CHARTERS MAY MERGE AT WALTER REED (The DC International School, IB Diploma Programme)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
We are a happy Mundo Verde family, and right now Basis looks a lot more attractive than DCI only because I am not sure that I want my children exposed to the negativity that YY seems to bring on itself. We avoided applying for YY because of the negativity online.

Although it seems ridiculous to judge based on anonymous comments, there are so many overly defensive comments that it seems likely that this is a top-down issue, and I don't want to be involved with a school that spews that much negativity and resentment. I understand that they have taken a lot of risks and done a remarkable thing by creating this program from scratch, and they are to be lauded for that, but that doesn't cancel out the tone that they bring to each conversation. It is my responsibilty as a parent (even more than providing a good academic education, and certainly more providing than a good immersion education even though that is a high priority for us) to see that my children become good, happy people who can communicate rationally and calmly help to resolve differences. This is something that I am afraid they will not get at YY, given the way all criticism is received.

I sincerely hope that Mundo Verde, which has the exact opposite feeling, can help to even out the tone of DCI, as it seems like it could be an absolutely wonderful program.

Really? You did not apply to a school b/c of comments you read online. LOL! YY was the only public school, charter or DCPS, we applied to because we wanted Chinese and we chose it over a well regarded private. But we're from NYC - which also has something similar to DCUM called Urbanbaby - meaner, nastier about everything but especially schools, public, private. Everyone would only home school or move if online comments were the criteria for schools.

So we're at YY. My child loves the school and had a fantastic preK yr. Great facilities, nice welcoming families, DS can read and speak Mandarin which he could not when he started there. Wonderful classmates/peers. No complaints and very glad we are there. If DCI goes as planned, IB diploma for high school, DS may stay instead of going to a private boarding school which is family tradition - we'll see what happens...

I know Urban Baby well, but it is a different animal. I have never seen comments on Urban Baby that I would even think to attribute to any administration. But, there are many here about YY that seem to be coming from somewhere internal to the organization.

I am glad that you are having a wonderful experience. Reports of this type are wonderful for everyone involved. I wish more YY supporters would concentrate more on that than on being defensive. I have never questioned whether it is a good school, but the (almost, yours is not) constant negative tone that supporters invoke when dicussing issues/potential issues/different viewpoints makes me concerned that it may not be a good place for children to learn conflict management skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
We are a happy Mundo Verde family, and right now Basis looks a lot more attractive than DCI only because I am not sure that I want my children exposed to the negativity that YY seems to bring on itself. We avoided applying for YY because of the negativity online.

Although it seems ridiculous to judge based on anonymous comments, there are so many overly defensive comments that it seems likely that this is a top-down issue, and I don't want to be involved with a school that spews that much negativity and resentment. I understand that they have taken a lot of risks and done a remarkable thing by creating this program from scratch, and they are to be lauded for that, but that doesn't cancel out the tone that they bring to each conversation. It is my responsibilty as a parent (even more than providing a good academic education, and certainly more providing than a good immersion education even though that is a high priority for us) to see that my children become good, happy people who can communicate rationally and calmly help to resolve differences. This is something that I am afraid they will not get at YY, given the way all criticism is received.

I sincerely hope that Mundo Verde, which has the exact opposite feeling, can help to even out the tone of DCI, as it seems like it could be an absolutely wonderful program.

Really? You did not apply to a school b/c of comments you read online. LOL! YY was the only public school, charter or DCPS, we applied to because we wanted Chinese and we chose it over a well regarded private. But we're from NYC - which also has something similar to DCUM called Urbanbaby - meaner, nastier about everything but especially schools, public, private. Everyone would only home school or move if online comments were the criteria for schools.

So we're at YY. My child loves the school and had a fantastic preK yr. Great facilities, nice welcoming families, DS can read and speak Mandarin which he could not when he started there. Wonderful classmates/peers. No complaints and very glad we are there. If DCI goes as planned, IB diploma for high school, DS may stay instead of going to a private boarding school which is family tradition - we'll see what happens...

I know Urban Baby well, but it is a different animal. I have never seen comments on Urban Baby that I would even think to attribute to any administration. But, there are many here about YY that seem to be coming from somewhere internal to the organization.

I am glad that you are having a wonderful experience. Reports of this type are wonderful for everyone involved. I wish more YY supporters would concentrate more on that than on being defensive. I have never questioned whether it is a good school, but the (almost, yours is not) constant negative tone that supporters invoke when dicussing issues/potential issues/different viewpoints makes me concerned that it may not be a good place for children to learn conflict management skills.

