Farquhar MS Class Sizes 60+?

[Anonymous]

A friend told me that some of the class sizes at Farquhar MS are 60-70 students without a co-teacher! She works part-time at another school but subs on the other days of the week. Is this true? How do parents feel about this?

[Anonymous]

It seems unlikely, but, why would she lie? My kids went to Newport Mill. Largest class size was 35 for math (which I thought was huge and unruly).

[Anonymous]

Don't know of it's true or untrue but it is definitely something mcps would do. Some classes at our ms are 35+ students. Why not 40? If 40 why not 50? Etc. We don't vote correctly so we get what we deserve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't know of it's true or untrue but it is definitely something mcps would do. Some classes at our ms are 35+ students. Why not 40? If 40 why not 50? Etc. We don't vote correctly so we get what we deserve.

There's a huge difference between 35 and 60. Typical classrooms can fit 35 with some effort, even though it's not ideal. But 60 is really absurd and unworkable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't know of it's true or untrue but it is definitely something mcps would do. Some classes at our ms are 35+ students. Why not 40? If 40 why not 50? Etc. We don't vote correctly so we get what we deserve.

There's a huge difference between 35 and 60. Typical classrooms can fit 35 with some effort, even though it's not ideal. But 60 is really absurd and unworkable.

This was a music class. Apparently admin kept cutting classes each year so now all 3 grades meet at the same time. Like having Spanish 1, 2, and 3 meet at the same time. Supposedly the classes are 60-70 kids and they barely even fit in the classroom. Seems like it would be against fire code, OSHA or a union policy. Usually parents would complain about a situation like this, especially during COVId times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't know of it's true or untrue but it is definitely something mcps would do. Some classes at our ms are 35+ students. Why not 40? If 40 why not 50? Etc. We don't vote correctly so we get what we deserve.

There's a huge difference between 35 and 60. Typical classrooms can fit 35 with some effort, even though it's not ideal. But 60 is really absurd and unworkable.

This was a music class. Apparently admin kept cutting classes each year so now all 3 grades meet at the same time. Like having Spanish 1, 2, and 3 meet at the same time. Supposedly the classes are 60-70 kids and they barely even fit in the classroom. Seems like it would be against fire code, OSHA or a union policy. Usually parents would complain about a situation like this, especially during COVId times.

A music class is completely different and yes, that can be normal to have that many kids in a music class. Not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't know of it's true or untrue but it is definitely something mcps would do. Some classes at our ms are 35+ students. Why not 40? If 40 why not 50? Etc. We don't vote correctly so we get what we deserve.

There's a huge difference between 35 and 60. Typical classrooms can fit 35 with some effort, even though it's not ideal. But 60 is really absurd and unworkable.

This was a music class. Apparently admin kept cutting classes each year so now all 3 grades meet at the same time. Like having Spanish 1, 2, and 3 meet at the same time. Supposedly the classes are 60-70 kids and they barely even fit in the classroom. Seems like it would be against fire code, OSHA or a union policy. Usually parents would complain about a situation like this, especially during COVId times.

A music class is completely different and yes, that can be normal to have that many kids in a music class. Not a big deal.

Why is it not a big deal? Because you aren't able to see the value in music class? You think it's okay for onlyb5 students to be able to play a solo each period? It's okay if your student is off key and off tempo or doesn't understand the notes and no one ever knows or corrects them? It's fine with you if a teacher signed up to teach middle school which used to have 30 students but now there are twice as many and the class is stressful and unmanageable? This is cool for music class? Why not social studies too? Language arts? Math?
It'd not okay. Our kids deserve better and so do our teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't know of it's true or untrue but it is definitely something mcps would do. Some classes at our ms are 35+ students. Why not 40? If 40 why not 50? Etc. We don't vote correctly so we get what we deserve.

There's a huge difference between 35 and 60. Typical classrooms can fit 35 with some effort, even though it's not ideal. But 60 is really absurd and unworkable.

This was a music class. Apparently admin kept cutting classes each year so now all 3 grades meet at the same time. Like having Spanish 1, 2, and 3 meet at the same time. Supposedly the classes are 60-70 kids and they barely even fit in the classroom. Seems like it would be against fire code, OSHA or a union policy. Usually parents would complain about a situation like this, especially during COVId times.

A music class is completely different and yes, that can be normal to have that many kids in a music class. Not a big deal.

Why is it not a big deal? Because you aren't able to see the value in music class? You think it's okay for onlyb5 students to be able to play a solo each period? It's okay if your student is off key and off tempo or doesn't understand the notes and no one ever knows or corrects them? It's fine with you if a teacher signed up to teach middle school which used to have 30 students but now there are twice as many and the class is stressful and unmanageable? This is cool for music class? Why not social studies too? Language arts? Math?
It'd not okay. Our kids deserve better and so do our teachers.

This is hard situation. Maybe they can't find teacher.

