Deal kid is floundering in private high school

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My kid just started at a Big3 for 9th and the summer reading was the Autobiography of Malcolm X.

A classic.

Exactly. But PPs insist that only white authors can write classics.

Currently at Deal,
6th graders are reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
7th graders are reading Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman
8th graders are reading Raisin in the Sun

Who insisted upon that?!
No one, that’s who.

The first PP that said “The books they read at Deal are not particularly advanced. And for some reason all the books are about racism or minority groups being oppressed. Like every single book”.

I’m sure they think Malcom X and Raisin in the Sun falls into the not advanced category.

I think the point is that these books don’t foster critical thinking. There is nothing to debate. There’s only one correct viewpoint. When the kids finish the book about segregated schools, they start a book about the Japanese internment camps. And when they finish that, they read about about the trail of tears. And then they learn about Jackie Robinson for the seventh consecutive year.

Nothing to debate??
Have you read any of these books? Maybe it's you that lacks critical thinking skills.

It would take a very brave 8th grader to publicly express any view that wasn’t 100% woke approved in a DCPS building. Very brave.

this. What does PP think there is to debate in any of those books; can they come up with a single topic that the whole class won't either agree on or know they have to agree on?

There is an orthodoxy in DCPS. It manifests itself in subtle and not so subtle ways. The choice of books to read. The choice of team names at Deal (Team Obama), the imagery of a curled fist on communications from school staff, the use of BLM curriculum, etc. In DCPS students are taught you are either a victim, a victimizer, or an ally. There is no room for honest dissent or debate. We are ruining these kids. The level of indoctrination is astounding and it comes at the expense of critical thinking and academic rigor. The privates are more insulated from this.

BS Alert -- several points here that tell every Deal parent this poster knows nothing about the school.

Which parts are untrue? This has been our experience.

Lol. Sure. Sure. You’re a joke. Move onto a school you know more about, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid just started at a Big3 for 9th and the summer reading was the Autobiography of Malcolm X.

A classic.

Exactly. But PPs insist that only white authors can write classics.

Currently at Deal,
6th graders are reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
7th graders are reading Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman
8th graders are reading Raisin in the Sun

Who insisted upon that?!
No one, that’s who.

The first PP that said “The books they read at Deal are not particularly advanced. And for some reason all the books are about racism or minority groups being oppressed. Like every single book”.

I’m sure they think Malcom X and Raisin in the Sun falls into the not advanced category.

I think the point is that these books don’t foster critical thinking. There is nothing to debate. There’s only one correct viewpoint. When the kids finish the book about segregated schools, they start a book about the Japanese internment camps. And when they finish that, they read about about the trail of tears. And then they learn about Jackie Robinson for the seventh consecutive year.

Nothing to debate??
Have you read any of these books? Maybe it's you that lacks critical thinking skills.

It would take a very brave 8th grader to publicly express any view that wasn’t 100% woke approved in a DCPS building. Very brave.

this. What does PP think there is to debate in any of those books; can they come up with a single topic that the whole class won't either agree on or know they have to agree on?

There is an orthodoxy in DCPS. It manifests itself in subtle and not so subtle ways. The choice of books to read. The choice of team names at Deal (Team Obama), the imagery of a curled fist on communications from school staff, the use of BLM curriculum, etc. In DCPS students are taught you are either a victim, a victimizer, or an ally. There is no room for honest dissent or debate. We are ruining these kids. The level of indoctrination is astounding and it comes at the expense of critical thinking and academic rigor. The privates are more insulated from this.

BS Alert -- several points here that tell every Deal parent this poster knows nothing about the school.

Which parts are untrue? This has been our experience.

Ours too. Frankly, I think the DEAL administration would agree with the first part of this statement (before you get to the part when you say that it's ruining kids, etc). The poster who is arguing this isn't the prevalent think at Deal is lying.
Long term Deal parent (3 kids).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid just started at a Big3 for 9th and the summer reading was the Autobiography of Malcolm X.

A classic.

Exactly. But PPs insist that only white authors can write classics.

Currently at Deal,
6th graders are reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
7th graders are reading Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman
8th graders are reading Raisin in the Sun

Who insisted upon that?!
No one, that’s who.

The first PP that said “The books they read at Deal are not particularly advanced. And for some reason all the books are about racism or minority groups being oppressed. Like every single book”.