Urban baby is a different animal in that it moves much much faster and has more people. I prefer DCUM All I know is that I cannot mention the name of the private school DH and his father attended without getting a lot of vitriol most of it racist and muchado about nothing. Hard for anyone who loves a particular school and has a connection to it to NOT get defensive. I really doubt YY administration posts anything here - only parents w/kids there defending and everyone else w/o kids there spewing. Hopefully it will die down but that will probably only happen when it's virtually impossible to get a placement like 2Rivers and Stokes.

My kid's "conflict management skills" are very good and only getting better. Going to school, learning and being friends with an incredibly diverse crowd of kids does that. Could not "buy" this kind of diversity...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Agreed. No interest in Basis at all.

All grind, no idea what they're doing in DC, and students won't be well-rounded. No thank you.

I'd like to see how DCI plays out. If it succeeds in what it's supposed to do? That will work well for us: differentiation, high-expectations, well-rounded students (languages, sports, travel, community service). Of course, it helps to not be on the bleeding edges (but it's always best not to be on the bleeding edge). 8)

Actually, my well rounded DC will attend Basis in the fall.

We are a happy Mundo Verde family, and right now Basis looks a lot more attractive than DCI only because I am not sure that I want my children exposed to the negativity that YY seems to bring on itself. We avoided applying for YY because of the negativity online.

Although it seems ridiculous to judge based on anonymous comments, there are so many overly defensive comments that it seems likely that this is a top-down issue, and I don't want to be involved with a school that spews that much negativity and resentment. I understand that they have taken a lot of risks and done a remarkable thing by creating this program from scratch, and they are to be lauded for that, but that doesn't cancel out the tone that they bring to each conversation. It is my responsibilty as a parent (even more than providing a good academic education, and certainly more providing than a good immersion education even though that is a high priority for us) to see that my children become good, happy people who can communicate rationally and calmly help to resolve differences. This is something that I am afraid they will not get at YY, given the way all criticism is received.

I sincerely hope that Mundo Verde, which has the exact opposite feeling, can help to even out the tone of DCI, as it seems like it could be an absolutely wonderful program.

Who would actually want you if you form your opinions based on DCUM? It's proof that you're sheep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
We are a happy Mundo Verde family, and right now Basis looks a lot more attractive than DCI only because I am not sure that I want my children exposed to the negativity that YY seems to bring on itself. We avoided applying for YY because of the negativity online.

Although it seems ridiculous to judge based on anonymous comments, there are so many overly defensive comments that it seems likely that this is a top-down issue, and I don't want to be involved with a school that spews that much negativity and resentment. I understand that they have taken a lot of risks and done a remarkable thing by creating this program from scratch, and they are to be lauded for that, but that doesn't cancel out the tone that they bring to each conversation. It is my responsibilty as a parent (even more than providing a good academic education, and certainly more providing than a good immersion education even though that is a high priority for us) to see that my children become good, happy people who can communicate rationally and calmly help to resolve differences. This is something that I am afraid they will not get at YY, given the way all criticism is received.

I sincerely hope that Mundo Verde, which has the exact opposite feeling, can help to even out the tone of DCI, as it seems like it could be an absolutely wonderful program.

Really? You did not apply to a school b/c of comments you read online. LOL! YY was the only public school, charter or DCPS, we applied to because we wanted Chinese and we chose it over a well regarded private. But we're from NYC - which also has something similar to DCUM called Urbanbaby - meaner, nastier about everything but especially schools, public, private. Everyone would only home school or move if online comments were the criteria for schools.

So we're at YY. My child loves the school and had a fantastic preK yr. Great facilities, nice welcoming families, DS can read and speak Mandarin which he could not when he started there. Wonderful classmates/peers. No complaints and very glad we are there. If DCI goes as planned, IB diploma for high school, DS may stay instead of going to a private boarding school which is family tradition - we'll see what happens...

I know Urban Baby well, but it is a different animal. I have never seen comments on Urban Baby that I would even think to attribute to any administration. But, there are many here about YY that seem to be coming from somewhere internal to the organization.

I am glad that you are having a wonderful experience. Reports of this type are wonderful for everyone involved. I wish more YY supporters would concentrate more on that than on being defensive. I have never questioned whether it is a good school, but the (almost, yours is not) constant negative tone that supporters invoke when dicussing issues/potential issues/different viewpoints makes me concerned that it may not be a good place for children to learn conflict management skills.