[Anonymous]

Was this one of the positions that were cut so they could fund the new central office positions? Or was this position empty and they can’t find a teacher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems unlikely, but, why would she lie? My kids went to Newport Mill. Largest class size was 35 for math (which I thought was huge and unruly).

35-40 wasn't that unusual when I was a kid in MCPS but things are much better today

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't know of it's true or untrue but it is definitely something mcps would do. Some classes at our ms are 35+ students. Why not 40? If 40 why not 50? Etc. We don't vote correctly so we get what we deserve.

There's a huge difference between 35 and 60. Typical classrooms can fit 35 with some effort, even though it's not ideal. But 60 is really absurd and unworkable.

This was a music class. Apparently admin kept cutting classes each year so now all 3 grades meet at the same time. Like having Spanish 1, 2, and 3 meet at the same time. Supposedly the classes are 60-70 kids and they barely even fit in the classroom. Seems like it would be against fire code, OSHA or a union policy. Usually parents would complain about a situation like this, especially during COVId times.

A music class is completely different and yes, that can be normal to have that many kids in a music class. Not a big deal.

Why is it not a big deal? Because you aren't able to see the value in music class? You think it's okay for onlyb5 students to be able to play a solo each period? It's okay if your student is off key and off tempo or doesn't understand the notes and no one ever knows or corrects them? It's fine with you if a teacher signed up to teach middle school which used to have 30 students but now there are twice as many and the class is stressful and unmanageable? This is cool for music class? Why not social studies too? Language arts? Math?
It'd not okay. Our kids deserve better and so do our teachers.

The county needs to stop spending money on things like music and bocce! Kids should be spending 100% of their time on the basics until they can pass that new MCAP test. You know the one that 90% of the state fails.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't know of it's true or untrue but it is definitely something mcps would do. Some classes at our ms are 35+ students. Why not 40? If 40 why not 50? Etc. We don't vote correctly so we get what we deserve.

There's a huge difference between 35 and 60. Typical classrooms can fit 35 with some effort, even though it's not ideal. But 60 is really absurd and unworkable.

This was a music class. Apparently admin kept cutting classes each year so now all 3 grades meet at the same time. Like having Spanish 1, 2, and 3 meet at the same time. Supposedly the classes are 60-70 kids and they barely even fit in the classroom. Seems like it would be against fire code, OSHA or a union policy. Usually parents would complain about a situation like this, especially during COVId times.

A music class is completely different and yes, that can be normal to have that many kids in a music class. Not a big deal.

Actually it is a big deal. Music classes that large in other schools would have a co-teacher. These kids are all different grades and all different levels playing all different instruments. So it’s like having every world language meet at the same time with level 1, 2, 3 at the same time!

Also, if they barely fit in the room they are likely causing hearing loss for the teacher and the students.

Where are the parents?!? Why are they not asking for at least the beginners to get pulled out into their own class like every other school?

An why doesn’t Farquhar have a chorus? I’m just very confused about this school and quite shocked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was this one of the positions that were cut so they could fund the new central office positions? Or was this position empty and they can’t find a teacher?

It was a full time teacher for many years and then he got fed up and retired. Then it was another full time teacher for several years. Admin kept combining grade levels to create these massive classes which made him part time. So he started teaching history to stay at the school. Finally fed up and going to another full time position. The position is listed as open for next year as a 0.6 (which means 3 classes).

[Anonymous]

I assume the class takes place in the band room, so at least that offers more space than a standard classroom. But there are still the issues with multiple classes/levels taking place simultaneously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't know of it's true or untrue but it is definitely something mcps would do. Some classes at our ms are 35+ students. Why not 40? If 40 why not 50? Etc. We don't vote correctly so we get what we deserve.

There's a huge difference between 35 and 60. Typical classrooms can fit 35 with some effort, even though it's not ideal. But 60 is really absurd and unworkable.

This was a music class. Apparently admin kept cutting classes each year so now all 3 grades meet at the same time. Like having Spanish 1, 2, and 3 meet at the same time. Supposedly the classes are 60-70 kids and they barely even fit in the classroom. Seems like it would be against fire code, OSHA or a union policy. Usually parents would complain about a situation like this, especially during COVId times.

A music class is completely different and yes, that can be normal to have that many kids in a music class. Not a big deal.

Why is it not a big deal? Because you aren't able to see the value in music class? You think it's okay for onlyb5 students to be able to play a solo each period? It's okay if your student is off key and off tempo or doesn't understand the notes and no one ever knows or corrects them? It's fine with you if a teacher signed up to teach middle school which used to have 30 students but now there are twice as many and the class is stressful and unmanageable? This is cool for music class? Why not social studies too? Language arts? Math?
It'd not okay. Our kids deserve better and so do our teachers.

Solos. No. It’s normal. My kids do outside orchestras with 100 or more kids. This is not for teaching or private lessons. It’s band class.