TPMS is killing the arts, the magnet program, and the autism program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do all MCPS have the same education or not?

So sick of seeing over and over how “W” schools are privileged while TPMS and apparently Loiderman students take more classes than the rest of MCPS.

All middle school students should have the opportunity to take core classes plus extra electives not just a select few based on zip code. We should invest in all students not focus on a few students served by magnets.

And don’t say W parents can just supplement. Guess what? There are FARMS students everywhere.

No they don’t. And there are very few farms at the w schools compared to other schools. This post is deceptive as they aren’t taking away the program, just changing the schedule and it’s been talked about for years.

The administration recruited based on the 8 period schedule. Highly encouraged magnet kids to take languages and assured parents there would still be room for a true elective. All along, they knew what was coming and did it anyway. If it was solely a reorg to brings things in to compliance, I think it would be accepted better. It’s the deception and the bait and switch and the total lack of transparency over the past several months that has people feeling used and abused. They just hoped families would be too invested by then to bolt. Admin needs to go.

[Anonymous]

Part of me can empathize with families having made a school decision based on a set of circumstances, and feeling bait and switched.

The other part of me is shocked by the hubris of parents whose kids literally won the lottery into a program that, at present, is “better” than every other school, who truly feel entitled to an extra elective no other middle schoolers can access, plus peer group.

The school can do whatever they want! You now have a variety of choices. If daily band or orchestra is more important than the comp sci stuff, return to your home school. If you’re part of the set aside group, you can stay at the same school and just attend the neighborhood program with advanced math and SS classes. If the stem and peer group is most important, join DCYOP and resume band in 9th.

None of this stuff goes on college applications! Any choice you make will be ok!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Part of me can empathize with families having made a school decision based on a set of circumstances, and feeling bait and switched.

The other part of me is shocked by the hubris of parents whose kids literally won the lottery into a program that, at present, is “better” than every other school, who truly feel entitled to an extra elective no other middle schoolers can access, plus peer group.

The school can do whatever they want! You now have a variety of choices. If daily band or orchestra is more important than the comp sci stuff, return to your home school. If you’re part of the set aside group, you can stay at the same school and just attend the neighborhood program with advanced math and SS classes. If the stem and peer group is most important, join DCYOP and resume band in 9th.

None of this stuff goes on college applications! Any choice you make will be ok!

The school can do what it wants, but if it does so by baiting and switching, poor communication and without authentic buy-in, then they cannot complain about the loss and breakdown of community trust and reputational damage. Everything has a cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Part of me can empathize with families having made a school decision based on a set of circumstances, and feeling bait and switched.

The other part of me is shocked by the hubris of parents whose kids literally won the lottery into a program that, at present, is “better” than every other school, who truly feel entitled to an extra elective no other middle schoolers can access, plus peer group.

The school can do whatever they want! You now have a variety of choices. If daily band or orchestra is more important than the comp sci stuff, return to your home school. If you’re part of the set aside group, you can stay at the same school and just attend the neighborhood program with advanced math and SS classes. If the stem and peer group is most important, join DCYOP and resume band in 9th.

None of this stuff goes on college applications! Any choice you make will be ok!

This.

Can you imagine the outrage if a west county school offered their students an extra class per day that no other mcps students could take?

Yes there will be variations at the different schools but something as basic as the number of classes per student per year should be the same for all schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to try and summarize so I can keep this straight in my head.

TPMS currently has an 8 period schedule and teachers voted to move it to a 7 period schedule. This is inline with other MCPS MS but the vote did not engage the community (parents). Teachers also voted not to increase class size.

As an example: if a grade has 100 kids. There used to be 5 periods of English available so there would be 20 kids in a class. Now there are only 4 periods of English available so there would be 25 kids in a class. However, teachers also did not want class size to increase.

So budget will have to be allocated to increase teachers for core classes to keep the class size the same. The budget will come from a decrease in the art and music budget. As there will be less teachers for art and music, there will be less elective periods available and now students will be limited to one elective (language, art, or music)

Did I get all of that correct?

Kind of. I don’t think the teachers voted about class size as their concern is about total number of students they teach and the school has only shared numbers that show those numbers staying mostly the same.