Please post back in a few years when MV become the latest school attacked. You stated that you would consider Basis over DCI, well get ready to defend your choices and Basis from all the negative attacks from people who think they know what's going on in the outside while they stand 100,000 feet on the outside. Basis is already under attack and the school has yet to open. I guess you can call the soon-to-be parents at Basis defensive as well. The Basis threads have been as horrible as YY, but I guess it is far easier to be a part of the problem instead of the solution. Again, check back in a couple of years and report back when you actually have some experience under your belt. This is only MV's first year, and your kid isn't at Basis yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
We are a happy Mundo Verde family, and right now Basis looks a lot more attractive than DCI only because I am not sure that I want my children exposed to the negativity that YY seems to bring on itself. We avoided applying for YY because of the negativity online.

Although it seems ridiculous to judge based on anonymous comments, there are so many overly defensive comments that it seems likely that this is a top-down issue, and I don't want to be involved with a school that spews that much negativity and resentment. I understand that they have taken a lot of risks and done a remarkable thing by creating this program from scratch, and they are to be lauded for that, but that doesn't cancel out the tone that they bring to each conversation. It is my responsibilty as a parent (even more than providing a good academic education, and certainly more providing than a good immersion education even though that is a high priority for us) to see that my children become good, happy people who can communicate rationally and calmly help to resolve differences. This is something that I am afraid they will not get at YY, given the way all criticism is received.

I sincerely hope that Mundo Verde, which has the exact opposite feeling, can help to even out the tone of DCI, as it seems like it could be an absolutely wonderful program.

Really? You did not apply to a school b/c of comments you read online. LOL! YY was the only public school, charter or DCPS, we applied to because we wanted Chinese and we chose it over a well regarded private. But we're from NYC - which also has something similar to DCUM called Urbanbaby - meaner, nastier about everything but especially schools, public, private. Everyone would only home school or move if online comments were the criteria for schools.

So we're at YY. My child loves the school and had a fantastic preK yr. Great facilities, nice welcoming families, DS can read and speak Mandarin which he could not when he started there. Wonderful classmates/peers. No complaints and very glad we are there. If DCI goes as planned, IB diploma for high school, DS may stay instead of going to a private boarding school which is family tradition - we'll see what happens...

I know Urban Baby well, but it is a different animal. I have never seen comments on Urban Baby that I would even think to attribute to any administration. But, there are many here about YY that seem to be coming from somewhere internal to the organization.

I am glad that you are having a wonderful experience. Reports of this type are wonderful for everyone involved. I wish more YY supporters would concentrate more on that than on being defensive. I have never questioned whether it is a good school, but the (almost, yours is not) constant negative tone that supporters invoke when dicussing issues/potential issues/different viewpoints makes me concerned that it may not be a good place for children to learn conflict management skills.

Please post back in a few years when MV become the latest school attacked. You stated that you would consider Basis over DCI, well get ready to defend your choices and Basis from all the negative attacks from people who think they know what's going on in the outside while they stand 100,000 feet on the outside. Basis is already under attack and the school has yet to open. I guess you can call the soon-to-be parents at Basis defensive as well. The Basis threads have been as horrible as YY, but I guess it is far easier to be a part of the problem instead of the solution. Again, check back in a couple of years and report back when you actually have some experience under your belt. This is only MV's first year, and your kid isn't at Basis yet.

I agree that there will always be haters at some point with regard to every school, but the issue is how the school and community reacts to that criticism. Basis has been under attack, but I don't think that the supporters have been as hostile as the YY supporters. They believe in a controversial school, so they continue to support it to the chagrin of those opposed to the concept, but they do so by discussing the issues instead of by resorting instantly to he said/she said. Some people are strongly opposed to the school, but those supporting it have (at least for the most part, I am sure there is some exception that proves the rule) stuck to the issues without crying foul on every thread that even mentions education. These are tough issues, and there is no right answer, but I don't understand how frequent, hostile, defensive remarks helps anyone.

As for where my children will end up, it isn't clear. I think that it is wonderful that there may be options, and I think we should all just concentrate on how great it is that people at all of the schools have provided us with a real ability to discuss options for good public education available to people from all parts of the city. That wasn't possible just a few years ago. Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to make this possible, and to everyone who will continue to do so as this process continues.

[Anonymous]

The weird, defensive response to criticism pops up sometimes in Inspired Teaching threads, too. My theory is that there's some sort of curse on the NE location shared with Potomac Lighthouse (home to YY for many years and IT for one).


