To the parents in "good schools"

[Anonymous]

the overall environment at the top pyramid is simply better, especially the work ethic of the students and the range of extra-curricular activities.

OP, I feel for you. I was you. I spent 10 years in a high poverty school, had kids, went to a high performing school because I, too, had kids and needed my life back. Sweetie and I say this nicely, but you just need to coast and enjoy your own kids. You can go back when they are older. I did. I love my high poverty, high ESOL elementary school. I am ready to be more of a teacher and less of a conduit.

Everything you said is true. But these parents don't care. Seriously. I mean, some of them might, but the quote above and high passing SOL test scores really is the entire key to parents calling a school "good." They don't care how this occurs. They'll supplement, so let them. Send home worksheets. Hell, I remember the day when my kids weren't getting a math concept. I tried to teach it and then basically said to the parents you all need to make sure your kids know this concept. It's an important standard, we test it and if their kids can't do it, it might impact their SOL performance. I did this with the blessing and support of my admin. And you know what? These parents got tutors, supplemented and everyone passed. I didn't have to do the heavy lifting because no one expects it. They want the cohort of kids. They want to avoid ESOL or high poverty issues. They want peers with college educated parents where college is an expectation. They want the extras raised by a well-funded PTA.

But they don't care, OP. Hope tomorrow is better, dear.

[Anonymous]

Sure they care. Otherwise, they wouldn't have taken care of what you didn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure they care. Otherwise, they wouldn't have taken care of what you didn't.

This misses the entire point of the thread but makes OP and that PP's point even clear. These parents don't seem to care about good teaching or whether teachers are doing their best because the parents will just step in and handle things themselves. OP seems frustrated because it's the reflection of her school's standing is more a product of class, parents supplementing, etc. instead of teachers themselves. But the parents are fine with this because results are results and a peer group where kids are college bound and from a similar economic background is more important. They're fine with lazy teachers because their kids do great anyway, basically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to both an over 50% F&RL school and a very wealthy public school in the same district. I will not argue with you that the teachers in the poorer school were probably better skilled teachers. But my kids thrived more in the wealthy school. They don't need someone super skilled to teach them something 10 different ways. 3 ways or even 1 way was adequate for them to grasp and run with the concept. So, while the poorer school maybe "better" by the measure of teacher skill, the wealthier school was better for my kids to learn more faster. I get as a teacher you might prefer it the other way around.

Exactly. The amount of time spent reteaching kids while others sit or help read to those who aren't up to grade level, and retraining teachers year after year while test scores don't improve is exhausting.

I'm tired of watching programs/ events/ field trips threatened or eliminated because they are deemed not "inclusive" or watered down/cut in half so they can be more inclusive while friends in the same county in wealthier schools don't experience this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

the overall environment at the top pyramid is simply better, especially the work ethic of the students and the range of extra-curricular activities.

OP, I feel for you. I was you. I spent 10 years in a high poverty school, had kids, went to a high performing school because I, too, had kids and needed my life back. Sweetie and I say this nicely, but you just need to coast and enjoy your own kids. You can go back when they are older. I did. I love my high poverty, high ESOL elementary school. I am ready to be more of a teacher and less of a conduit.

Everything you said is true. But these parents don't care. Seriously. I mean, some of them might, but the quote above and high passing SOL test scores really is the entire key to parents calling a school "good." They don't care how this occurs. They'll supplement, so let them. Send home worksheets. Hell, I remember the day when my kids weren't getting a math concept. I tried to teach it and then basically said to the parents you all need to make sure your kids know this concept. It's an important standard, we test it and if their kids can't do it, it might impact their SOL performance. I did this with the blessing and support of my admin. And you know what? These parents got tutors, supplemented and everyone passed. I didn't have to do the heavy lifting because no one expects it. They want the cohort of kids. They want to avoid ESOL or high poverty issues. They want peers with college educated parents where college is an expectation. They want the extras raised by a well-funded PTA.

But they don't care, OP. Hope tomorrow is better, dear.

You sound unhinged, and not just a little bit. Get some extra rest this weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to both an over 50% F&RL school and a very wealthy public school in the same district. I will not argue with you that the teachers in the poorer school were probably better skilled teachers. But my kids thrived more in the wealthy school. They don't need someone super skilled to teach them something 10 different ways. 3 ways or even 1 way was adequate for them to grasp and run with the concept. So, while the poorer school maybe "better" by the measure of teacher skill, the wealthier school was better for my kids to learn more faster. I get as a teacher you might prefer it the other way around.

Exactly. The amount of time spent reteaching kids while others sit or help read to those who aren't up to grade level, and retraining teachers year after year while test scores don't improve is exhausting.

I'm tired of watching programs/ events/ field trips threatened or eliminated because they are deemed not "inclusive" or watered down/cut in half so they can be more inclusive while friends in the same county in wealthier schools don't experience this.

I'd take my chances with a wealthier school just so my kids have more options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

the overall environment at the top pyramid is simply better, especially the work ethic of the students and the range of extra-curricular activities.

OP, I feel for you. I was you. I spent 10 years in a high poverty school, had kids, went to a high performing school because I, too, had kids and needed my life back. Sweetie and I say this nicely, but you just need to coast and enjoy your own kids. You can go back when they are older. I did. I love my high poverty, high ESOL elementary school. I am ready to be more of a teacher and less of a conduit.