I’m sure they think Malcom X and Raisin in the Sun falls into the not advanced category.

I think the point is that these books don’t foster critical thinking. There is nothing to debate. There’s only one correct viewpoint. When the kids finish the book about segregated schools, they start a book about the Japanese internment camps. And when they finish that, they read about about the trail of tears. And then they learn about Jackie Robinson for the seventh consecutive year.

Nothing to debate??
Have you read any of these books? Maybe it's you that lacks critical thinking skills.

It would take a very brave 8th grader to publicly express any view that wasn’t 100% woke approved in a DCPS building. Very brave.

this. What does PP think there is to debate in any of those books; can they come up with a single topic that the whole class won't either agree on or know they have to agree on?

There is an orthodoxy in DCPS. It manifests itself in subtle and not so subtle ways. The choice of books to read. The choice of team names at Deal (Team Obama), the imagery of a curled fist on communications from school staff, the use of BLM curriculum, etc. In DCPS students are taught you are either a victim, a victimizer, or an ally. There is no room for honest dissent or debate. We are ruining these kids. The level of indoctrination is astounding and it comes at the expense of critical thinking and academic rigor. The privates are more insulated from this.

BS Alert -- several points here that tell every Deal parent this poster knows nothing about the school.

Which parts are untrue? This has been our experience.

Ours too. Frankly, I think the DEAL administration would agree with the first part of this statement (before you get to the part when you say that it's ruining kids, etc). The poster who is arguing this isn't the prevalent think at Deal is lying.
Long term Deal parent (3 kids).

This has been our experience too. I also agree with a pp who says it would take a very brave child to say something that doesn't kowtow to the party line. I wouldn't want that child to be mine given the Principal's history of retaliation.

[Anonymous]

You do realize Team Obama is from Obama, Japan, right? All teams are world cities, some not so known as others. Wagga Wagga, Puerto Alegre, Brisbane, Chan Chan, Meroe, and Best are some of this year’s. Last year was the first and only time there was a team Obama, Japan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid just started at a Big3 for 9th and the summer reading was the Autobiography of Malcolm X.

A classic.

Exactly. But PPs insist that only white authors can write classics.

Currently at Deal,
6th graders are reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
7th graders are reading Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman
8th graders are reading Raisin in the Sun

Who insisted upon that?!
No one, that’s who.

The first PP that said “The books they read at Deal are not particularly advanced. And for some reason all the books are about racism or minority groups being oppressed. Like every single book”.

I’m sure they think Malcom X and Raisin in the Sun falls into the not advanced category.

I think the point is that these books don’t foster critical thinking. There is nothing to debate. There’s only one correct viewpoint. When the kids finish the book about segregated schools, they start a book about the Japanese internment camps. And when they finish that, they read about about the trail of tears. And then they learn about Jackie Robinson for the seventh consecutive year.

Nothing to debate??
Have you read any of these books? Maybe it's you that lacks critical thinking skills.

It would take a very brave 8th grader to publicly express any view that wasn’t 100% woke approved in a DCPS building. Very brave.

this. What does PP think there is to debate in any of those books; can they come up with a single topic that the whole class won't either agree on or know they have to agree on?

There is an orthodoxy in DCPS. It manifests itself in subtle and not so subtle ways. The choice of books to read. The choice of team names at Deal (Team Obama), the imagery of a curled fist on communications from school staff, the use of BLM curriculum, etc. In DCPS students are taught you are either a victim, a victimizer, or an ally. There is no room for honest dissent or debate. We are ruining these kids. The level of indoctrination is astounding and it comes at the expense of critical thinking and academic rigor. The privates are more insulated from this.

BS Alert -- several points here that tell every Deal parent this poster knows nothing about the school.

Which parts are untrue? This has been our experience.

Ours too. Frankly, I think the DEAL administration would agree with the first part of this statement (before you get to the part when you say that it's ruining kids, etc). The poster who is arguing this isn't the prevalent think at Deal is lying.
Long term Deal parent (3 kids).

This has been our experience too. I also agree with a pp who says it would take a very brave child to say something that doesn't kowtow to the party line. I wouldn't want that child to be mine given the Principal's history of retaliation.

We teach our kid that despite not being perfect, in the United States if you work your tail off and play by the rules you can be a success. I wish the school would echo this sentiment or at least be neutral and allow the kids to reach their own conclusions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You do realize Team Obama is from Obama, Japan, right? All teams are world cities, some not so known as others. Wagga Wagga, Puerto Alegre, Brisbane, Chan Chan, Meroe, and Best are some of this year’s. Last year was the first and only time there was a team Obama, Japan.

