MCPS just isn't so great anymore - WashPo Opinion 9/6/2013

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Texas! For god's sake do some research first. Texas is notorious for low standards and crazy interventions into the curriculum by idealogues. If you want your children to learn that dinosaurs and men may have walked the earth at the same time, by all means move to Texas.

Science education in Texas:

http://ncse.com/taking-action/tell-texas-board-ed-dont-mess-with-textbooks

Creationism, climate change denial -- but hey, no Common Core!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And I'm assuming that you don't support his proposed solution of boundary changes for better demographic and economic integration -- or do you?

I don't see why that option shouldn't be on the table. But it may be more politically possible in the form of choice versus "forced" busing.

There are currently some boundaries drawn that in effect already act to integrate in this way. Check out the BCC cluster boundaries.

Yeah, and my kids go to one of the diverse schools in the BCC cluster and half of the white families in the neighborhood won't send their kids to the school because there are too many poor and minority students. I think his article had some great points and his solution is a nice idea, but totally unrealistic. The minute you start changing the boundaries is the minute white people flee MoCo. Sad but true.

For where? Howard County? Baltimore County? Virginia?

I am up for moving to VA. Won't have to switch jobs and schools there aren't subject to the Common Core Standards. I have also considered transferring to Texas. Beyond that, I am looking into private schools in the DC area.

You do realize that Virginia and Texas have state standards that are considered less rigorous than the Common Core?

Bahahaha! Someone has been drinking too much of Starr's Kool-Aide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You do realize that Virginia and Texas have state standards that are considered less rigorous than the Common Core?

Bahahaha! Someone has been drinking too much of Starr's Kool-Aide.

The Common Core is Joshua Starr's invention? How about that.

[Anonymous]

Middle/high schoolers are not capable of getting places on public transportation that does not exist.

Actually MoCo has a bus system. It's called RideOn and plenty of people depend on it.

If the school population started riding RideOn, there would need to be far more buses added & more frequent service. This would lead to more people riding on RideOn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Middle/high schoolers are not capable of getting places on public transportation that does not exist.

Actually MoCo has a bus system. It's called RideOn and plenty of people depend on it.

If the school population started riding RideOn, there would need to be far more buses added & more frequent service. This would lead to more people riding on RideOn.

Yes, RideOn is a great bus system -- for a suburban bus system in the US. If you want to expand RideOn, then you should push for the state and the county to increase funding. Because that's what's limiting service, not ridership.

Meanwhile, your plan is:

1. Tell middle-school and high-school kids that from now on, they need to take RideOn -- even if RideOn can't actually get them where they're going, safely and conveniently.
2. something something more funding
3. something something more service
4. Better RideOn service

[Anonymous]

There would be more funding for Ride On if more people (students are people too) ride Ride On. Do you think that public school buses don't cost anything to operate?

Why have two separate public transportation systems side-by-side?

But I guess you are right. I mean, what do the Swiss/Germans/Dutch know about public transportation systems anyway? We are all much better off with the system we currently have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But I guess you are right. I mean, what do the Swiss/Germans/Dutch know about public transportation systems anyway? We are all much better off with the system we currently have.

Did I say that? No, I didn't.

I am all in favor of improving RideOn service. I am also all in favor of reducing the number of buses MCPS has to run -- especially the ridiculous bus routes that take children across the street, because the street is too dangerous to cross on foot.

But your argument is basically, let's make kids use inadequate RideOn bus service to get to school, with the hope that this will push for funding to make RideOn bus service more adequate.

How will this improve public schools in Montgomery County?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But I guess you are right. I mean, what do the Swiss/Germans/Dutch know about public transportation systems anyway? We are all much better off with the system we currently have.

Did I say that? No, I didn't.

I am all in favor of improving RideOn service. I am also all in favor of reducing the number of buses MCPS has to run -- especially the ridiculous bus routes that take children across the street, because the street is too dangerous to cross on foot.

But your argument is basically, let's make kids use inadequate RideOn bus service to get to school, with the hope that this will push for funding to make RideOn bus service more adequate.

How will this improve public schools in Montgomery County?

The point that the bussing debate came out of was to give students more options to choose the school that they want to attend as a way to promote diversity.

Everyone complains that the "W" schools are so much better than schools in low income areas but I don't think that is the case. I do believe greater diversity in all schools would mean a better experience for all children. Children need to be exposed to other children with different socio economic levels and different cultures. That is what working in the real world is like. If a voluntary system was in place so children had more choices in educational experiences, I think that would be a positive method to encourage diversity than the current system allows for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But I guess you are right. I mean, what do the Swiss/Germans/Dutch know about public transportation systems anyway? We are all much better off with the system we currently have.

Did I say that? No, I didn't.

I am all in favor of improving RideOn service. I am also all in favor of reducing the number of buses MCPS has to run -- especially the ridiculous bus routes that take children across the street, because the street is too dangerous to cross on foot.

But your argument is basically, let's make kids use inadequate RideOn bus service to get to school, with the hope that this will push for funding to make RideOn bus service more adequate.

How will this improve public schools in Montgomery County?

