Teacher exposes the craptastic decline iof MCPS in Reddit rant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever. Let the kids ‘pass’, graduate, and learn the hard way that their slacking off will not land them a career. They can work a crappy job and be miserable, get fired for not coming in, and deal with the consequences. These are not little kids- these are soon to be adults who have made a choice. Teachers- stop wasting your energy on these students/parents that don’t respect what you do. We can’t save them all and instead, focus your energy on the ones that want to learn and the ones you can make an impact on. I changed my ways in the last two years and it has made teaching so much more enjoyable and meaningful.

You must not have SLOs where you are. At my school, we were given a list of the lowest performers and told to focus on them for the SLO. In 2 months, I have to show multi-point data that they have improved although all of them are two or more years behind and one is chronically absent.

Virginia has slo. This is mcps.

SLOs are different from the SOLs.

SLOs are Student Learning Objectives, and I believe MCPS uses these. (I used to teach in PGCPS, where SLOs were an absolute joke.)

I think SLOs are a requirement in all MD districts. I teach in Baltimore City where SLO scores are 35% of my EOY evaluation. I just posted previously about how student attendance is screwing so many teachers on our SLOs.

SLOs are such a waste of time. More busy work that takes the teacher’s time away from the classroom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That was a pretty enlightening Reddit thread. If a student is not self-motivated and high-performing, they are completely failed by MCPS schools today. It's a race to the bottom for average kids. And it's entirely caused by central office bureaucrats. Monica McKnight cannot leave soon enough.

So in summary, to increase graduation rates, MCPS stopped requiring kids actually go to class and stopped teachers from giving zeros for not doing any assignments. That caused a drop in attendance rates, so they redefined absences as just very tardy. The result is that kids without parental oversight are hanging out in the hallways and graduating with no skills, knowledge, or self-discipline. However, the graduation and attendance rates are meeting metrics.

Lol, you all need to name schools for me to believe this. And even more, you need to name schools because all that was done in the name of equity, but if true, it's actually hurting the kids who need equity.

Name schools? It’s happening at all of them at some level. Our MS and HS are doing this and it’s a total shame.

Names!? We don't need no stinkin' names!

All of them, dim bulb.

Well, in that case I am distressed. But then again, I shouldn't have been surprised. In other countries they separate kids into vocational, administrative, and scientific tracks. We don't do that here, but it sounds like instead we have an opt-out track for kids that don't want to learn, and an academic track for kids that do.

What would be truely distressing is if the opt-out vs academic tracks recreated the racial segregation of pre civil rights times. It's a sensitive question that may get this thread locked, but, are the kids in the hall and the kids in the classrooms or markedly different races? Defacto separate and unequal?

[Anonymous]

I teach an elective and kids obviously took it thinking itd be the easy "A"...Nope. They kept asking why they had B,C,D,E in the class throughout the first quarter and I'd explain it to them (for example: turning in nothing and not participating isnt an option). The first day of second quarter all of those same kids refused to do anything even after multiple prompts, "And you wonder why you didn't receive an A" lots of shrugs, lots of contempt dirty looks. They do not care. If it requires any amount of effort, they are over it. It's beyond pathetic.

As someone else said, the future is bleak. It's so bad right now. This isn't fear mongering either, this is the absolute truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That was a pretty enlightening Reddit thread. If a student is not self-motivated and high-performing, they are completely failed by MCPS schools today. It's a race to the bottom for average kids. And it's entirely caused by central office bureaucrats. Monica McKnight cannot leave soon enough.

So in summary, to increase graduation rates, MCPS stopped requiring kids actually go to class and stopped teachers from giving zeros for not doing any assignments. That caused a drop in attendance rates, so they redefined absences as just very tardy. The result is that kids without parental oversight are hanging out in the hallways and graduating with no skills, knowledge, or self-discipline. However, the graduation and attendance rates are meeting metrics.

Lol, you all need to name schools for me to believe this. And even more, you need to name schools because all that was done in the name of equity, but if true, it's actually hurting the kids who need equity.

Name schools? It’s happening at all of them at some level. Our MS and HS are doing this and it’s a total shame.

Names!? We don't need no stinkin' names!

All of them, dim bulb.

Well, in that case I am distressed. But then again, I shouldn't have been surprised. In other countries they separate kids into vocational, administrative, and scientific tracks. We don't do that here, but it sounds like instead we have an opt-out track for kids that don't want to learn, and an academic track for kids that do.

