BASIS to Banneker

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BASIS teachers are asked to stay, or not asked. Sounds a lot like a contract.

Interesting points being made here hinting at the distinction between education/choice and "academic prep." More of the former at Banneker and Walls, less at BASIS.

We left for Walls partly because my 8th greater wanted more class discussions, group projects, research projects and inquiry in general and fewer tests. Far fewer.

You definitely get that at Walls - far fewer tests (hardly any) and much less (also, hardly any) homework! What Walls bases all the straight As on - who knows??!

[Anonymous]

My 8th grader had homework dramatically increase this year. Makes me wonder if the volume is tied to return-from-pandemic changes across all grades.

[Anonymous]

I find it interesting that the vast majority of posts on a thread titled BASIS to Banneker are about people's experiences going to Walls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it interesting that the vast majority of posts on a thread titled BASIS to Banneker are about people's experiences going to Walls.

Because they don't know anything outside of hearsay. OP, you are better off reaching out to the Banneker PTO. The info is on the website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS teachers are asked to stay, or not asked. Sounds a lot like a contract.

Interesting points being made here hinting at the distinction between education/choice and "academic prep." More of the former at Banneker and Walls, less at BASIS.

We left for Walls partly because my 8th greater wanted more class discussions, group projects, research projects and inquiry in general and fewer tests. Far fewer.

You definitely get that at Walls - far fewer tests (hardly any) and much less (also, hardly any) homework! What Walls bases all the straight As on - who knows??!

I wonder if the SWW kids that have 2+ hrs a night of hw would agree?

[Anonymous]

Again I am confused at people saying stem at Walls is so much weaker than Basis. The stem teachers at Walls seem to have a lot of experience as a whole and my kid has really liked their math teachers thus far. Maybe because they entered 9th grade at a higher level math class than Algebra I or Geometry?

[Anonymous]

STEM is indeed weaker at Walls, and every other DC public high school, as compared to BASIS which isn't to say that every Walls' senior winds up with a lesser STEM background as compared to every BASIS senior. Not by a long shot.

Yes, Walls has some great STEM teachers, particularly for math and physics (including poached former BASIS teachers). Walls also has a boatload of intellectually curious and entrepreneurial students. BASIS doesn't emphasize freedom of thought or action in the pursuit of educational excellence, at least not before their loosey-goosey and poorly supported and resourced senior year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:STEM is indeed weaker at Walls, and every other DC public high school, as compared to BASIS which isn't to say that every Walls' senior winds up with a lesser STEM background as compared to every BASIS senior. Not by a long shot.

Yes, Walls has some great STEM teachers, particularly for math and physics (including poached former BASIS teachers). Walls also has a boatload of intellectually curious and entrepreneurial students. BASIS doesn't emphasize freedom of thought or action in the pursuit of educational excellence, at least not before their loosey-goosey and poorly supported and resourced senior year.

It's like someone asked ChatGPT: "Give me some words that make me sound like I have a deep understanding of education and teaching".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:STEM is indeed weaker at Walls, and every other DC public high school, as compared to BASIS which isn't to say that every Walls' senior winds up with a lesser STEM background as compared to every BASIS senior. Not by a long shot.

Yes, Walls has some great STEM teachers, particularly for math and physics (including poached former BASIS teachers). Walls also has a boatload of intellectually curious and entrepreneurial students. BASIS doesn't emphasize freedom of thought or action in the pursuit of educational excellence, at least not before their loosey-goosey and poorly supported and resourced senior year.

Thanks for the response. I am less impressed by the ‘poached’ former Basis teachers but otherwise generally agree. And no one is poached, this individuals chose to leave.

[Anonymous]

NP I second the motion. Plenty of high school stem opportunity outside BASIS in the DC public school domain for the resourceful with a good grounding in pre AP math and science. Kids can get that at a number of DCPS and charter middle schools. For starters, BASIS isn't the only DC public middle school teaching 7th graders algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STEM is indeed weaker at Walls, and every other DC public high school, as compared to BASIS which isn't to say that every Walls' senior winds up with a lesser STEM background as compared to every BASIS senior. Not by a long shot.

Yes, Walls has some great STEM teachers, particularly for math and physics (including poached former BASIS teachers). Walls also has a boatload of intellectually curious and entrepreneurial students. BASIS doesn't emphasize freedom of thought or action in the pursuit of educational excellence, at least not before their loosey-goosey and poorly supported and resourced senior year.

Thanks for the response. I am less impressed by the ‘poached’ former Basis teachers but otherwise generally agree. And no one is poached, this individuals chose to leave.

If positions were open at SWW doesn't that mean teachers departed? By the logic of DCUM, doesn't that mean SWW must not be a god school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STEM is indeed weaker at Walls, and every other DC public high school, as compared to BASIS which isn't to say that every Walls' senior winds up with a lesser STEM background as compared to every BASIS senior. Not by a long shot.

Yes, Walls has some great STEM teachers, particularly for math and physics (including poached former BASIS teachers). Walls also has a boatload of intellectually curious and entrepreneurial students. BASIS doesn't emphasize freedom of thought or action in the pursuit of educational excellence, at least not before their loosey-goosey and poorly supported and resourced senior year.

Thanks for the response. I am less impressed by the ‘poached’ former Basis teachers but otherwise generally agree. And no one is poached, this individuals chose to leave.

One teacher.

[Anonymous]

Many more than one over the years have left for DCPS. BASIS has been going for over a decade, not offering competitive pay or working conditions since the get go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STEM is indeed weaker at Walls, and every other DC public high school, as compared to BASIS which isn't to say that every Walls' senior winds up with a lesser STEM background as compared to every BASIS senior. Not by a long shot.

Yes, Walls has some great STEM teachers, particularly for math and physics (including poached former BASIS teachers). Walls also has a boatload of intellectually curious and entrepreneurial students. BASIS doesn't emphasize freedom of thought or action in the pursuit of educational excellence, at least not before their loosey-goosey and poorly supported and resourced senior year.

Thanks for the response. I am less impressed by the ‘poached’ former Basis teachers but otherwise generally agree. And no one is poached, this individuals chose to leave.

One teacher.

+1. Only one went to Walls.

[Anonymous]

BS more than one in the decade BASIS DC has been around. Half a dozen.