardy and Deal, where the IB parents bought in because school leadership acknowledged their kids needs and showed they were willing to meet them. That’s how you get white parents to attend. (Meanwhile most wealthy/educated POC depart for privates or the burbs, but I digress.)

So what specifically does Hardy offer that other DCPS middle schools don’t?

Classes with the majority of kids at or above grade level, which means teachers can teach accordingly. Much smaller proportion of kids completely failing, meaning resources can be distributed more evenly. I believe they also offer geometry.

That’s circular logic. The post above suggested that Hardy did something to attract IB parents to the school in the first place. What exactly did it do that other schools are not doing?

Hopefully a Hardy/Deal parent will chime in. My understanding was that the principals did a lot of outreach about ensuring that the school would offer appropriate classes.

Really? So Hardy offers classes that are different from the standard DCPS middle school curriculum?

Well yes, they offer geometry that most EOTP MS do not. And they used to offer more tracked classes. More to the point is that principals like Melissa Kim made sure the teachers were doing what they should be.

Melissa Kim is gone from DCPS, primarily bc she abused staff

Honestly would prefer that over a principal who encourages lazy teachers under the guise of “homework is inequitable.”

Thanks for being honest. We already know that there are many parents like you who openly support workplace abuse. They infect this place daily

Give my kid challenging homework and *actually give them feedback on it* and you'll get all my support!

Giving feedback on challenging homework is often giving a grade to the amount of help that child got from their parent. Still doesn't excuse the fact that you condone workplace abuse

Thanks for reinforcing why MS need principals that actually believe in having standards for kids and teachers.

Here's a scenario: Teacher gives out a challenging assignment on two step equations with word problems to students in an advanced pre - algebra class

Student A: Tries the assignment on their own, gets 6-7/10 right teacher gives feedback

Student B: Meets with their math tutor or gets help from a parent, gets 10/10

How did this homework raise expectations or standards? And please don't tell me this doesn't happen as I've been tutoring students at Deal now for over a decade and more than 90% of what we do is their hw

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an idea who 17:32 is and can’t believe they are still at MacFarland; our kids attended elementary school together until we left after 3rd grade. Their child is really bright and I’m surprised they are sticking it out for whatever reason.

hint: it’s called “grandma is paying for private high school and college, so we aren’t worried about MS.”

If that’s the reason then I think there are very compelling arguments for putting your child in an environment like MacFarland before they go to a private school bubble. You can supplement at home for a few years.

Who wants to supplement all subjects for 3 years in addition to trying to fit in sports and extracurriculars? There is only so much time in the day.

Lastly, how many kids are going to buy into that? A full day of wasted school and then coming home to a few hours of more work?

I feel sorry for OP’s kid because of some abstract values he holds to send his kid there. His kid is not only not meeting his full potential academically but is missing out on all the extras like OP said with clubs, sports, etc…

DP. Since these schools have no homework there’s plenty of time to supplement. Also using the IB school often means a much shorter commute. We were considering MCPS with a long bus ride … instead DS will just have a 10 min walk. I wish the school was better but I’m not worried about the time spent in tutoring. Especially since 1:1 tutoring is so effective, you don’t have to spend that much time on it.

So let me see here. You are saying your kid is going to a school like MacFarland which means you are supplementing in all subjects - math, English, science, social studies, and maybe languages.

So unless you are supplementing that every single day, your kid is not getting an equivalent education as someone who goes to a good school and are getting the coursework they need at their level. 1-2 hours a week isn’t cutting it by a long shot. If you think they are then you are in denial.

DP, but... why do you care? What's it to you if this poster sends their kid to McFarland and is "in denial" about it? Is there some reason you think trying to persuade strangers on the Internet that they should make different choices than they already have is a good idea?

Why do you care if others point out something that is a fact?

I have to say, lots of posters on here are really, really defensive about anything negative or negative data presented on the school. Also some of these people are actually saying that parents should consider sending their kid here?? At a school where 6 6th graders are in grade level in math over hundreds? Seriously, how is a school like this even allowed to continue operating?

I won’t even go into the issues of lack of enriching extracurricular, sports, and clubs. I won’t go into the issue how someone found thought it was dangerous.

Standards are so damn low in DCPS. And people who are defending this just enable it to continue and DCPS can just continue chugging along failing the majority of the kids in this city.

Just more rhetoric without solutions.

There should be meaningful, test-in differentiation for core academic subjects by middle school, and if that can't be provided at every middle school, it should be offered somewhere in DC to eligible students, along with busing to get there. Kids who are on grade level should be able to access an appropriate education. Kids who need remediation should have easy access to that as well, instead of putting a kid in algebra who doesn't understand multiplication.