What would be truely distressing is if the opt-out vs academic tracks recreated the racial segregation of pre civil rights times. It's a sensitive question that may get this thread locked, but, are the kids in the hall and the kids in the classrooms or markedly different races? Defacto separate and unequal?

The latest trend is to not have tracks but to put all students whether advanced or remedial in "honors" classes together. This hamrs the high-achievers but helps reduce the gap so the county can claim they're made progress on something that is otherwise unfixable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an American culture problem. We want to pretend everyone is the same, but they aren't. Not every kid is college-bound. But every kid should be able to learn and thrive and end high school able to read and understand enough math to live life and pursue higher education if desired. Everyone who has an average IQ (and I mean everyone) can learn to read and do algebra. Also, we can teach kids what tools they can use to have success. What we can't do is pretend every kid needs to or is able to make it through AP calculus by their senior year in high school. Kids unfortunately do not start school on a level playing field. Schools can't level all the differences. If we were able and willing to meet kids where they are, spend more time reteaching kids who need repetition to get concepts and spend time building background knowledge for kids that need that, we'd end up with more kids happy and thriving in school. Unfortunately, we want to pretend different needs don't exist, all kids can meet the same benchmarks in the same time frame, and we consequently teach to an almost non-existent middle which leaves a lot of kids bored and a lot of kids perpetually confused.

But why????? How do we change this?

First, you have to admit far leftist policies resulted in this disaster. Then you have to get back to the basics of accountability. Kids don't hand in he on time? Zero. Kids don't attend class? Zero. There are no make up sessions and 50% awards for not showing up to work in real life. Look, accountability and common sense education WILL mean there will be some brown kids who fail and cannot keep up. So what? It is far more racist to assume they cannot do the work and be held accountable to high quality standards.

Everyone wants equitable outcomes, for sure. But throwing all standards out the window to reach that goal is a fatal mistake. Nothing will change until voters stop voting for far left liberal loons and their policies. It's truly remarkable how people have congitive dissonance and cannot associate the rapid decline of MCPS with their voting behaviors.

MCPS and MoCo are permanently screwed and will be in steep decline, because do you think they'll ever stop voting far left? One party rule with carte blanche to do whatever and never be held accountable to anyone.

Change all of that first and then you can get back to the basics of quality education.

I would say right-wing policies resulted in this. The GOP's whole jam is to dumb down the population in order to expand their base. This is who mainly benefits from these policies.

You can’t blame the GOP for this. MCPS and Montgomery County, in general, aren’t even touched by the GOP.

These changes are due to progressive policy changes here in MoCo. Own it. Progressive politics did this. Period.

You havent been paying attention at all. Obviously.

Um… I’m a teacher. I deal with this DAILY.

How can you possibly blame Republicans for ANYTHING as we sit here in super progressive Montgomery County?

[Anonymous]

Well, 'no child left behind' is the reason for all the dumb metrics

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know parents hate hearing this, but this is a huge parent problem. (And no, just because I'm writing this doesnt mean ALL parents. I'm not attacking you personally.) In general though...I had a girl walking around my class, filming kids WITHOUT their permission, she was defiant as I told her to put it away or I'd take it away. Instead, she called her mom on speaker and told her mom I threatened to take her phone away...mom started screaming through the phone I had zero rights to do this, started yelling profanity, etc...she shut off her phone smugly...smiled at me and said, "see, it doesnt matter. My mom doesnt care." I wish I was making this up. I informed principal and she just said, "our hands are tied." This isn't a sustainable profession or job anymore. The future is bleak.

You have a bad principal. He or she should give a detention or suspend the kid for a day. And, have a room for kids who misbehave, kicked out of class. Simple.

The code of conduct doesn’t allow it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an American culture problem. We want to pretend everyone is the same, but they aren't. Not every kid is college-bound. But every kid should be able to learn and thrive and end high school able to read and understand enough math to live life and pursue higher education if desired. Everyone who has an average IQ (and I mean everyone) can learn to read and do algebra. Also, we can teach kids what tools they can use to have success. What we can't do is pretend every kid needs to or is able to make it through AP calculus by their senior year in high school. Kids unfortunately do not start school on a level playing field. Schools can't level all the differences. If we were able and willing to meet kids where they are, spend more time reteaching kids who need repetition to get concepts and spend time building background knowledge for kids that need that, we'd end up with more kids happy and thriving in school. Unfortunately, we want to pretend different needs don't exist, all kids can meet the same benchmarks in the same time frame, and we consequently teach to an almost non-existent middle which leaves a lot of kids bored and a lot of kids perpetually confused.