There are some really dumb parents on this thread! No wonder their kids aren’t reading full books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:There is just more work at a private school than a public, it doesn't mean your child isn't able to do it--they just need to get used to the volume. I do think that the volume of work prepares them more for college, but it does take a lot of fun out of the high school experience.

. Come on, such BS. Other US cities offer far more HS rigor in the public system than DC. My alma mater, Boston Latin,is the HS sending the most grads to Ivies on a per capita basis, not a Top DC (or NYC) private. Spare us your misplaced snobbery, PP.

This thread is local.

But the point is a good one. Tony private schools aren't magic bullets. Coddled kids in cocoon environments, with no more than token poor and lower middle-class peers on scholarships, don't necessarily put nose to the grindstone, hustle to get ahead, or appreciate their opportunities to learn like public students might. This is true matter how terrific the teachers and curriculum.

After almost a decade in DCPS, we learned not to rely on school inputs to provide serious humanities challenge long ago. We enroll our children in a variety of on-line workshops and classes each school year to beef up and round out the education on offer at our neighborhood MS. We started hiring a tough writing tutor with another DCPS family last year.

We require our kids to read at least one challenging novel weekly, mainly classics we discuss with them, on top of what's being assigned at school. We shut off the Internet in the afternoons, to promote reading. We have them earn "reading points" they can cash in for adventures of their own choosing, e.g. horse-riding lessons and zip lines. We opt out of PARCC, which we consider a waste of time, in favor of having them read during testing hours. In the summers, we send our children to several weeks of academic sleep-away camps. We spend 8-10K per kid per school year to supplement, a bargain compared to Sidwell, GDS etc.

You don't understand what OP is describing. None of what you write is remotely close. We did all of that and more while in DCPS. It isn't the same at all.

NP. We do understand. We moved on from DCPS to a high-powered private HS (parochial actually) this school year ourselves, after the distance learning mess at Deal. Like the PP above, we effectively homeschooled our kid in humanities subjects in DCPS. Our kid has not been overwhelmed by HS workload. He has hit the ground running.

Get a clue, DCPS parents. When Deal assigns 3 books in 8th grade, ensure that your kid reads at least five times that many. Hire tutors, tutor yourself. Covid or not Covid, you don't have to pay tens of thousands of dollars for private school to ensure that a kid gets a good middle school education, not in this city.

NP here. None of the Catholic high schools in DC are as rigorous as a big three. So, your kid is not having the same transition as ops kid is because her kid is at a harder, more rigorous school than yours is.

Off topic. Take it to private forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid just started at a Big3 for 9th and the summer reading was the Autobiography of Malcolm X.

A classic.

Exactly. But PPs insist that only white authors can write classics.

Currently at Deal,
6th graders are reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
7th graders are reading Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman
8th graders are reading Raisin in the Sun

Who insisted upon that?!
No one, that’s who.

The first PP that said “The books they read at Deal are not particularly advanced. And for some reason all the books are about racism or minority groups being oppressed. Like every single book”.

I’m sure they think Malcom X and Raisin in the Sun falls into the not advanced category.

I think the point is that these books don’t foster critical thinking. There is nothing to debate. There’s only one correct viewpoint. When the kids finish the book about segregated schools, they start a book about the Japanese internment camps. And when they finish that, they read about about the trail of tears. And then they learn about Jackie Robinson for the seventh consecutive year.

Nothing to debate??
Have you read any of these books? Maybe it's you that lacks critical thinking skills.

It would take a very brave 8th grader to publicly express any view that wasn’t 100% woke approved in a DCPS building. Very brave.

this. What does PP think there is to debate in any of those books; can they come up with a single topic that the whole class won't either agree on or know they have to agree on?

There is an orthodoxy in DCPS. It manifests itself in subtle and not so subtle ways. The choice of books to read. The choice of team names at Deal (Team Obama), the imagery of a curled fist on communications from school staff, the use of BLM curriculum, etc. In DCPS students are taught you are either a victim, a victimizer, or an ally. There is no room for honest dissent or debate. We are ruining these kids. The level of indoctrination is astounding and it comes at the expense of critical thinking and academic rigor. The privates are more insulated from this.

