Law Suit
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Anonymous
How do you know this? We are zoned for a school that is probably not highly regarded by the W folks, but honestly it was all about immersion for us and every other person in the neighborhood we know who applied. Honestly that we would be in another cluster beyond elementary wasn't even on our radar. I think you are just snobby and assume people on the east side are trying to get out of their schools. |
Anonymous
I think it would be very interesting to see how many kids from the W clusters and BCC cluster apply to immersion programs vs. those from the DCC and other less regarded clusters. I bet you that the vast majority come from the latter. I know that in the RCF immersion program the vast majority of kids are from outside the cluster, mostly from the DCC, I think that says something. |
Anonymous
My kids are at wood acres and I don't know anybody who was intrested. The thought of adding to commutes only to lose the ability to help your children lean by assisting with their home work during the early years seems like an act of desperation. I'll send them to study abroad later if they really want to learn a language of their choice. If I was trying to flee my local school maybe I would consider it then. |
Anonymous
Wood Acres has fewer than 5% of its children on FARMS and is majority white. It IS white flight. |
Anonymous
| Aren't most of the immersion programs in schools that have lower test scores in the general population of kids? |
Anonymous
My child is at Sligo Creek French and so far I only know of one kid from Bethesda in his class (we live close-ish and left a slightly higher-rated school to go to SCES). I imagine the added commute for people to come from the west side of the county to the east side is very much part of the equation, and the ones that do it I assume are very dedicated to language immersion, and have read all of the studies and data showing how beneficial it is for children's long-term academic success, creative thinking, etc. Studying abroad (as I did) is a great option, but truthfully is in no way a comparison to years of immersion education at a young age. |
Anonymous
SHhh FI parent! |
Anonymous
If a kid is not exposed after 5th grade the language will be lost. Fact. Sure, studies show better executive functions, so does music. Fact. "years of immersion at a young age". I know many people that moved in from another country and different language, to the US. Kids that came in ES school times, now grown ups, tend to loose the language as well. I grew up abroad. Learned English as an adult, I think my executive functions are quite ok. In any case. If you're an immersion parent you will probably kill to defend these programs. But putting a child one hour each way ever day and then pretend the school is a private school (because you do not care) is an act of cruelty. And the elitism that protrudes from the programs possible outweighs the benefits of being pseudo-bilingual. Also, none of these kids will speak "native" language. Believe me...I have heard Spanish from the immersion programs....not good. At all. Idem for French. Voila. |
Anonymous
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First, re: the bus ride, most kids aren't on the bus for an hour, and from what I have heard, the kids who ride the bus like it - it's fun! Second, who cares if the accent, etc. isn't perfect? People from other countries who I consider fluent in English usually have thick accents, but the point is that they can still communicate well - no one is thinking accents, etc. will be perfect as if the child is a native speaker. Third, there are opportunities in middle and high school to continue the language, and families who are committed to the immersion program in elementary will probably look for opportunities to expose the child. And regardless, it will make it much easier to pick it up later if the child wants to do so.
Point is that it is a cool program and for those who don't see it's value - great! Don't apply! |
Anonymous
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The county acknowledges their outreach has been nonexistent. This suit is truly for the good of the ppl. Kudos to Jawando. They are going some outreach now in farms school. New position created focusing on this type of issue with underrepresentation in special programs.
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Anonymous
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In my child's full immersion class, there is an incredible amount of diversity. A number of AA families, Hispanic, Asian, and a couple other ethnic groups. There may not be SES diversity, not sure, but no one can look at this class and say that minorities weren't reached. That being said, I would support as much outreach as possible.
And that guy's lawsuit is a joke...he did get into a program, he just didn't want that particular one. |
Anonymous
Great one less teacher salary...one more admin salary! |
Anonymous
That isn't going to help so long as the deadline for applying to the program is kindergarten registration. It's not enough to reach kids in high FARMS schools so they MIGHT have a chance at the one or two spots that open up a year in First Grade. They need to cut the sibling link and move the deadline to correspond to kindergarten registration. |
Anonymous
Absolutley. I agree with you. It said in the article at 49% of the seats were reserved for siblings at RCF. Doesn't sound like a lottery to me. Mcps knows it needs to expand these programs. Recruiting native speakers from overseas who are teachers was suggested in the community meetings. They really can't claim that there aren't enough qualified teacher if they cast a wider net. |