But why????? How do we change this?

First, you have to admit far leftist policies resulted in this disaster. Then you have to get back to the basics of accountability. Kids don't hand in he on time? Zero. Kids don't attend class? Zero. There are no make up sessions and 50% awards for not showing up to work in real life. Look, accountability and common sense education WILL mean there will be some brown kids who fail and cannot keep up. So what? It is far more racist to assume they cannot do the work and be held accountable to high quality standards.

Everyone wants equitable outcomes, for sure. But throwing all standards out the window to reach that goal is a fatal mistake. Nothing will change until voters stop voting for far left liberal loons and their policies. It's truly remarkable how people have congitive dissonance and cannot associate the rapid decline of MCPS with their voting behaviors.

MCPS and MoCo are permanently screwed and will be in steep decline, because do you think they'll ever stop voting far left? One party rule with carte blanche to do whatever and never be held accountable to anyone.

Change all of that first and then you can get back to the basics of quality education.

I would say right-wing policies resulted in this. The GOP's whole jam is to dumb down the population in order to expand their base. This is who mainly benefits from these policies.

You can’t blame the GOP for this. MCPS and Montgomery County, in general, aren’t even touched by the GOP.

These changes are due to progressive policy changes here in MoCo. Own it. Progressive politics did this. Period.

You havent been paying attention at all. Obviously.

Um… I’m a teacher. I deal with this DAILY.

How can you possibly blame Republicans for ANYTHING as we sit here in super progressive Montgomery County?

They will find anyone or anything to blame rather than taking responsibility. This is the parents who had fits when things went virtual. Then they had fits when things opened and instead of policies as normal they kept the lax policies and its not impacting everyone and everything because they cannot handle or be bothered with their kids and principals and admin are too lazy to be adults and handle this stuff as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an American culture problem. We want to pretend everyone is the same, but they aren't. Not every kid is college-bound. But every kid should be able to learn and thrive and end high school able to read and understand enough math to live life and pursue higher education if desired. Everyone who has an average IQ (and I mean everyone) can learn to read and do algebra. Also, we can teach kids what tools they can use to have success. What we can't do is pretend every kid needs to or is able to make it through AP calculus by their senior year in high school. Kids unfortunately do not start school on a level playing field. Schools can't level all the differences. If we were able and willing to meet kids where they are, spend more time reteaching kids who need repetition to get concepts and spend time building background knowledge for kids that need that, we'd end up with more kids happy and thriving in school. Unfortunately, we want to pretend different needs don't exist, all kids can meet the same benchmarks in the same time frame, and we consequently teach to an almost non-existent middle which leaves a lot of kids bored and a lot of kids perpetually confused.

But why????? How do we change this?

First, you have to admit far leftist policies resulted in this disaster. Then you have to get back to the basics of accountability. Kids don't hand in he on time? Zero. Kids don't attend class? Zero. There are no make up sessions and 50% awards for not showing up to work in real life. Look, accountability and common sense education WILL mean there will be some brown kids who fail and cannot keep up. So what? It is far more racist to assume they cannot do the work and be held accountable to high quality standards.

Everyone wants equitable outcomes, for sure. But throwing all standards out the window to reach that goal is a fatal mistake. Nothing will change until voters stop voting for far left liberal loons and their policies. It's truly remarkable how people have congitive dissonance and cannot associate the rapid decline of MCPS with their voting behaviors.

MCPS and MoCo are permanently screwed and will be in steep decline, because do you think they'll ever stop voting far left? One party rule with carte blanche to do whatever and never be held accountable to anyone.

Change all of that first and then you can get back to the basics of quality education.

I would say right-wing policies resulted in this. The GOP's whole jam is to dumb down the population in order to expand their base. This is who mainly benefits from these policies.

Left-wing policies resulted in the problems MCPS is having - the whole equity thing, dumbing down everything, passing along kids who don't care.

Right-wing policies are responsible for things like 4 day school weeks, not teaching true history, bringing religion into all classes (teaching creationism instead of science, etc.).

Two different problems. We are talking about the former not the latter so it is a left-wing problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of it is true, but we have a few really good teacher this year who are holding the kids accountable and really tuff with grading but they are also teaching them the the skills that they didn't get in ES or MS. The teachers can do far more and some choose not to. The worst are the ones who will not read or return email when you try to work with them.

Parents don’t care. Period. I have 12 kids who had over 26 absences each in quarter 1. It’s time for a mirror.

