The RFP in MCPS - are they going to gut the magnet and immersion programs or enhance them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Now there are Blair staff members and Blair trolls who post here claimimg that as long as the kids keep winning prizes who cares if they tweet and play bingo. It is the dumbest argument I have heard. The kids who win prizes do so because of their parental connections. It has nothing to do with Blair.

Don't be fooled.

Wow. Kids win national science competitions because they are brilliant and produce groundbreaking work. To suggest otherwise displays a shameful level of jealousy and/or ignorance.

And the reason students keep applying to the magnet is because they want to be among that dazzling peer group.

Prove to me that the work is original and not simply something the investigators on the project were working on.

Hon, the kids usually work at labs where their parents have connections. Today the magnet does not have the "dazzling peer group" that kids once had. I would not apply to the Blair magnet or CAP program. If you can attend a 'W' school don't even bother with a magnet application. Just sayin'.

I alum interview Blair students for MIT, since 2005. Peer group is roughly the same, just more coached and prepped.
I truly hope what they are saying is what they really want to do with their life. Many, particularly in the biology space have parents who do medicine, research or lab work. Biology is the toughest category in the science fairs, every kid (I judge them too) has a parent in the field. Environmental category is much easier.... FYI just saying'. (is that that make up lady Just Sayin?)

Hon, since you obviously don't have kids in the magnet program, you're totally unqualified to comment on the peer group. Just sayin'.

[Anonymous]

language immersions programs are a waste of time and money

magnet programs are only to help increase test scores at the poor performing schools. If it doesn't guarantee you into IB or high school magnet (and many don't get in) then it really is a waste.

HGC are so unfair to the kids. Why they can not just allow the kids to get pulled for enrichment in their own schools is beyond me. Bussing them to other schools in the 4th grade? It just isn't right and it is expensive.

Not enough IB programs. So many smart kids get turned away. That is where I would like to see the money go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:language immersions programs are a waste of time and money

magnet programs are only to help increase test scores at the poor performing schools. If it doesn't guarantee you into IB or high school magnet (and many don't get in) then it really is a waste.

HGC are so unfair to the kids. Why they can not just allow the kids to get pulled for enrichment in their own schools is beyond me. Bussing them to other schools in the 4th grade? It just isn't right and it is expensive.

Not enough IB programs. So many smart kids get turned away. That is where I would like to see the money go.

Since when is teaching fluency in another language a waste? Since when is providing additional challenge in ES and MS, to kids who have demonstrated they need this challenge, and even if they don't get into the HS magnet?

Weird. To you, education for everybody has to fit into a single box. Except for Cadillac IB programs apparently. Well, at least you're not one of those anti-UN flat-earthers.

[Anonymous]

The immersion programs are great, but they're available to such a small percentage of students it makes them an easy target. Also, in our hood, lots of kids sign up not primarily for the benefit of language exposure, but instead because they're fleeing our assigned school. This dynamic works against one of the stated purposes of the programs, which is to help balance demographics. In many instances, the programs gut poor schools of the limited middle class participation they might otherwise see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The immersion programs are great, but they're available to such a small percentage of students it makes them an easy target. Also, in our hood, lots of kids sign up not primarily for the benefit of language exposure, but instead because they're fleeing our assigned school. This dynamic works against one of the stated purposes of the programs, which is to help balance demographics. In many instances, the programs gut poor schools of the limited middle class participation they might otherwise see.

Bingo. I expect this is what a study will reveal and why the one-directional immersion programs will be phased out. I agree with the other PPs who suggest that two-way, bilingual immersion programs are the way to go. Actually, I think they are inevitable in Montgomery County. They will create a level field for the native Spanish-speaking and native English-speaking kids, and will create dual fluency in both populations. Win-win.

However, I am certain there will be certain parents who currently use the immersion program as an escape hatch, as detailed above, who will scream bloody murder. You do know the old joke about Spanish immersion programs, don't you...that parents put their kids in them so they won't have to be around Spanish-speaking people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is it so hard for parents to believe MCPS IS trying to get rid of magnets? Do you really feel the MCPS administrators feel as strongly as you are about the magnet? The number of awards magnet kids get don't save them money.

Because my kids are in magnets and I don't see it. That's why.

You obviously don't have kids in magnets, so you think anything you make up might seem credible. You don't seem credible.

If they were, what would you expect to SEE? Do you really think MCPS will be open enough to let you SEE??

I love this. You want us to trust you instead of trusting our own eyes. Because, um, the lack of hard evidence supposedly proves, rather than disproves, your point. WTF? You're a loon.

And you truly a dumb person. In a bureaucratic system (local, state, or Federal doesn't matter), how do you kill a program? Here is how... I will give you a step-by-step process.