What is average class size now at the school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see why the community should have been engaged at all. The mistake here was in even paying lip service. The principal should have just handed down a fiat and been done with it. The teachers were apparently doing something that was well above and beyond and outside of their contract. They decided they no longer wish to do this. Why should the community be consulted? What makes you think that you have the right to demand that the teachers do this, and that it should even be an option on the table to keep? And if it's not a real option, what is there to discuss with the community? Were you actually dumb enough to think that your screaming and tantrums would cause the school to say, "Oh yeah, then we'll keep forcing the teachers to do work they aren't paid for, to placate you?", or that it would be a good thing if they did? Get over yourself.

No one is making you go to the magnet. If you don't like it, go back to your home school. The other 99.9% of the county who never had this in the first place is hardly crying into their soup.

Magnet teachers try the best learners in the county, so they should be doing extra work in exchange for not having to deal with poorly behaved kids and disengaged kids. Plenty of teachers would love to take the place of the magnet teachers.

Teacher here who has worked with many different student populations. They are ALL challenging, just in different ways. Magnet teachers don’t have easier jobs, and many teachers actually avoid teaching at magnets because of the additional workload (more grading, more parent contacts, etc.).

This exactly. Magnet teaching is not easy. It is challenging in a different way. And the parents tend to be way extra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do all MCPS have the same education or not?

So sick of seeing over and over how “W” schools are privileged while TPMS and apparently Loiderman students take more classes than the rest of MCPS.

All middle school students should have the opportunity to take core classes plus extra electives not just a select few based on zip code. We should invest in all students not focus on a few students served by magnets.

And don’t say W parents can just supplement. Guess what? There are FARMS students everywhere.

Why would we need to supplement when our W feeder ES offers pre-algebra to our students?

[Anonymous]

Ok. I think I understand. TPMS up to now required teachers to teach an extra class beyond what teachers at other middle schools are required to teach. This extra work was not compensated. Parents like this perk and are used to’ better treatment’ than would occur at other middle schools. Now teachers say they are no longer very willing to teach an extra class beyond what they would teach elsewhere so the middle school will need to have a similar schedule to other middle schools. Parents see this as unfair in a negative way to them versus the unfair in a positive way to them that had been occurring. I do not think requiring teachers to teach an extra class will get MCPS wide parent support nor MCEA support. Parents of magnet students who choose TPMS based on the extra period can reverse this decision for next year and return to their home schools if the magnet no longer meets their needs. The good thing about the magnet is that it is optional so students can choose between what the magnet offers the year they are choosing to attend versus what their home schools offers. At a time when all of MCPS is struggling due to teacher retention issues, larger class sizes and underfunded special education needs, I do not see a will to protest over TPMS not requiring teachers to teach the extra period. At all middle schools, students have to make choices that limit their options for electives and it sounds like this will now also be the case for students at TPMS.

My guess is that as MCPS struggles with budget concerns that led to the increased class size guidance that occurred going into this year, the appetite for pressing teachers to work extra such as teaching an extra class is non-existent. My guess is also that it would be a hard sell for MCPS to justify hiring more teachers for one school to accommodate the extra period at a time when so many schools are suffering from overly large class sizes.

In a perfect world, all middle school students would be able to take both a foreign language and also another elective. In the world most MCPS middle school students inhabit, students must choose between the elective or the language. And now TPMS students must as well. This is not gutting the music/art program but rather making the program the same as at other middle schools.

Parents angry over the change at TPMS would likely get much more sympathy and support if they aligned with parents at other middle schools to argue that all middle schools should be structured to allow the extra period so that all students could benefit. Arguing that students at one MS are more deserving than students at other middle schools of the extra period is a bad look.

I do understand the anger a the ‘fake’ community outreach. It would have been better for parents just to have been told that this change was coming and to make their plans for next year accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the non magnet part of TPMS currently have the extra 8th period?

Yes. Until this year it meant double math, which was fantastic. Then without telling anyone that changed setting the scene for this change.

Not true, exactly. They eliminated the double math period for 8th graders taking Geometry 2 years ago (when my now 10th grader was in 8th). At the time they said it was to help acclimate accelerated students to the faster paced math coming in high school.

On another note - it might be argued that it was senseless to give non magnet TPMS kids twice the time as other MCPS middle school kids to cover the same amount of material.

This is the first year it has been eliminated for all students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do all MCPS have the same education or not?