Our 1st quarter report cards went out on Wednesday and the principal has already gotten upset parents contacting him. This was the first year I've included in my comments how many unexcused absences a student has during the quarter (for students who are headed toward chronic absenteeism). Apparently some of my student's parents didn't like reading, "Larlo/Larla has had _____ unexcused absences this quarter. I guess the truth hurts. We have two FT people at our school whose sole job it is to figure out how to get kids to come to school and cut down on chronic absenteeism. We hit 50%+ chronically absent students last school year.

Our student's test scores factor in to our end of year evaluation but it's only if our students miss around 50 days of school are they exempted from our calculation. I have students exempted every year and ones that nearly meet this number. Let's just say that a student missing 45 days has no chance in he** of meeting my target.

Y'all sent report cards early?

[Anonymous]

All of these folks claiming this side or that side's policies are responsible. Care to provide any reasonable source?

Or is it your own biases speaking?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That was a pretty enlightening Reddit thread. If a student is not self-motivated and high-performing, they are completely failed by MCPS schools today. It's a race to the bottom for average kids. And it's entirely caused by central office bureaucrats. Monica McKnight cannot leave soon enough.

Exactly. It’s a damn shame. How do we change this?

We don't. Progressives live in a fantasy world and implement solutions that only work in that world. Because they control MoCo from to to bottom, things cannot get better.

C’mon, leave politics out of it. We all want what is best for our kids and for the future of our communities.

I assume this is sarcasm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an American culture problem. We want to pretend everyone is the same, but they aren't. Not every kid is college-bound. But every kid should be able to learn and thrive and end high school able to read and understand enough math to live life and pursue higher education if desired. Everyone who has an average IQ (and I mean everyone) can learn to read and do algebra. Also, we can teach kids what tools they can use to have success. What we can't do is pretend every kid needs to or is able to make it through AP calculus by their senior year in high school. Kids unfortunately do not start school on a level playing field. Schools can't level all the differences. If we were able and willing to meet kids where they are, spend more time reteaching kids who need repetition to get concepts and spend time building background knowledge for kids that need that, we'd end up with more kids happy and thriving in school. Unfortunately, we want to pretend different needs don't exist, all kids can meet the same benchmarks in the same time frame, and we consequently teach to an almost non-existent middle which leaves a lot of kids bored and a lot of kids perpetually confused.

But why????? How do we change this?

First, you have to admit far leftist policies resulted in this disaster. Then you have to get back to the basics of accountability. Kids don't hand in he on time? Zero. Kids don't attend class? Zero. There are no make up sessions and 50% awards for not showing up to work in real life. Look, accountability and common sense education WILL mean there will be some brown kids who fail and cannot keep up. So what? It is far more racist to assume they cannot do the work and be held accountable to high quality standards.

Everyone wants equitable outcomes, for sure. But throwing all standards out the window to reach that goal is a fatal mistake. Nothing will change until voters stop voting for far left liberal loons and their policies. It's truly remarkable how people have congitive dissonance and cannot associate the rapid decline of MCPS with their voting behaviors.

MCPS and MoCo are permanently screwed and will be in steep decline, because do you think they'll ever stop voting far left? One party rule with carte blanche to do whatever and never be held accountable to anyone.

Change all of that first and then you can get back to the basics of quality education.

I would say right-wing policies resulted in this. The GOP's whole jam is to dumb down the population in order to expand their base. This is who mainly benefits from these policies.

You can’t blame the GOP for this. MCPS and Montgomery County, in general, aren’t even touched by the GOP.

These changes are due to progressive policy changes here in MoCo. Own it. Progressive politics did this. Period.

You havent been paying attention at all. Obviously.

Um… I’m a teacher. I deal with this DAILY.

How can you possibly blame Republicans for ANYTHING as we sit here in super progressive Montgomery County?

They will find anyone or anything to blame rather than taking responsibility. This is the parents who had fits when things went virtual. Then they had fits when things opened and instead of policies as normal they kept the lax policies and its not impacting everyone and everything because they cannot handle or be bothered with their kids and principals and admin are too lazy to be adults and handle this stuff as well.

Hey, PP asked how one could possibly blame Republicans for this. I personally wouldn't blame a political party, but blaming 'no child left behind' policies is a legitimate claim.