1. you realize you have an issue (in MCPS's case, it's lack of money to support increasing student enrollment - remember how fast MCPS is growing thanks to influx of new people moving in)?
2. you look for places to cut/increase dollar value (why do you think they put the HS late start issue on hold??) Follow me so far?
3. you look for money spent with small return on investment - and guess what? MCPS has obviously decided the way they are running the special program (i.e., magnet) is one of the areas.
4. you do a study that can be used to "justify" the cuts/changes
5. you implement the changes

So, they are doing step 4 - doing the so called "study" to make their case. They will use the "study" to show/prove/fool how the money can be "better" spent and students will benefit more (i.e., closing the achievement gap) and "improve" the school system. My guess is it will take a year or two before they can move on to step 5.

+1

Look at the student population that is flocking to Blair. The population that is increasing doesn't represent a tax base that can support the increasing demands on the Blair staff. So you kill the magnet to free up the cash.

Johnson, the principal at Blair already killed off the program that assigned counselors to the magnet. She has lost veteran teachers and she is now using nonmagnet teachers to teach magnet math. Remember that this is the same principal who danced around in videos produced by a precalculus teacher called 2Pi. Know what happened to him? He had to leave the school in a hurry.

By killing the magnet Johnson will also become an administrator at headquarters.

It is a win win situation for the main people involved.

Now here's the thing--the Blair principal relies on the accomplishments of the magnet students to tweet the hell out and attract DCC students to Blair. When the magnet fails Blair becomes just another DCC school.

If you really want a good magnet education -- this is really sad to say -- the Blair magnet is not the place to be.

+1

DC tells me that the magnet math teacher was teaching math he learned from a senior magnet kid via tweets. Look up the tweets on Cardinal and Ordinal numbers.

Most parents do supplement the magnet instruction because there is isn't much magnet instruction anymore. Those of you who had kids in the magnet please get a life and move on. The magnet isn't what it used to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
+1

DC tells me that the magnet math teacher was teaching math he learned from a senior magnet kid via tweets. Look up the tweets on Cardinal and Ordinal numbers.

Most parents do supplement the magnet instruction because there is isn't much magnet instruction anymore. Those of you who had kids in the magnet please get a life and move on. The magnet isn't what it used to be.

Wow, ironic. Ok, time to follow your own good advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
+1

DC tells me that the magnet math teacher was teaching math he learned from a senior magnet kid via tweets. Look up the tweets on Cardinal and Ordinal numbers.

Most parents do supplement the magnet instruction because there is isn't much magnet instruction anymore. Those of you who had kids in the magnet please get a life and move on. The magnet isn't what it used to be.

Wow, ironic. Ok, time to follow your own good advice.

Wow, if you have nothing of value to add and cant dispute the events described why do you have to give a worthless comment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

+1

DC tells me that the magnet math teacher was teaching math he learned from a senior magnet kid via tweets. Look up the tweets on Cardinal and Ordinal numbers.

Most parents do supplement the magnet instruction because there is isn't much magnet instruction anymore. Those of you who had kids in the magnet please get a life and move on. The magnet isn't what it used to be.

Instead of continually telling us to look up things it's not possible to look up without a lot more information, suppose you post the tweets you're referring to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
+1

DC tells me that the magnet math teacher was teaching math he learned from a senior magnet kid via tweets. Look up the tweets on Cardinal and Ordinal numbers.

Most parents do supplement the magnet instruction because there is isn't much magnet instruction anymore. Those of you who had kids in the magnet please get a life and move on. The magnet isn't what it used to be.

First, stop sock puppetting yourself.

Second, stop fabricating a "DC" to add credibility to your posts. Or at least stop pretending your kid actually attends the magnet.

Third, post the tweets you're referring to. It's an easy cut and paste. Last time you referred to Principal Johnson's tweets, I looked them up and found out you were blowing your claims out your butt. I posted as much here. So, why don't you document your claims, given that this time you're not referring to shady plots but to actual tweets. Post them.

Fourth, answer the question about whether you think Starr is going to gut your beloved Poolesville magnet, too.

Recently, in magnet comp sci, my DC wrote a program to decode the human genome. Most magnet classes are AP classes smooshed into a single semester and then some additional stuff added (you know that, right?). I don't know parents who supplement classwork. Some of the parents at places like NIH may help their kids study--but as any gibbon could tell you, that's very differnt from your implication that they're adding new material. Your claim that "most parents supplement" is simply ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous+1

DC tells me that the magnet math teacher was teaching math he learned from a senior magnet kid via tweets. Look up the tweets on Cardinal and Ordinal numbers.

Most parents do supplement the magnet instruction because there is isn't much magnet instruction anymore. Those of you who had kids in the magnet please get a life and move on. The magnet isn't what it used to be.

Wait. You're claiming that they teach cardinal and ordinal numbers-- a third grade concept--at the math magnet? And for some obscure reason you thought it was necessary to capitalized "Cardinal" and "Ordinal" in your post? Could your mythical "DC" be referring to set theory? Do you have any clue what you're talking about?