BS Alert -- several points here that tell every Deal parent this poster knows nothing about the school.

Which parts are untrue? This has been our experience.

Lol. Sure. Sure. You’re a joke. Move onto a school you know more about, PP.

So you can’t point to the parts that are untrue? Yes? No? Too hard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid just started at a Big3 for 9th and the summer reading was the Autobiography of Malcolm X.

A classic.

Exactly. But PPs insist that only white authors can write classics.

Currently at Deal,
6th graders are reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
7th graders are reading Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman
8th graders are reading Raisin in the Sun

Who insisted upon that?!
No one, that’s who.

The first PP that said “The books they read at Deal are not particularly advanced. And for some reason all the books are about racism or minority groups being oppressed. Like every single book”.

I’m sure they think Malcom X and Raisin in the Sun falls into the not advanced category.

I think the point is that these books don’t foster critical thinking. There is nothing to debate. There’s only one correct viewpoint. When the kids finish the book about segregated schools, they start a book about the Japanese internment camps. And when they finish that, they read about about the trail of tears. And then they learn about Jackie Robinson for the seventh consecutive year.

Nothing to debate??
Have you read any of these books? Maybe it's you that lacks critical thinking skills.

It would take a very brave 8th grader to publicly express any view that wasn’t 100% woke approved in a DCPS building. Very brave.

this. What does PP think there is to debate in any of those books; can they come up with a single topic that the whole class won't either agree on or know they have to agree on?

There is an orthodoxy in DCPS. It manifests itself in subtle and not so subtle ways. The choice of books to read. The choice of team names at Deal (Team Obama), the imagery of a curled fist on communications from school staff, the use of BLM curriculum, etc. In DCPS students are taught you are either a victim, a victimizer, or an ally. There is no room for honest dissent or debate. We are ruining these kids. The level of indoctrination is astounding and it comes at the expense of critical thinking and academic rigor. The privates are more insulated from this.

BS Alert -- several points here that tell every Deal parent this poster knows nothing about the school.

Which parts are untrue? This has been our experience.

Ours too. Frankly, I think the DEAL administration would agree with the first part of this statement (before you get to the part when you say that it's ruining kids, etc). The poster who is arguing this isn't the prevalent think at Deal is lying.
Long term Deal parent (3 kids).

Our experience as well. Parent of one Deal graduate and one in 8th grade. There is a lot we love about Deal (and Ms. Neal) but way too much teaching time spent on what to think versus how to think. And the book reading list is dominated by books with a racial theme, and in particular it lacks the type of topics that would appeal to boys. This likely helps explain the huge ELA performance gap between girls and boys at Deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid just started at a Big3 for 9th and the summer reading was the Autobiography of Malcolm X.

A classic.

Exactly. But PPs insist that only white authors can write classics.

Currently at Deal,
6th graders are reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
7th graders are reading Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman
8th graders are reading Raisin in the Sun

Who insisted upon that?!
No one, that’s who.

The first PP that said “The books they read at Deal are not particularly advanced. And for some reason all the books are about racism or minority groups being oppressed. Like every single book”.

I’m sure they think Malcom X and Raisin in the Sun falls into the not advanced category.

I think the point is that these books don’t foster critical thinking. There is nothing to debate. There’s only one correct viewpoint. When the kids finish the book about segregated schools, they start a book about the Japanese internment camps. And when they finish that, they read about about the trail of tears. And then they learn about Jackie Robinson for the seventh consecutive year.

Nothing to debate??
Have you read any of these books? Maybe it's you that lacks critical thinking skills.

It would take a very brave 8th grader to publicly express any view that wasn’t 100% woke approved in a DCPS building. Very brave.

this. What does PP think there is to debate in any of those books; can they come up with a single topic that the whole class won't either agree on or know they have to agree on?

There is an orthodoxy in DCPS. It manifests itself in subtle and not so subtle ways. The choice of books to read. The choice of team names at Deal (Team Obama), the imagery of a curled fist on communications from school staff, the use of BLM curriculum, etc. In DCPS students are taught you are either a victim, a victimizer, or an ally. There is no room for honest dissent or debate. We are ruining these kids. The level of indoctrination is astounding and it comes at the expense of critical thinking and academic rigor. The privates are more insulated from this.

BS Alert -- several points here that tell every Deal parent this poster knows nothing about the school.