In the absence of that, don't send your kid to a falling school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an idea who 17:32 is and can’t believe they are still at MacFarland; our kids attended elementary school together until we left after 3rd grade. Their child is really bright and I’m surprised they are sticking it out for whatever reason.

hint: it’s called “grandma is paying for private high school and college, so we aren’t worried about MS.”

If that’s the reason then I think there are very compelling arguments for putting your child in an environment like MacFarland before they go to a private school bubble. You can supplement at home for a few years.

Who wants to supplement all subjects for 3 years in addition to trying to fit in sports and extracurriculars? There is only so much time in the day.

Lastly, how many kids are going to buy into that? A full day of wasted school and then coming home to a few hours of more work?

I feel sorry for OP’s kid because of some abstract values he holds to send his kid there. His kid is not only not meeting his full potential academically but is missing out on all the extras like OP said with clubs, sports, etc…

DP. Since these schools have no homework there’s plenty of time to supplement. Also using the IB school often means a much shorter commute. We were considering MCPS with a long bus ride … instead DS will just have a 10 min walk. I wish the school was better but I’m not worried about the time spent in tutoring. Especially since 1:1 tutoring is so effective, you don’t have to spend that much time on it.

So let me see here. You are saying your kid is going to a school like MacFarland which means you are supplementing in all subjects - math, English, science, social studies, and maybe languages.

So unless you are supplementing that every single day, your kid is not getting an equivalent education as someone who goes to a good school and are getting the coursework they need at their level. 1-2 hours a week isn’t cutting it by a long shot. If you think they are then you are in denial.

DP, but... why do you care? What's it to you if this poster sends their kid to McFarland and is "in denial" about it? Is there some reason you think trying to persuade strangers on the Internet that they should make different choices than they already have is a good idea?

Why do you care if others point out something that is a fact?

I have to say, lots of posters on here are really, really defensive about anything negative or negative data presented on the school. Also some of these people are actually saying that parents should consider sending their kid here?? At a school where 6 6th graders are in grade level in math over hundreds? Seriously, how is a school like this even allowed to continue operating?

I won’t even go into the issues of lack of enriching extracurricular, sports, and clubs. I won’t go into the issue how someone found thought it was dangerous.

Standards are so damn low in DCPS. And people who are defending this just enable it to continue and DCPS can just continue chugging along failing the majority of the kids in this city.

Just more rhetoric without solutions.

There should be meaningful, test-in differentiation for core academic subjects by middle school, and if that can't be provided at every middle school, it should be offered somewhere in DC to eligible students, along with busing to get there. Kids who are on grade level should be able to access an appropriate education. Kids who need remediation should have easy access to that as well, instead of putting a kid in algebra who doesn't understand multiplication.

In the absence of that, don't send your kid to a falling school.

This would be great! Can you explain how we would staff a building to provide all of this differentiation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an idea who 17:32 is and can’t believe they are still at MacFarland; our kids attended elementary school together until we left after 3rd grade. Their child is really bright and I’m surprised they are sticking it out for whatever reason.

hint: it’s called “grandma is paying for private high school and college, so we aren’t worried about MS.”

If that’s the reason then I think there are very compelling arguments for putting your child in an environment like MacFarland before they go to a private school bubble. You can supplement at home for a few years.

Who wants to supplement all subjects for 3 years in addition to trying to fit in sports and extracurriculars? There is only so much time in the day.

Lastly, how many kids are going to buy into that? A full day of wasted school and then coming home to a few hours of more work?

I feel sorry for OP’s kid because of some abstract values he holds to send his kid there. His kid is not only not meeting his full potential academically but is missing out on all the extras like OP said with clubs, sports, etc…

DP. Since these schools have no homework there’s plenty of time to supplement. Also using the IB school often means a much shorter commute. We were considering MCPS with a long bus ride … instead DS will just have a 10 min walk. I wish the school was better but I’m not worried about the time spent in tutoring. Especially since 1:1 tutoring is so effective, you don’t have to spend that much time on it.

So let me see here. You are saying your kid is going to a school like MacFarland which means you are supplementing in all subjects - math, English, science, social studies, and maybe languages.

So unless you are supplementing that every single day, your kid is not getting an equivalent education as someone who goes to a good school and are getting the coursework they need at their level. 1-2 hours a week isn’t cutting it by a long shot. If you think they are then you are in denial.

DP, but... why do you care? What's it to you if this poster sends their kid to McFarland and is "in denial" about it? Is there some reason you think trying to persuade strangers on the Internet that they should make different choices than they already have is a good idea?

Why do you care if others point out something that is a fact?