So sick of seeing over and over how “W” schools are privileged while TPMS and apparently Loiderman students take more classes than the rest of MCPS.

All middle school students should have the opportunity to take core classes plus extra electives not just a select few based on zip code. We should invest in all students not focus on a few students served by magnets.

And don’t say W parents can just supplement. Guess what? There are FARMS students everywhere.

No they don’t. And there are very few farms at the w schools compared to other schools. This post is deceptive as they aren’t taking away the program, just changing the schedule and it’s been talked about for years.

The post isn’t deceptive, it’s accurate. The subject line is sensationalist, yes, but the school is damaging those programs with this plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok. I think I understand. TPMS up to now required teachers to teach an extra class beyond what teachers at other middle schools are required to teach. This extra work was not compensated. Parents like this perk and are used to’ better treatment’ than would occur at other middle schools. Now teachers say they are no longer very willing to teach an extra class beyond what they would teach elsewhere so the middle school will need to have a similar schedule to other middle schools. Parents see this as unfair in a negative way to them versus the unfair in a positive way to them that had been occurring. I do not think requiring teachers to teach an extra class will get MCPS wide parent support nor MCEA support. Parents of magnet students who choose TPMS based on the extra period can reverse this decision for next year and return to their home schools if the magnet no longer meets their needs. The good thing about the magnet is that it is optional so students can choose between what the magnet offers the year they are choosing to attend versus what their home schools offers. At a time when all of MCPS is struggling due to teacher retention issues, larger class sizes and underfunded special education needs, I do not see a will to protest over TPMS not requiring teachers to teach the extra period. At all middle schools, students have to make choices that limit their options for electives and it sounds like this will now also be the case for students at TPMS.

My guess is that as MCPS struggles with budget concerns that led to the increased class size guidance that occurred going into this year, the appetite for pressing teachers to work extra such as teaching an extra class is non-existent. My guess is also that it would be a hard sell for MCPS to justify hiring more teachers for one school to accommodate the extra period at a time when so many schools are suffering from overly large class sizes.

In a perfect world, all middle school students would be able to take both a foreign language and also another elective. In the world most MCPS middle school students inhabit, students must choose between the elective or the language. And now TPMS students must as well. This is not gutting the music/art program but rather making the program the same as at other middle schools.

Parents angry over the change at TPMS would likely get much more sympathy and support if they aligned with parents at other middle schools to argue that all middle schools should be structured to allow the extra period so that all students could benefit. Arguing that students at one MS are more deserving than students at other middle schools of the extra period is a bad look.

I do understand the anger a the ‘fake’ community outreach. It would have been better for parents just to have been told that this change was coming and to make their plans for next year accordingly.

You are misunderstanding that other schools also have eight periods. There are other ways to structure this.

You are also misunderstanding that all students can go “back” to a different school

You are also failing to understand that total teaching time is roughly the same for either model and regardless, having teachers teach 5/8 sessions would give them similar student numbers than 5/7

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised MCPS would gut TPMS. I thought it was considered one of the golden schools in the system? But the rest of the stuff you described in terms of lack of transparency, disregarding community input, etc. is very much textbook MCPS.

I just didn't think they'd do that to Takoma Park!

Takoma isn’t a golden school, it’s only good by DCC standards. The magnet was put there because it was one of the first middle schools in MoCo to get an influx of poor minorities due to maple Ave and they incentivized an influx of kids to stabilize things

Say that without crying.

Crying with laughter? Ah yes the poorly ranked middle school that has to bus in smart kids and cut out the poorest parts of TP to get it mid rankings. Clearly the jewel of the county Guess it’s better than it’s sister school eastern so you have that going for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised MCPS would gut TPMS. I thought it was considered one of the golden schools in the system? But the rest of the stuff you described in terms of lack of transparency, disregarding community input, etc. is very much textbook MCPS.

I just didn't think they'd do that to Takoma Park!

Takoma isn’t a golden school, it’s only good by DCC standards. The magnet was put there because it was one of the first middle schools in MoCo to get an influx of poor minorities due to maple Ave and they incentivized an influx of kids to stabilize things

Say that without crying.

Crying with laughter? Ah yes the poorly ranked middle school that has to bus in smart kids and cut out the poorest parts of TP to get it mid rankings. Clearly the jewel of the county Guess it’s better than it’s sister school eastern so you have that going for it.