Which parts are untrue? This has been our experience.

Lol. Sure. Sure. You’re a joke. Move onto a school you know more about, PP.

So you can’t point to the parts that are untrue? Yes? No? Too hard?

PP let the cat out of the bag in a post on this page. You’re not a Deal parent or if you are…not a very bright one. Embarrassed for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid just started at a Big3 for 9th and the summer reading was the Autobiography of Malcolm X.

A classic.

Exactly. But PPs insist that only white authors can write classics.

Currently at Deal,
6th graders are reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
7th graders are reading Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman
8th graders are reading Raisin in the Sun

Who insisted upon that?!
No one, that’s who.

The first PP that said “The books they read at Deal are not particularly advanced. And for some reason all the books are about racism or minority groups being oppressed. Like every single book”.

I’m sure they think Malcom X and Raisin in the Sun falls into the not advanced category.

I think the point is that these books don’t foster critical thinking. There is nothing to debate. There’s only one correct viewpoint. When the kids finish the book about segregated schools, they start a book about the Japanese internment camps. And when they finish that, they read about about the trail of tears. And then they learn about Jackie Robinson for the seventh consecutive year.

Nothing to debate??
Have you read any of these books? Maybe it's you that lacks critical thinking skills.

It would take a very brave 8th grader to publicly express any view that wasn’t 100% woke approved in a DCPS building. Very brave.

this. What does PP think there is to debate in any of those books; can they come up with a single topic that the whole class won't either agree on or know they have to agree on?

There is an orthodoxy in DCPS. It manifests itself in subtle and not so subtle ways. The choice of books to read. The choice of team names at Deal (Team Obama), the imagery of a curled fist on communications from school staff, the use of BLM curriculum, etc. In DCPS students are taught you are either a victim, a victimizer, or an ally. There is no room for honest dissent or debate. We are ruining these kids. The level of indoctrination is astounding and it comes at the expense of critical thinking and academic rigor. The privates are more insulated from this.

BS Alert -- several points here that tell every Deal parent this poster knows nothing about the school.

Which parts are untrue? This has been our experience.

Lol. Sure. Sure. You’re a joke. Move onto a school you know more about, PP.

So you can’t point to the parts that are untrue? Yes? No? Too hard?

PP let the cat out of the bag in a post on this page. You’re not a Deal parent or if you are…not a very bright one. Embarrassed for you.

Your reaction is why Deal kids with different viewpoints don’t speak up in class. If you challenge the orthodoxy you get called names. It’s why most Deal kids are unable to think critically, as the OP notes. This is the opposite of education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid just started at a Big3 for 9th and the summer reading was the Autobiography of Malcolm X.

A classic.

Exactly. But PPs insist that only white authors can write classics.

Currently at Deal,
6th graders are reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
7th graders are reading Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman
8th graders are reading Raisin in the Sun

Who insisted upon that?!
No one, that’s who.

The first PP that said “The books they read at Deal are not particularly advanced. And for some reason all the books are about racism or minority groups being oppressed. Like every single book”.

I’m sure they think Malcom X and Raisin in the Sun falls into the not advanced category.

I think the point is that these books don’t foster critical thinking. There is nothing to debate. There’s only one correct viewpoint. When the kids finish the book about segregated schools, they start a book about the Japanese internment camps. And when they finish that, they read about about the trail of tears. And then they learn about Jackie Robinson for the seventh consecutive year.

Nothing to debate??
Have you read any of these books? Maybe it's you that lacks critical thinking skills.

It would take a very brave 8th grader to publicly express any view that wasn’t 100% woke approved in a DCPS building. Very brave.

this. What does PP think there is to debate in any of those books; can they come up with a single topic that the whole class won't either agree on or know they have to agree on?

There is an orthodoxy in DCPS. It manifests itself in subtle and not so subtle ways. The choice of books to read. The choice of team names at Deal (Team Obama), the imagery of a curled fist on communications from school staff, the use of BLM curriculum, etc. In DCPS students are taught you are either a victim, a victimizer, or an ally. There is no room for honest dissent or debate. We are ruining these kids. The level of indoctrination is astounding and it comes at the expense of critical thinking and academic rigor. The privates are more insulated from this.

BS Alert -- several points here that tell every Deal parent this poster knows nothing about the school.

Which parts are untrue? This has been our experience.