I have to say, lots of posters on here are really, really defensive about anything negative or negative data presented on the school. Also some of these people are actually saying that parents should consider sending their kid here?? At a school where 6 6th graders are in grade level in math over hundreds? Seriously, how is a school like this even allowed to continue operating?

I won’t even go into the issues of lack of enriching extracurricular, sports, and clubs. I won’t go into the issue how someone found thought it was dangerous.

Standards are so damn low in DCPS. And people who are defending this just enable it to continue and DCPS can just continue chugging along failing the majority of the kids in this city.

Just more rhetoric without solutions.

There should be meaningful, test-in differentiation for core academic subjects by middle school, and if that can't be provided at every middle school, it should be offered somewhere in DC to eligible students, along with busing to get there. Kids who are on grade level should be able to access an appropriate education. Kids who need remediation should have easy access to that as well, instead of putting a kid in algebra who doesn't understand multiplication.

In the absence of that, don't send your kid to a falling school.

This would be great! Can you explain how we would staff a building to provide all of this differentiation?

How do you think DCPS does IB curricula, early college programs, and selective admissions high schools? DCPS doesn't fail to do middle school differentiation because the logistics are difficult, they're not doing it because they don't want to.

DCPS is fine with running separate programs at existing schools that are more academic - what they're increasingly not fine with is test-in differentiation, which is how you get theoretically accelerated programs where the kids aren't on grade level. Heck, Deal has extensive differentiation because they have the student body to do it. Well, so would an EOTP middle school that committed to doing this.

As for remediation, there are so many kids in need of that that you can do that in existing schools. Again, it's a lack of will, because you'd have to face the scope of the problem.

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Anonymous wrote:Idk, this is a great case study in how schools stay segregated. Posters are actively trying to convince someone who they've never met and know nothing about to not attend a school.

Oh please. DCPS MS and HS stay segregated specifically because parents who ask for reasonable things (like appropriate curriculum and challenge, and basic safety) are called “Karens” and “Nice White Parents.” (Let’s leave aside for the moment that POC parents with resources generally don’t even entertain the idea of the poorly performing schools.) Look at schools like Hardy and Deal, where the IB parents bought in because school leadership acknowledged their kids needs and showed they were willing to meet them. That’s how you get white parents to attend. (Meanwhile most wealthy/educated POC depart for privates or the burbs, but I digress.)

So what specifically does Hardy offer that other DCPS middle schools don’t?

Classes with the majority of kids at or above grade level, which means teachers can teach accordingly. Much smaller proportion of kids completely failing, meaning resources can be distributed more evenly. I believe they also offer geometry.

That’s circular logic. The post above suggested that Hardy did something to attract IB parents to the school in the first place. What exactly did it do that other schools are not doing?

Hopefully a Hardy/Deal parent will chime in. My understanding was that the principals did a lot of outreach about ensuring that the school would offer appropriate classes.

Really? So Hardy offers classes that are different from the standard DCPS middle school curriculum?

Well yes, they offer geometry that most EOTP MS do not. And they used to offer more tracked classes. More to the point is that principals like Melissa Kim made sure the teachers were doing what they should be.

Melissa Kim is gone from DCPS, primarily bc she abused staff

Honestly would prefer that over a principal who encourages lazy teachers under the guise of “homework is inequitable.”

Thanks for being honest. We already know that there are many parents like you who openly support workplace abuse. They infect this place daily

Give my kid challenging homework and *actually give them feedback on it* and you'll get all my support!

Giving feedback on challenging homework is often giving a grade to the amount of help that child got from their parent. Still doesn't excuse the fact that you condone workplace abuse

Thanks for reinforcing why MS need principals that actually believe in having standards for kids and teachers.

Here's a scenario: Teacher gives out a challenging assignment on two step equations with word problems to students in an advanced pre - algebra class

Student A: Tries the assignment on their own, gets 6-7/10 right teacher gives feedback

Student B: Meets with their math tutor or gets help from a parent, gets 10/10

How did this homework raise expectations or standards? And please don't tell me this doesn't happen as I've been tutoring students at Deal now for over a decade and more than 90% of what we do is their hw

The kid won’t get tutor help or help from parents in college.

HW raises standards by reinforcing concepts taught, especially important in math, expects accountability from students to get it done and hand in, and helps kids with executive functioning in managing time, work and deadlines. Kids need to learn how to do above in college and in workplace.

The kid who got 7 and feedback from the teacher will get a lot more out of it then kid who got a 10. Also teachers know what kids can do and are capable especially if they are doing things in class. If things don’t align with class work and homework, the teacher might notice.

BTW in many schools in DCPS, especially the poorly performing ones there is no HW. It’s an “equity” issue which is BS. Just like DCPS says that kids can hand it in late and anytime. It’s going to be a rude awakening when things get real.