KID Museum moving to Bethesda Metro?

[Anonymous]

Bethesda-based KID Museum is expanding

The experiential museum and educational makerspace is branching out from its current location at the Davis Library to a brand-new 28,000-square-foot facility at Bethesda Metro Center. The museum’s new flagship will open May 22. [WTOP]

Is this funded by MCPS? Why does the KID museum keep telling MC residents that they want to promote STEM to Poor, black and brown students but refuse to move to SS where rent is cheaper and easily accessed by kids they want to serve?

[Anonymous]

It receive a huge grant from MCPS. I wondered that too that why it had to be at one of the most expensive areas vs. a lower cost. And, they still charge schools/PTA's for their services on top of the money they were given.

[Anonymous]

+1 Plenty of space in Silver Spring close to the Metro there. Such a waste of MCPS funds and now it is in an area to cater to students with wealth.

[Anonymous]

Does it have any exhibits? From the website it looks like a place to do crafts and activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+1 Plenty of space in Silver Spring close to the Metro there. Such a waste of MCPS funds and now it is in an area to cater to students with wealth.

Agreed. Not something MCPS should be funding in any way.

[Anonymous]

We had a thread on this a few months ago. I have had 4 kids go through MCPS and my youngest is now in MS. How many field trips did your MCPS kid do pre-covid? How many post-covid? There has been a huge reduction in field trips over the years. Teachers don't want to organize. Principals don't consider them part of the curriculum. Now Covid is STILL a reason. All sorts of excuses. MCPS will barely use this museum. Must be someone on the board or leadership of the museum who knows someone in MCPS Central Office to advocate for this. I'd like to know who.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a thread on this a few months ago. I have had 4 kids go through MCPS and my youngest is now in MS. How many field trips did your MCPS kid do pre-covid? How many post-covid? There has been a huge reduction in field trips over the years. Teachers don't want to organize. Principals don't consider them part of the curriculum. Now Covid is STILL a reason. All sorts of excuses. MCPS will barely use this museum. Must be someone on the board or leadership of the museum who knows someone in MCPS Central Office to advocate for this. I'd like to know who.

It’s one of the BOE members’ wives who founded it and runs it and the former superintendent (starr’s wife) is director of communications. We need an inspector general now!

[Anonymous]

The money Kid Museum gets is akin to the students going to Strathmore for a concert and Imagination Stage for a performance, only STEM. MCPS does not "fund them."

That being said, I was expecting something like the Exploratorium in California, and disappointingly found it to be more arts and craftsy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a thread on this a few months ago. I have had 4 kids go through MCPS and my youngest is now in MS. How many field trips did your MCPS kid do pre-covid? How many post-covid? There has been a huge reduction in field trips over the years. Teachers don't want to organize. Principals don't consider them part of the curriculum. Now Covid is STILL a reason. All sorts of excuses. MCPS will barely use this museum. Must be someone on the board or leadership of the museum who knows someone in MCPS Central Office to advocate for this. I'd like to know who.

Are we "post-covid" yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a thread on this a few months ago. I have had 4 kids go through MCPS and my youngest is now in MS. How many field trips did your MCPS kid do pre-covid? How many post-covid? There has been a huge reduction in field trips over the years. Teachers don't want to organize. Principals don't consider them part of the curriculum. Now Covid is STILL a reason. All sorts of excuses. MCPS will barely use this museum. Must be someone on the board or leadership of the museum who knows someone in MCPS Central Office to advocate for this. I'd like to know who.

As a parent and someone who has helped plan a field trip in the past I completely understand why school don’t want to plan them. A) It takes planning. Deciding a location, booking a group, getting the paperwork approved by the district, scheduling the buses, getting parent permission, etc. B)Getting enough adult volunteers to chaperone is a hassle! C)Have you travelled on a bus to and from with say 50 amped up kids? The noise and constant reminders to lower voice? D) The stress of being sure everyone gets there and back and doesn’t get hurt, lost, or break anything… remember the group YOU chaperone won’t just be your DC and their best friend. There could be 5-9 other kids whose needs and behavior you will be responsible for managing. When’s the last time you took 10 kids to a museum, play, planetarium, etc ???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it have any exhibits? From the website it looks like a place to do crafts and activities.

I think arts and crafts doesn't really do it justice. I think it's more like making robots, programming, sodering metals and stuff like that. There definitely is a linkages to the arts and design side, but maybe not what people think when you use the term arts and crafts...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The money Kid Museum gets is akin to the students going to Strathmore for a concert and Imagination Stage for a performance, only STEM. MCPS does not "fund them."

That being said, I was expecting something like the Exploratorium in California, and disappointingly found it to be more arts and craftsy.

Wrong
MCPS has already given kid museum millions and millions more from Montgomery County. It is funded by the county. It Josh Starr’s thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The money Kid Museum gets is akin to the students going to Strathmore for a concert and Imagination Stage for a performance, only STEM. MCPS does not "fund them."

That being said, I was expecting something like the Exploratorium in California, and disappointingly found it to be more arts and craftsy.

I reached out on behalf of our pta for a virtual fiend trip and they wanted to charge us and no fee waivers for lower income schools. Strathmore gives reduced or free to mcps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The money Kid Museum gets is akin to the students going to Strathmore for a concert and Imagination Stage for a performance, only STEM. MCPS does not "fund them."

That being said, I was expecting something like the Exploratorium in California, and disappointingly found it to be more arts and craftsy.

I reached out on behalf of our pta for a virtual fiend trip and they wanted to charge us and no fee waivers for lower income schools. Strathmore gives reduced or free to mcps.

Strathnore gives nothing for free. MCPS also funds Strathmore with an annual payment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does it have any exhibits? From the website it looks like a place to do crafts and activities.

I think arts and crafts doesn't really do it justice. I think it's more like making robots, programming, sodering metals and stuff like that. There definitely is a linkages to the arts and design side, but maybe not what people think when you use the term arts and crafts...

It's a makers space, not a science museum.