Ours too. Frankly, I think the DEAL administration would agree with the first part of this statement (before you get to the part when you say that it's ruining kids, etc). The poster who is arguing this isn't the prevalent think at Deal is lying.
Long term Deal parent (3 kids).

This has been our experience too. I also agree with a pp who says it would take a very brave child to say something that doesn't kowtow to the party line. I wouldn't want that child to be mine given the Principal's history of retaliation.

What is it your child wants to say but feels like they cant?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ignoring stupid Deal bashing:

Look OP, I went to Phillips Exeter from a midling public school in New York State, where I was in the gifted program, 1st violin, etc. At Exeter, I quickly learned I was average and actually behind my peers from other states in math. In three years, I brought my grades up from mostly Bs to As and A-s. It’s great your child is finally being challenged. Encourage them and they will rise. Also dont coddle them too much with tutoring. They need to seek help from their teachers, peers or the Internet.

Good advice. I went to MIT from a middling public high school in New York State, and a family where English wasn't spoken at home. I struggled mightily freshman year (thankfully, this was in the day when MIT's freshman year classes were all graded pass/fail). By sophomore year, I'd found my footing mainly because I'd sought help left and right, from TAs, profs, peers. I had a great academic advisor who kept telling me that MIT wouldn't have admitted me if I couldn't handle the work load. Your kid can cope, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid just started at a Big3 for 9th and the summer reading was the Autobiography of Malcolm X.

A classic.

Exactly. But PPs insist that only white authors can write classics.

Currently at Deal,
6th graders are reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
7th graders are reading Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman
8th graders are reading Raisin in the Sun

Who insisted upon that?!
No one, that’s who.

The first PP that said “The books they read at Deal are not particularly advanced. And for some reason all the books are about racism or minority groups being oppressed. Like every single book”.

I’m sure they think Malcom X and Raisin in the Sun falls into the not advanced category.

I think the point is that these books don’t foster critical thinking. There is nothing to debate. There’s only one correct viewpoint. When the kids finish the book about segregated schools, they start a book about the Japanese internment camps. And when they finish that, they read about about the trail of tears. And then they learn about Jackie Robinson for the seventh consecutive year.

Nothing to debate??
Have you read any of these books? Maybe it's you that lacks critical thinking skills.

It would take a very brave 8th grader to publicly express any view that wasn’t 100% woke approved in a DCPS building. Very brave.

this. What does PP think there is to debate in any of those books; can they come up with a single topic that the whole class won't either agree on or know they have to agree on?

There is an orthodoxy in DCPS. It manifests itself in subtle and not so subtle ways. The choice of books to read. The choice of team names at Deal (Team Obama), the imagery of a curled fist on communications from school staff, the use of BLM curriculum, etc. In DCPS students are taught you are either a victim, a victimizer, or an ally. There is no room for honest dissent or debate. We are ruining these kids. The level of indoctrination is astounding and it comes at the expense of critical thinking and academic rigor. The privates are more insulated from this.

BS Alert -- several points here that tell every Deal parent this poster knows nothing about the school.

Which parts are untrue? This has been our experience.

Ours too. Frankly, I think the DEAL administration would agree with the first part of this statement (before you get to the part when you say that it's ruining kids, etc). The poster who is arguing this isn't the prevalent think at Deal is lying.
Long term Deal parent (3 kids).

This has been our experience too. I also agree with a pp who says it would take a very brave child to say something that doesn't kowtow to the party line. I wouldn't want that child to be mine given the Principal's history of retaliation.

What is it your child wants to say but feels like they cant?

Except....this all appears to be a big problem at the elite privates too, sadly. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/27/us/new-york-private-schools-racism.html


'm black, and the last thing my kids need is to be immersed in this foolishness. All his stuff is just catnip for white folks that what to be present as more progressive-than-thou and a few black activist types that most real black folks have never heard of. But whatever...Deal/Wilson's problem is that they can't match the top privates when it comes to English comp instruction.

[Anonymous]

Your reaction is why Deal kids with different viewpoints don’t speak up in class. If you challenge the orthodoxy you get called names. It’s why most Deal kids are unable to think critically, as the OP notes. This is the opposite of education.

Yes, the main think my white kids learned at Deal was how to navigate the PC culture of the "woke" educational establishment - and to avoid talking in class whenever possible because there basically is not upside. I guess that is a true life skill. But it is interesting that this vibe is way stronger at Deal than at Wilson.