New Wilson Principal and the Beacon paper

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just got a more accurate count from a Wilson teacher--at least 740 freshmen.

That's crazy, if true--about 50 percent more than expected, if I remember correctly from our tour that 450-500 freshman were expected. Where could all of those extra kids have come from? I thought Wilson stopped taking out-of-boundary students because of overcrowding? Even if an unprecedented number of in-boundary freshman came to Wilson from Latin, Basis, and private schools, it can't possibly account for this large a change.

If you recall, last year the chancellor came out with a plan for ensuring attrition at Wilson--stuff related to not letting in siblings of OOB Wilson students, not allowing in students who aged out, and another new "policy" or two (can't recall now...maybe something to do with truancy?). I'm guessing these policies weren't put into place. AND if you do a little auditing, I wonder if it would review that some OOB students were allowed to enroll...DC is sort of infamous for its favors.

"favors" aside, random residency audits could also be useful (not just the usual MD/VA suspects, there might be kids living in DC but not IB for Wilson). also, the rule introduced by Rhee under which kids winning a spot as OOB into an elementary school in the Wilson pyramid have the right to go to Wilson should go. they should be able to attend if there is space only.

[Anonymous]

Okay, back again with the same unanswered question. For those of you who are very upset about this situation, the question I pose is as follows: Is this policy of Ms. Martin's besides being constitutionally legal, one that is COMMON place in other high school in the nation, rare, in-between, or what? Because if it is a fairly commonplace thing then you're getting your panties in a twist for no good reason. (Other than that you disagree with the constitutionality behind it.) However, if it is indeed a rare occurrence then that is more meaningful and begs the question of why it actually is necessary at this school.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, back again with the same unanswered question. For those of you who are very upset about this situation, the question I pose is as follows: Is this policy of Ms. Martin's besides being constitutionally legal, one that is COMMON place in other high school in the nation, rare, in-between, or what? Because if it is a fairly commonplace thing then you're getting your panties in a twist for no good reason. (Other than that you disagree with the constitutionality behind it.) However, if it is indeed a rare occurrence then that is more meaningful and begs the question of why it actually is necessary at this school.

According to the Post article, prior review occurs in other DCPS high schools (that wording is off the top of my head, check the article to be exact). But, that is not my issue. My concern is that she this year has gotten off to a very rocky start with messed up schedules, missing teachers, poor communications, conflicting communications, unfilled commitments, etc., and she had decided to make the editing the school newspaper her priority. We all know that she is coming from a school that was essentially the size of Wilson's freshmen class. This is a very strong indication that she may not be prepared for the change of scale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, back again with the same unanswered question. For those of you who are very upset about this situation, the question I pose is as follows: Is this policy of Ms. Martin's besides being constitutionally legal, one that is COMMON place in other high school in the nation, rare, in-between, or what? Because if it is a fairly commonplace thing then you're getting your panties in a twist for no good reason. (Other than that you disagree with the constitutionality behind it.) However, if it is indeed a rare occurrence then that is more meaningful and begs the question of why it actually is necessary at this school.

I recognize that that may be your question. Other people think the question should be: "Why has Martin chosen to change the status quo since no-one has sued the paper or accused the paper of printing falsehoods/invading privacy?"

[Anonymous]

Our panties are in a twist because it was a terrible start to the school year already -- this was not something we imagined her spending any time on, while our children (and many of us parents) were wasting hours at time in the counselors' offices to get our kids schedules that made sense, and even when they did we would find missing teachers. And when we look around, we don't receive any feedback from the principal, and the first weekend for the first time we didn't even receive the weekly communication (robo call or email). So her timing was terrible. Beyond demonstrating lack of trust in the students, it is pretty demeaning to the assigned faculty supervisor that already was working with the Beacon staff. Making friends left and right!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just got a more accurate count from a Wilson teacher--at least 740 freshmen.

That's crazy, if true--about 50 percent more than expected, if I remember correctly from our tour that 450-500 freshman were expected. Where could all of those extra kids have come from? I thought Wilson stopped taking out-of-boundary students because of overcrowding? Even if an unprecedented number of in-boundary freshman came to Wilson from Latin, Basis, and private schools, it can't possibly account for this large a change.

That number is not accurate. More like 450-500. There are less than 1,800 kids at Wilson this year.

[Anonymous]

Apparently the policy is being reconsidered.

https://twitter.com/maustermuhle/status/638437247126228992

"Per email, Wilson High School principal to reconsider prior review of articles for student newspaper."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apparently the policy is being reconsidered.

https://twitter.com/maustermuhle/status/638437247126228992

"Per email, Wilson High School principal to reconsider prior review of articles for student newspaper."

Good for her. Now let's focus on filling teacher positions and getting student schedules squared away.

[Anonymous]

So wait. Are we assume this was really all about her and the article focused on her that ran this summer? Ugh. Whatever. I just want her to get her priorities straight. https://www.change.org/p/principal-martin-unmediated-student-media/u/12962608?tk=giwF1ATJeLlxNuRuGzZ5pgRKy1EyB3OEjwhgcpEzKNE&utm_source=petition_update&utm_medium=email

[Anonymous]

I should note, DC reports rumors that the Kelly Kittens are also on Martin's Radar as an issue "to be addressed'

[Anonymous]

Ahem, the Kelly kittens"? Pls enlighten me.

[Anonymous]

Not the Kelly Kittens!!!!
I'll admit they are a little much for high school but my kid (a girl-but not a kitten) finds them very entertaining as a dance group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ahem, the Kelly kittens"? Pls enlighten me.

Dance team. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtUnZD9f42w

[jsteele]

Apparently, Principal Martin and the Beacon editors have worked out a deal:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2015/08/31/wilson-high-principal-reconsiders-prior-review-of-newspaper-articles/

"Principal Martin is in the process of reconsidering her prior review policy. The editors are revisiting their editorial policies to instate a clearly outlined chain of responsibilities and verify quotes in all future articles. The editors will send Principal Martin the revised editorial policies and once all policies are mutually agreed on, she’ll discontinue the process of prior review."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ahem, the Kelly kittens"? Pls enlighten me.

Dance team. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtUnZD9f42w

What on earth is wrong with that?