I'm the poster who described my child doing regression only 4 weeks into magnet Stats. You don't know enough about numbers to make up a credible story.

For the record, many magnet kids spend 4-5 hours a night studying. Only a machiavellian parent would "supplement" on top of this. That's iff (do you recognize "iff"?) "most" parents were even capable of supplementing magnet-level courses.

[Anonymous]

Reposting for formatting.

Anonymous wrote:
+1

DC tells me that the magnet math teacher was teaching math he learned from a senior magnet kid via tweets. Look up the tweets on Cardinal and Ordinal numbers.

Most parents do supplement the magnet instruction because there is isn't much magnet instruction anymore. Those of you who had kids in the magnet please get a life and move on. The magnet isn't what it used to be.

Wait. You're claiming that they teach cardinal and ordinal numbers-- a third grade concept--at the math magnet? And for some obscure reason you thought it was necessary to capitalized "Cardinal" and "Ordinal" in your post? Could your mythical "DC" be referring to set theory? Do you have any clue what you're talking about?

I'm the poster who described my child doing regression only 4 weeks into magnet Stats. You don't know enough about numbers to make up a credible story.

For the record, many magnet kids spend 4-5 hours a night studying. Only a machiavellian parent would "supplement" on top of this. That's iff (do you recognize "iff"?) "most" parents were even capable of supplementing magnet-level courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
+1

DC tells me that the magnet math teacher was teaching math he learned from a senior magnet kid via tweets. Look up the tweets on Cardinal and Ordinal numbers.

Most parents do supplement the magnet instruction because there is isn't much magnet instruction anymore. Those of you who had kids in the magnet please get a life and move on. The magnet isn't what it used to be.

Wow, ironic. Ok, time to follow your own good advice.

Wow, if you have nothing of value to add and cant dispute the events described why do you have to give a worthless comment?

Ah well, I thought it was a worthwhile suggestion since we now have 9 PAGES on this thread (and dozens of other similarly hijacked threads) of real Blair parents debunking, disproving and discrediting literally everything you say. But I see my attempt was futile. So, I tell you what, I give up. You win. You and your magnet-attending DC have finally made a believer out of me.

Yes, it's clear now that the Blair magnet is a joke. All the kids spend their days playing bingo and exchanging tweets and selfies with the principal who is trying to destroy the program, even though she needs the program to prop up her failing school. I get it.

Meanwhile, the only reason the Blair magnet continues to dominate national science competitions is because all the kids' parents work at NIH or something. Fortunately, Blair seems to be the only local school that's benefiting from this situation. Lucky Blair.

And it's now clear to me that this mediocre crop of magnet students--even the 32 National Merit Semifinalists who somehow lucked into the highest PSAT scores in the state--are only succeeding because of the supplementary efforts of parents like you. Thanks for setting me straight.

[Anonymous]

The HGCs don't cost much money at all. The kids have to be taught somewhere. The only additional cost are the buses but that is pretty minimal in the scheme of things. There could be other reasons to cut them, but they are not expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
+1

DC tells me that the magnet math teacher was teaching math he learned from a senior magnet kid via tweets. Look up the tweets on Cardinal and Ordinal numbers.

Most parents do supplement the magnet instruction because there is isn't much magnet instruction anymore. Those of you who had kids in the magnet please get a life and move on. The magnet isn't what it used to be.

Wow, ironic. Ok, time to follow your own good advice.

Wow, if you have nothing of value to add and cant dispute the events described why do you have to give a worthless comment?

Ah well, I thought it was a worthwhile suggestion since we now have 9 PAGES on this thread (and dozens of other similarly hijacked threads) of real Blair parents debunking, disproving and discrediting literally everything you say. But I see my attempt was futile. So, I tell you what, I give up. You win. You and your magnet-attending DC have finally made a believer out of me.

Yes, it's clear now that the Blair magnet is a joke. All the kids spend their days playing bingo and exchanging tweets and selfies with the principal who is trying to destroy the program, even though she needs the program to prop up her failing school. I get it.

Meanwhile, the only reason the Blair magnet continues to dominate national science competitions is because all the kids' parents work at NIH or something. Fortunately, Blair seems to be the only local school that's benefiting from this situation. Lucky Blair.

And it's now clear to me that this mediocre crop of magnet students--even the 32 National Merit Semifinalists who somehow lucked into the highest PSAT scores in the state--are only succeeding because of the supplementary efforts of parents like you. Thanks for setting me straight.

PP, as another Blair parent, I appreciate your valiant effort to debunk this person's posts. I don't know if she's a troll or if she has a particular axe to grind (kid was rejected from Blair magnet; Poolesville booster; something else), but you can't argue with stupid or with trolls.

Although... maybe all those NMSSFs are because of something in the water at Blair, esp. in the fountains near all the magnet classes? In that case, I'm definitely sending my kid to the magnet, regardless!