In all seriousness, the question of how to react to criticism of one's school is really tricky. I've read some criticisms of the school that are so incendiary and so far from my own experience that they make my blood start to boil. But it seems that any response, even a reasonable "well, that may be your experience, but in my child's classroom I've seen..." draws even more anger against the school. So I try to sit out these debates (as, I think, have others--December-May was a very light season for YY post), but sometimes I slip, imagining that I can somehow convince folks that the school really is a good place.

[Anonymous]

Totally agree with the immediate PP. I really don't get all the antagonism about BASIS and YY. I have read the long threads and honestly I don't see a lot of evidence or valid criticisms. I do see a lot of parents saying that they don't agree with a particular policy, personnel issue, etc. Wth any school, there will never be full consensus on every policy... There will always be parents who think they know better than the administrators. In some cases, parents may be correct about one policy... Or maybe a certain policy would benefit one subset of students but not the majority. One thing that has been frustrating to me is the fact that for these two schools especially, there is really nothing that the school can do right in the eyes of the posters.... I know YY is a good school because my kid is there. It is not perfect but both my family and child have felt welcome and my child has learned a great deal. No connection to BASIS but thrilled by the promise of expanded choice... So many people want to tear it down before it even begins... I would like to see less emotion and more evidence in people's posts.

[Anonymous]

Any school that is lucky enough to team up with MV will be lucky! We'll help bring them out of the childish squabbles!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any school that is lucky enough to team up with MV will be lucky! We'll help bring them out of the childish squabbles!

You have this backwards. MV made it through one year. They are lucky to be asked to team up with Stokes, LAMB, and YY. Those three have been sound for 4 years plus, minimum. MV is the tag along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any school that is lucky enough to team up with MV will be lucky! We'll help bring them out of the childish squabbles!

You have this backwards. MV made it through one year. They are lucky to be asked to team up with Stokes, LAMB, and YY. Those three have been sound for 4 years plus, minimum. MV is the tag along.

PP wasnt saying that MV wouldn't also be lucky? Why does a positive always have to turn into a negative?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any school that is lucky enough to team up with MV will be lucky! We'll help bring them out of the childish squabbles!

You have this backwards. MV made it through one year. They are lucky to be asked to team up with Stokes, LAMB, and YY. Those three have been sound for 4 years plus, minimum. MV is the tag along.

PP wasnt saying that MV wouldn't also be lucky? Why does a positive always have to turn into a negative?

Agreed! As a YY parent I'm thrilled that MV would be part of this. The more schools the better and MV parents seem great However, it is worth noting that anyone who cares to can go back to 2008 and find that YY parents were all ok too, before they started getting insulted and called "boosters" just for being excited about the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree it makes much more sense to start the DCI at 5th. The IB curriculum is Primary Years Programme thru 5th grade, Middle Years from 6th to 10th grades, and Diploma for 11th and 12th.

I think that is the reason YY admin won't consider starting at 5th.

Like many families before DCI became news, we were planning to send DC to private for high school at the latest. We chose our charter because of the immersion language. The IB diploma maybe enough of a carrot to keep families through high school even if it starts in 6th although it makes more sense logistically to start in 5th in DC.

This is my family as well. We didn't get into WIS but lotteried into LAMB amazingly. Our plan right now is to re-apply to WIS for middle school but if DCI becomes a reality we'll be there.

[Anonymous]

YY parent whose children are about half way up doubting that we'll be there (planning to go private, or move to Potomac for MS Chinese immersion) because we're already concerned about lack of rigor in English, particularly in reading. The most enthusiastic parents tend to be in the lower grades. I'm really disappointed that immersion experience will end in 5th - kids who don't speak Mandarin at home are going to forget a great deal of Chinese in MS, even with DCI teaching "advanced" Chinese classes. That's why Canada almost always does language immersion through 8th grade, as do some other US cities. Also, with most of the student body of DCI planned to lottery in, you're going to have the same old situation at other charters, not enough challenge/push for high-end kids. Teachers will have to focus on dealing with kids who test below basic or proficient in both reading and math, not on the advanced kids, unless there's considerable grouping/tracking. Where does that happen in a DC MS? How could things be any different? If my kids were in preschool I'd be cautiously optimistic, but they aren't, so I'm sadly erring on the side of pessimism. I'm sure the DCI planners/boosters are very well-intentioned, just not sure how realistic they are, at least for high-SES families. Talk to Latin and Two Rivers parents who leave for lack of challenge to cool your enthusiasm, folks.

[Anonymous]

I'm a YY parent and just wanted to say, well said 6:09.

[Anonymous]

At what grade does WIS move their students from the immersion model?