My daughter is in honors Bio and has never had a real lab - all are simulated or online

[Anonymous]

I mean is this normal? They literally are almost done half the year and they have never done a lab. Nothing. Only papers and a Chromebook. I understand during Covid, but why aren't they getting more hands on.

[Anonymous]

I think it is normal. One of my kids didn't get to do dissections because the teacher was morally opposed to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean is this normal? They literally are almost done half the year and they have never done a lab. Nothing. Only papers and a Chromebook. I understand during Covid, but why aren't they getting more hands on.

Overcrowding. Lab stations are set by state for safety reasons and when the BOE overcrowds a science classroom the teacher cannot let students perform experiments. For example, the science lab is built for 24 students but the BOE puts 30 students in the room the teacher can not let students run experiments.

[Anonymous]

This is pretty normal, expect more labs in physics and chemistry. Biology isn’t really something that has a lot of labs it is more content. This is also honors bio, what would to expect.

[Anonymous]

Pre-pandemic I would have said that is not normal. When I was in MCPS, we had labs in middle school science classes. I have no idea what the children normally do in middle school science these days with regard to labs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pre-pandemic I would have said that is not normal. When I was in MCPS, we had labs in middle school science classes. I have no idea what the children normally do in middle school science these days with regard to labs.

Our middle school received beautiful lab tables, etc. when renovated. But they’re effectively just used as desks. They almost never do labs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean is this normal? They literally are almost done half the year and they have never done a lab. Nothing. Only papers and a Chromebook. I understand during Covid, but why aren't they getting more hands on.

Overcrowding. Lab stations are set by state for safety reasons and when the BOE overcrowds a science classroom the teacher cannot let students perform experiments. For example, the science lab is built for 24 students but the BOE puts 30 students in the room the teacher can not let students run experiments.

This.

Both younger DD and DS (seniors) did lab bio at MC this year for that reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is normal. One of my kids didn't get to do dissections because the teacher was morally opposed to it.

WTAF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pre-pandemic I would have said that is not normal. When I was in MCPS, we had labs in middle school science classes. I have no idea what the children normally do in middle school science these days with regard to labs.

Are you a parent? MCPS is completely different than when you were a kid. Even pre-pandemic MS and HS science labs were scaled back a lot from when we were kids. I think a PP has hit the nail on the head that it is related to very large class sizes and budget restrictions (our science teachers told us they didn't have enough budget for lab materials). In my kid's MS the PTA provided money for lab materials but some teachers used the extra money and some didn't. Very frustrating.

[Anonymous]

The majority of kids are so out of control in their behavior thar it becomes a safety issue that the teacher does not want to deal with. Also these behavior and cellphone addiction issues make a schedule that is always being fallen behind on bc teachers have to spend a significant time getting the kids to settle down.

[Anonymous]

"Honors" is not really honors. It's just regular Bio with maybe a few extra worksheets throw in for the more advanced kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The majority of kids are so out of control in their behavior thar it becomes a safety issue that the teacher does not want to deal with. Also these behavior and cellphone addiction issues make a schedule that is always being fallen behind on bc teachers have to spend a significant time getting the kids to settle down.

Space requirements eliminated science labs years ago. The BOE does not prioritize science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pre-pandemic I would have said that is not normal. When I was in MCPS, we had labs in middle school science classes. I have no idea what the children normally do in middle school science these days with regard to labs.

Are you a parent? MCPS is completely different than when you were a kid. Even pre-pandemic MS and HS science labs were scaled back a lot from when we were kids. I think a PP has hit the nail on the head that it is related to very large class sizes and budget restrictions (our science teachers told us they didn't have enough budget for lab materials). In my kid's MS the PTA provided money for lab materials but some teachers used the extra money and some didn't. Very frustrating.

I am a parent.

I think we dissected worms in middle school and then graduated to dissecting frogs in 9th grade bio. The frequency and intensity of labs definitely scaled up from middle school, but back in the '90s, we still did some labs at the middle school level. Mainly learning how to use bunsen burners, familiarizing ourselves with lab equipment, etc.

The fact that doing actually lab science is no longer the norm is sad. It also goes along with kids no longer doing actual physical education in PE class either. MCPS is a disaster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pre-pandemic I would have said that is not normal. When I was in MCPS, we had labs in middle school science classes. I have no idea what the children normally do in middle school science these days with regard to labs.

Are you a parent? MCPS is completely different than when you were a kid. Even pre-pandemic MS and HS science labs were scaled back a lot from when we were kids. I think a PP has hit the nail on the head that it is related to very large class sizes and budget restrictions (our science teachers told us they didn't have enough budget for lab materials). In my kid's MS the PTA provided money for lab materials but some teachers used the extra money and some didn't. Very frustrating.

I am a parent.

I think we dissected worms in middle school and then graduated to dissecting frogs in 9th grade bio. The frequency and intensity of labs definitely scaled up from middle school, but back in the '90s, we still did some labs at the middle school level. Mainly learning how to use bunsen burners, familiarizing ourselves with lab equipment, etc.

The fact that doing actually lab science is no longer the norm is sad. It also goes along with kids no longer doing actual physical education in PE class either. MCPS is a disaster.

I'm actually happy to hear that middle school and high school biology classes are no longer doing dissections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pre-pandemic I would have said that is not normal. When I was in MCPS, we had labs in middle school science classes. I have no idea what the children normally do in middle school science these days with regard to labs.

Are you a parent? MCPS is completely different than when you were a kid. Even pre-pandemic MS and HS science labs were scaled back a lot from when we were kids. I think a PP has hit the nail on the head that it is related to very large class sizes and budget restrictions (our science teachers told us they didn't have enough budget for lab materials). In my kid's MS the PTA provided money for lab materials but some teachers used the extra money and some didn't. Very frustrating.

I am a parent.

I think we dissected worms in middle school and then graduated to dissecting frogs in 9th grade bio. The frequency and intensity of labs definitely scaled up from middle school, but back in the '90s, we still did some labs at the middle school level. Mainly learning how to use bunsen burners, familiarizing ourselves with lab equipment, etc.

The fact that doing actually lab science is no longer the norm is sad. It also goes along with kids no longer doing actual physical education in PE class either. MCPS is a disaster.

I'm actually happy to hear that middle school and high school biology classes are no longer doing dissections.

Then I guess you and your ilk are the reason for the current state of no lab science in MCPS. Congratulations.