Wow, some nasty posters here. It's possible to have this discussion without insulting the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok. I think I understand. TPMS up to now required teachers to teach an extra class beyond what teachers at other middle schools are required to teach. This extra work was not compensated. Parents like this perk and are used to’ better treatment’ than would occur at other middle schools. Now teachers say they are no longer very willing to teach an extra class beyond what they would teach elsewhere so the middle school will need to have a similar schedule to other middle schools. Parents see this as unfair in a negative way to them versus the unfair in a positive way to them that had been occurring. I do not think requiring teachers to teach an extra class will get MCPS wide parent support nor MCEA support. Parents of magnet students who choose TPMS based on the extra period can reverse this decision for next year and return to their home schools if the magnet no longer meets their needs. The good thing about the magnet is that it is optional so students can choose between what the magnet offers the year they are choosing to attend versus what their home schools offers. At a time when all of MCPS is struggling due to teacher retention issues, larger class sizes and underfunded special education needs, I do not see a will to protest over TPMS not requiring teachers to teach the extra period. At all middle schools, students have to make choices that limit their options for electives and it sounds like this will now also be the case for students at TPMS.

My guess is that as MCPS struggles with budget concerns that led to the increased class size guidance that occurred going into this year, the appetite for pressing teachers to work extra such as teaching an extra class is non-existent. My guess is also that it would be a hard sell for MCPS to justify hiring more teachers for one school to accommodate the extra period at a time when so many schools are suffering from overly large class sizes.

In a perfect world, all middle school students would be able to take both a foreign language and also another elective. In the world most MCPS middle school students inhabit, students must choose between the elective or the language. And now TPMS students must as well. This is not gutting the music/art program but rather making the program the same as at other middle schools.

Parents angry over the change at TPMS would likely get much more sympathy and support if they aligned with parents at other middle schools to argue that all middle schools should be structured to allow the extra period so that all students could benefit. Arguing that students at one MS are more deserving than students at other middle schools of the extra period is a bad look.

I do understand the anger a the ‘fake’ community outreach. It would have been better for parents just to have been told that this change was coming and to make their plans for next year accordingly.

Wow. This is so well said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok. I think I understand. TPMS up to now required teachers to teach an extra class beyond what teachers at other middle schools are required to teach. This extra work was not compensated. Parents like this perk and are used to’ better treatment’ than would occur at other middle schools. Now teachers say they are no longer very willing to teach an extra class beyond what they would teach elsewhere so the middle school will need to have a similar schedule to other middle schools. Parents see this as unfair in a negative way to them versus the unfair in a positive way to them that had been occurring. I do not think requiring teachers to teach an extra class will get MCPS wide parent support nor MCEA support. Parents of magnet students who choose TPMS based on the extra period can reverse this decision for next year and return to their home schools if the magnet no longer meets their needs. The good thing about the magnet is that it is optional so students can choose between what the magnet offers the year they are choosing to attend versus what their home schools offers. At a time when all of MCPS is struggling due to teacher retention issues, larger class sizes and underfunded special education needs, I do not see a will to protest over TPMS not requiring teachers to teach the extra period. At all middle schools, students have to make choices that limit their options for electives and it sounds like this will now also be the case for students at TPMS.

My guess is that as MCPS struggles with budget concerns that led to the increased class size guidance that occurred going into this year, the appetite for pressing teachers to work extra such as teaching an extra class is non-existent. My guess is also that it would be a hard sell for MCPS to justify hiring more teachers for one school to accommodate the extra period at a time when so many schools are suffering from overly large class sizes.

In a perfect world, all middle school students would be able to take both a foreign language and also another elective. In the world most MCPS middle school students inhabit, students must choose between the elective or the language. And now TPMS students must as well. This is not gutting the music/art program but rather making the program the same as at other middle schools.

Parents angry over the change at TPMS would likely get much more sympathy and support if they aligned with parents at other middle schools to argue that all middle schools should be structured to allow the extra period so that all students could benefit. Arguing that students at one MS are more deserving than students at other middle schools of the extra period is a bad look.

I do understand the anger a the ‘fake’ community outreach. It would have been better for parents just to have been told that this change was coming and to make their plans for next year accordingly.

Wow. This is so well said.

Yes exactly.