Everything you said is true. But these parents don't care. Seriously. I mean, some of them might, but the quote above and high passing SOL test scores really is the entire key to parents calling a school "good." They don't care how this occurs. They'll supplement, so let them. Send home worksheets. Hell, I remember the day when my kids weren't getting a math concept. I tried to teach it and then basically said to the parents you all need to make sure your kids know this concept. It's an important standard, we test it and if their kids can't do it, it might impact their SOL performance. I did this with the blessing and support of my admin. And you know what? These parents got tutors, supplemented and everyone passed. I didn't have to do the heavy lifting because no one expects it. They want the cohort of kids. They want to avoid ESOL or high poverty issues. They want peers with college educated parents where college is an expectation. They want the extras raised by a well-funded PTA.

But they don't care, OP. Hope tomorrow is better, dear.

You sound unhinged, and not just a little bit. Get some extra rest this weekend.

Um, no she doesn't. She sounds like a veteran teacher who figured out the system. If anything, your comment is weirdly aggressive and dismissive. She made some clear points, ones I am thinking about as a parent in a Langley feeder. It's an interesting disconnect between the teachers and parents.

[Anonymous]

Let's be honest. Our values reflect our class and we want our kids around them. Honestly, I don't care about your skills as a teacher. I care if my kids are learning what they need to be successful. And if they aren't of course I am going to spend my money to support them. Teachers aren't the end all, OP. I think OP thinks she's way more important than she is.

[Anonymous]

I just think it's harder to find advanced classes in a lower SES school. Plus more safety issues with the neighborhood. A school near us that is a little poorer had to stop teaching advanced math because there were only 3 kids in the grade at that level. Another school near us has two classes at that level. Also just a safer area to grow up.

[Anonymous]

Most sure what you want the parents to do, OP.

I expect upper middle class parents understand that teaching is a job. Like any other job, some are winners, some are not. They know that they can step in and help their kids when necessary, and they know little will change if they speak up and demand more, except that they will get a reputation in the school.

I do agree that being in an environment where college is an expectation is something the parents want.

[Anonymous]

Well, I care. My kids are doing fine, but they are not learning to be creative, problem solve, or use the skills they are learning on complex or open-ended problems. They were at private school, which I can no longer afford.

We've had two excellent teachers in elementary out of 7 altogether, and it does make a difference. The repetitive, boring work my current kindergartener is doing? Hate it. My older two were doing much more interesting work and learning more quickly in their private K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just think it's harder to find advanced classes in a lower SES school. Plus more safety issues with the neighborhood. A school near us that is a little poorer had to stop teaching advanced math because there were only 3 kids in the grade at that level. Another school near us has two classes at that level. Also just a safer area to grow up.

You must not be familiar with the Rt 1 corridor. Mount Vernon has some VERY expensive, VERY nice neighborhoods - there are many neighborhoods along the Potomac River with multi-million dollar homes. You go less than a mile to Rt. 1 and find trailer parks and apartments. Both neighborhoods feed into the same elementary, middle and high school. I live in Mount Vernon in a very safe, very upper middle class neighborhood. I feel completely safe in my home and neighborhood.

And our elementary school offers advanced math. Our middle school has Honors classes and MVHS offers the full IB diploma, plus a few AP classes, Dual Enrollment classes and Honors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just think it's harder to find advanced classes in a lower SES school. Plus more safety issues with the neighborhood. A school near us that is a little poorer had to stop teaching advanced math because there were only 3 kids in the grade at that level. Another school near us has two classes at that level. Also just a safer area to grow up.

You must not be familiar with the Rt 1 corridor. Mount Vernon has some VERY expensive, VERY nice neighborhoods - there are many neighborhoods along the Potomac River with multi-million dollar homes. You go less than a mile to Rt. 1 and find trailer parks and apartments. Both neighborhoods feed into the same elementary, middle and high school. I live in Mount Vernon in a very safe, very upper middle class neighborhood. I feel completely safe in my home and neighborhood.

And our elementary school offers advanced math. Our middle school has Honors classes and MVHS offers the full IB diploma, plus a few AP classes, Dual Enrollment classes and Honors.

Isn't Mount Vernon at a point of not even being accredited? Living less than a mile away from crime isn't my idea of safe. What elementary school other than the AAP center there offers AAP lessons in all subjects?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. No there are no special credentials beyond what you are teaching. SPED teachers need their credentials. ESOL is the same. But the K-6 folks, a license is a license. And the talk about special credentials or whatever is nonsense. We are the same.

I know there is a lot of saying well those parents aren't as great so your parents who do all of this are just better unless you believe poor people or non-native English speaks will never catch up (spoiler alert -- they can).

It's the wrong tack. You are being screwed wealthy parents. The SOL scores, the great school scores, the whole these kids all do well "Lake Webgone mentality is so, so problematic because we just push everything to you. You will get the tutor. Unless you complain, no one is calling an IEP meeting (this is the thing that makes me the most crazy). I hate this. I hate that advocating is second because the data says we are the best of the best.

I hear what you are saying and generally agree (I too have taught in both a high and low income school. I would say, though, that the teachers in the "great" school should be able to focus on the subdert of kids in that school who don't have all the advantages and are falling through the cracks. If they are doing that, I don't babe a problem with teachers putting a bit more on parents for the other kids. In practice, you are right that this is not what happens. Teaching is generally mediocre and the kids whose needs are not met just don't do well and it doesn't really matter because they only make up 10% of the school.

[Anonymous]

What about teachers in average schools?