However, I think you're making an error when you say 'they' as in parents are looking to blame anyone. It's not parents complaining in this thread. It's teachers. As a parent, I'm pragmatic, and I'm fine with the two tiered system. If the disruptive kids want to hang out in the hallway, cool, leave my Larlo to take notes in peace. As a citizen, I'm distressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an American culture problem. We want to pretend everyone is the same, but they aren't. Not every kid is college-bound. But every kid should be able to learn and thrive and end high school able to read and understand enough math to live life and pursue higher education if desired. Everyone who has an average IQ (and I mean everyone) can learn to read and do algebra. Also, we can teach kids what tools they can use to have success. What we can't do is pretend every kid needs to or is able to make it through AP calculus by their senior year in high school. Kids unfortunately do not start school on a level playing field. Schools can't level all the differences. If we were able and willing to meet kids where they are, spend more time reteaching kids who need repetition to get concepts and spend time building background knowledge for kids that need that, we'd end up with more kids happy and thriving in school. Unfortunately, we want to pretend different needs don't exist, all kids can meet the same benchmarks in the same time frame, and we consequently teach to an almost non-existent middle which leaves a lot of kids bored and a lot of kids perpetually confused.

But why????? How do we change this?

First, you have to admit far leftist policies resulted in this disaster. Then you have to get back to the basics of accountability. Kids don't hand in he on time? Zero. Kids don't attend class? Zero. There are no make up sessions and 50% awards for not showing up to work in real life. Look, accountability and common sense education WILL mean there will be some brown kids who fail and cannot keep up. So what? It is far more racist to assume they cannot do the work and be held accountable to high quality standards.

Everyone wants equitable outcomes, for sure. But throwing all standards out the window to reach that goal is a fatal mistake. Nothing will change until voters stop voting for far left liberal loons and their policies. It's truly remarkable how people have congitive dissonance and cannot associate the rapid decline of MCPS with their voting behaviors.

MCPS and MoCo are permanently screwed and will be in steep decline, because do you think they'll ever stop voting far left? One party rule with carte blanche to do whatever and never be held accountable to anyone.

Change all of that first and then you can get back to the basics of quality education.

Exactly. We need balance and this county is SO far left that it’s impossible to make changes.

Yep. I'm a Democrat. But the lunatics in office in MoCo are so far left I can't believe we are in the same party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an American culture problem. We want to pretend everyone is the same, but they aren't. Not every kid is college-bound. But every kid should be able to learn and thrive and end high school able to read and understand enough math to live life and pursue higher education if desired. Everyone who has an average IQ (and I mean everyone) can learn to read and do algebra. Also, we can teach kids what tools they can use to have success. What we can't do is pretend every kid needs to or is able to make it through AP calculus by their senior year in high school. Kids unfortunately do not start school on a level playing field. Schools can't level all the differences. If we were able and willing to meet kids where they are, spend more time reteaching kids who need repetition to get concepts and spend time building background knowledge for kids that need that, we'd end up with more kids happy and thriving in school. Unfortunately, we want to pretend different needs don't exist, all kids can meet the same benchmarks in the same time frame, and we consequently teach to an almost non-existent middle which leaves a lot of kids bored and a lot of kids perpetually confused.

But why????? How do we change this?

First, you have to admit far leftist policies resulted in this disaster. Then you have to get back to the basics of accountability. Kids don't hand in he on time? Zero. Kids don't attend class? Zero. There are no make up sessions and 50% awards for not showing up to work in real life. Look, accountability and common sense education WILL mean there will be some brown kids who fail and cannot keep up. So what? It is far more racist to assume they cannot do the work and be held accountable to high quality standards.

Everyone wants equitable outcomes, for sure. But throwing all standards out the window to reach that goal is a fatal mistake. Nothing will change until voters stop voting for far left liberal loons and their policies. It's truly remarkable how people have congitive dissonance and cannot associate the rapid decline of MCPS with their voting behaviors.

MCPS and MoCo are permanently screwed and will be in steep decline, because do you think they'll ever stop voting far left? One party rule with carte blanche to do whatever and never be held accountable to anyone.

Change all of that first and then you can get back to the basics of quality education.

I would say right-wing policies resulted in this. The GOP's whole jam is to dumb down the population in order to expand their base. This is who mainly benefits from these policies.

The MCDCC thanks you for your post. But even I, as a Democrat, laughed out loud when reading your post. MCPS was one of the best school systems in the country while MoCo was run by Republicans and then moderate Dems. Now that we have leftist lunatics in office implementing insane policies, it's falling like Wil E Coyote and you're blaming the party that hasn't been in control of MoCo in decades.