The xenophobic point of view - America and English first! We don't need more of this. |
| Immersion programs are ways for kids to get out of their assigned schools. It is also not true "immersion." For instance, kids taking upper level Chinese classes at Churchill are not in an "immersion" program. True immersion program is when Chinese is used to teach math, social studies, etc. But it is a way to get out of their assigned HS. |
Yes, I am pretty furious about this. The increased MS math minutes requirement is at the state level so folks need to fight it there (talk to the state Board of Ed members and your state legislators)-- but MCPS should be pushing back on it and they're not and that pisses me off. And they definitely shouldn't be cutting MS electives preemptively in 2026-2027, since there's a chance the state will reverse themselves before the middle school math minutes requirement is supposed to go into effect in 2027-2028. |
Putting more time into math is good, BUT the issue isn't time, it's the curriculum and not identifying learning disabilities early and supporting them. Kids who cannot read will struggle in math. |
Seems like there's a lack of administrators on that list. We could probably do without some vice principals and assistant superintendents. |
Exactly so why are we potentially ruining a child's school experience for 15 extra minutes of math a day? Again, I don't think enough people know about this or are outraged by it. Probably because to an outsider (so MSDE should actually understand this, but they don't) 15 minutes sounds like it won't be that disruptive. It works for elementary school but it's a logistical nightmare for scheduling classes in MS/HS which will lead to programs being cut. It will also require hiring more math teachers when we have no money. This should really be what people are pressing the state and the county on right now. |
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The way I see it is that MCPS has wasted away so much money on frivolous and unnecessary things. MCPS is like a bratty child who tantrums for more candy (money) and the council has always given in. After all, it's easy for them, it's not their money. Just raise taxes.
Now you have a someone who needs to reign in this bratty and spoiled behemoth aka MCPS. I wish they would cut the spending instead of staff, but something has to give. This is a long time coming. |
While I agree with you, it's not going to hit the people that deserve it. It will directly affect the people who have nothing to do with these decisions including students. We should be cutting CO positions, looking at every budget line item, and cutting CO salaries if we can't cut their positions. Taylor's salary should be cut as well. As he says, he sleeps fine at night because he thinks he's making good decisions. I think the rest of the county would beg to differ. |
Yes, I agree. The state is very myopic and only focuses on math and literacy to the expense of everything else. If someone wants to fight this change to MS math, I am all in to work together against it! (Also I am pretty sure they will not actually hire more math teachers-- they will just increase math class sizes by 25% instead.) |
I hate to say it but it's not about who deserves it or not. I agree 100% that every budget line item needs to be audited and that bloated CO needs a cut. |
MCPS doesn't have any HS-level immersion programs. Those in the two elementary Chinese immersion programs get Math & Science in the target language, so less than those in the full-immersion French and Spanish programs (everything but specials), but they are still "immersed" in the language for those subjects. Two-way immersion, where some days instruction is in Spanish and other days it is in English, also is "immersion," if also not as fully immersed. I've been befuddled by the repeated anti-immersion-program posts (often with inaccurate/outdated information) of the past couple of months, but I'm guessing, given the relatively small budgetary savings (if any) vs. viable alternatives in serving the needs of a large plurality in the county, that they largely are coming from those who unjustly have been forced into two-way, when they did not want that, by virtue of its being the only model of instruction at their home elementary instead of it having been designed more appropriately as an opt-in, as the other immersion programs are. |
That’s shortsighted. We had over 100 students in my HS who earned their seat of biliteracy this year in over 6 different languages. That seal gives them an advantage in hiring as well as earning more money. Many of these students are native speakers of the language they took the exam in, but many were not and some didn’t start learning their second language until MS. |
So our students deserve to suffer because you want to stick it to the horrible people in charge of finances? You're part of the problem. |
| What about The Blueprint? How long until we can get rid of that? That would save thousands, if not millions. It would also allow MCPS to spare jobs. |
So much time is wasted in school. 15 minutes is ok but how math is taught isn't working given the declining test scores. |