I'm not being snarky but I am guessing that the people who are for this plan most likely would be beneficiaries (higher SES students). The ones opposed are the high SES folks who would see lower SES in their schools. I'm on the side that benefits my kids.

The point that the bussing debate came out of was to give students more options to choose the school that they want to attend as a way to promote diversity.

Everyone complains that the "W" schools are so much better than schools in low income areas but I don't think that is the case. I do believe greater diversity in all schools would mean a better experience for all children. Children need to be exposed to other children with different socio economic levels and different cultures. That is what working in the real world is like. If a voluntary system was in place so children had more choices in educational experiences, I think that would be a positive method to encourage diversity than the current system allows for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And I'm assuming that you don't support his proposed solution of boundary changes for better demographic and economic integration -- or do you?

I don't see why that option shouldn't be on the table. But it may be more politically possible in the form of choice versus "forced" busing.

There are currently some boundaries drawn that in effect already act to integrate in this way. Check out the BCC cluster boundaries.

Yeah, and my kids go to one of the diverse schools in the BCC cluster and half of the white families in the neighborhood won't send their kids to the school because there are too many poor and minority students. I think his article had some great points and his solution is a nice idea, but totally unrealistic. The minute you start changing the boundaries is the minute white people flee MoCo. Sad but true.

For where? Howard County? Baltimore County? Virginia?

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Oh, and private.

Simple enough for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But I guess you are right. I mean, what do the Swiss/Germans/Dutch know about public transportation systems anyway? We are all much better off with the system we currently have.

Did I say that? No, I didn't.

I am all in favor of improving RideOn service. I am also all in favor of reducing the number of buses MCPS has to run -- especially the ridiculous bus routes that take children across the street, because the street is too dangerous to cross on foot.

But your argument is basically, let's make kids use inadequate RideOn bus service to get to school, with the hope that this will push for funding to make RideOn bus service more adequate.

How will this improve public schools in Montgomery County?

The point that the bussing debate came out of was to give students more options to choose the school that they want to attend as a way to promote diversity.

Everyone complains that the "W" schools are so much better than schools in low income areas but I don't think that is the case. I do believe greater diversity in all schools would mean a better experience for all children. Children need to be exposed to other children with different socio economic levels and different cultures. That is what working in the real world is like. If a voluntary system was in place so children had more choices in educational experiences, I think that would be a positive method to encourage diversity than the current system allows for.

In most jobs, no. You are surrounded by colleagues = peers. Not exactly a wide swath.

[Anonymous]

I don't know...While I am a professional with a Masters from Georgetown, I work with people who have Phds, clerks, cleaning people, 21 year old new graduates, security staff. Pretty diverse group to make it work..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But I guess you are right. I mean, what do the Swiss/Germans/Dutch know about public transportation systems anyway? We are all much better off with the system we currently have.

Did I say that? No, I didn't.

I am all in favor of improving RideOn service. I am also all in favor of reducing the number of buses MCPS has to run -- especially the ridiculous bus routes that take children across the street, because the street is too dangerous to cross on foot.

But your argument is basically, let's make kids use inadequate RideOn bus service to get to school, with the hope that this will push for funding to make RideOn bus service more adequate.

How will this improve public schools in Montgomery County?

The point that the bussing debate came out of was to give students more options to choose the school that they want to attend as a way to promote diversity.

Everyone complains that the "W" schools are so much better than schools in low income areas but I don't think that is the case. I do believe greater diversity in all schools would mean a better experience for all children. Children need to be exposed to other children with different socio economic levels and different cultures. That is what working in the real world is like. If a voluntary system was in place so children had more choices in educational experiences, I think that would be a positive method to encourage diversity than the current system allows for.

The real world? In the real world if you are incompetent and have poor English skills you are fired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But I guess you are right. I mean, what do the Swiss/Germans/Dutch know about public transportation systems anyway? We are all much better off with the system we currently have.

Did I say that? No, I didn't.

I am all in favor of improving RideOn service. I am also all in favor of reducing the number of buses MCPS has to run -- especially the ridiculous bus routes that take children across the street, because the street is too dangerous to cross on foot.

But your argument is basically, let's make kids use inadequate RideOn bus service to get to school, with the hope that this will push for funding to make RideOn bus service more adequate.

How will this improve public schools in Montgomery County?

The point that the bussing debate came out of was to give students more options to choose the school that they want to attend as a way to promote diversity.

Everyone complains that the "W" schools are so much better than schools in low income areas but I don't think that is the case. I do believe greater diversity in all schools would mean a better experience for all children. Children need to be exposed to other children with different socio economic levels and different cultures. That is what working in the real world is like. If a voluntary system was in place so children had more choices in educational experiences, I think that would be a positive method to encourage diversity than the current system allows for.

The real world? In the real world if you are incompetent and have poor English skills you are fired.

To whom are you referring as "incompetent," and in what way(s) are these people incompetent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know...While I am a professional with a Masters from Georgetown, I work with people who have Phds, clerks, cleaning people, 21 year old new graduates, security staff. Pretty diverse group to make it work..

Oh please. You turn in a team project to a paying client that the cleaning and Security staff contributed a few analyses?
Or you all say Hi when coming and going, and completely have different types of jobs?