Underwhelming appearance by Principal Martin at Wilson HS Open House

[Anonymous]

You probably want to head over to the MD schools board and talk to some of the BCC parents before you move.

Lots of the same emphasis on reducing disparities and racial bias over there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You probably want to head over to the MD schools board and talk to some of the BCC parents before you move.

Lots of the same emphasis on reducing disparities and racial bias over there.

That's great as long as the schools use the opportunity to improve, not worsen, general academic performance. I suspect they do, but you raise a good point, I'll need to check.

(not OP, just someone in a similar boat)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You probably want to head over to the MD schools board and talk to some of the BCC parents before you move.

Lots of the same emphasis on reducing disparities and racial bias over there.

OP: Thanks, I have talked to several MoCo county parents. I am all for reducing disparities, and I have been a victim of disparities and of stigmatization against Latinos, and in particular against Latino women. As such, I am very aware that a racial debate within an educational institution such as Wilson, has a complexity that goes so much beyond the stereotyped white vs black debate, which seems to be, instead, the mainstream within the DCUM, as well as the framework of Ms Martin's letter to families.

Listen, if you talk to high performing and committed black and Latino students at Hardy MS or Deal MS and ask them how does the race/ethnicity aspect affect their student life, the majority of them point their finger against peers of their same race/ethnicity, not toward their white peers. They will tell you of the stigma associated to being an honors black student in some school black social circles, they will tell you of endless bus rides back home towards NE and SE being bullied for doing the "good kid" at school . Latina girls in honors track can be nicknamed the equivalent of "white's bitches" . Racial biases have roots within each of the school social circles of the same race/ethnicity and are often directed towards members of the same community, and especially towards students of the same race/ethnicity, since academic proficiency is a poorly rated value in some of these communities. This is why advanced black and Latino students from Hardy and Deal do not want to go to Wilson, and find an escape route into Walls and Banneker.

Reducing disparities and racial bias is an imperative for all education institutions and administrations. But when this issue is presented as a black vs white issue by the school leadership , then the debate is not simplified, is wrong. And I do not foresee anything useful coming out from it in this framework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You probably want to head over to the MD schools board and talk to some of the BCC parents before you move.

Lots of the same emphasis on reducing disparities and racial bias over there.

OP: Thanks, I have talked to several MoCo county parents. I am all for reducing disparities, and I have been a victim of disparities and of stigmatization against Latinos, and in particular against Latino women. As such, I am very aware that a racial debate within an educational institution such as Wilson, has a complexity that goes so much beyond the stereotyped white vs black debate, which seems to be, instead, the mainstream within the DCUM, as well as the framework of Ms Martin's letter to families.

Listen, if you talk to high performing and committed black and Latino students at Hardy MS or Deal MS and ask them how does the race/ethnicity aspect affect their student life, the majority of them point their finger against peers of their same race/ethnicity, not toward their white peers. They will tell you of the stigma associated to being an honors black student in some school black social circles, they will tell you of endless bus rides back home towards NE and SE being bullied for doing the "good kid" at school . Latina girls in honors track can be nicknamed the equivalent of "white's bitches" . Racial biases have roots within each of the school social circles of the same race/ethnicity and are often directed towards members of the same community, and especially towards students of the same race/ethnicity, since academic proficiency is a poorly rated value in some of these communities. This is why advanced black and Latino students from Hardy and Deal do not want to go to Wilson, and find an escape route into Walls and Banneker.

Reducing disparities and racial bias is an imperative for all education institutions and administrations. But when this issue is presented as a black vs white issue by the school leadership , then the debate is not simplified, is wrong. And I do not foresee anything useful coming out from it in this framework.

OP, thank you very much for sharing all this. I am sorry to hear that the Wilson community will lose your voice, and your children's.

Un abrazo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's move away from race. I have a question for the original poster.

What exactly are you trying to accomplish by posting here? If you are so concerned why not set up a meeting with the principal to discuss your concerns or dig deeper to get more information?

Trying to elicit a group response against the principal on an anonymous board is hardly the way to go about things.

I wonder if the OP is really a Wilson parent. Could possibly someone connected to the previous principal, who was very bitter when he left.

OP here. At that time I was indeed a prospective Wilson parent. I am now a Wilson parent. Please believe me, had you been at that open house, you would have understood the reason why I was seeking other parents' input and views. It was disconcerting, really.

Later this week, when I'll have time, I will post an update on this conversation, regarding the "welcome" letter Principal Martin sent us before the beginning of the school year (attached to my son's schedule). Again, very disconcerting letter, to us and to all new parents I had the chance to talk to, in tone, content and phrasing. And, if that was not enough, the attached schedule was all wrong (did not even include any of the four mandatory classes!!!).

Again, bad start. First make sure schedules are ok, then invest time drafting a long and convoluted letter where your main message is that , during the current school year, the priority at Wilson will be reducing the disparities within the school, the "school within a school" clusterization, and the "unconscious racial biases within the school". "...While there's no consensus on how to deal with these issues, we will devote time and efforts withing the faculty and students/parents community to find ways to address the problem.

Does this letter, together with the PARCC results, mean that the new Wilson way is to reduce disparities by levelling all down?

So, pleeeeease, be intelligent and see through things. I am not the one who's interested in playing the racial card here (to me Ms Martin did not even look African American!!!!! ) Look elsewhere. I am definetly already looking elsewhere (at condos in zip codes 20814, 20815, Montgomery County).

Too bad. We are also a new Wilson family. I attended an open house in the Spring and also the parent meeting in August. I liked Ms. Martin. Yes, the schedule was screwed, but the counselors have been very receptive. So far, I'm not ready to judge. My son is really happy and I am willing to give Ms. Martin a chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's move away from race. I have a question for the original poster.

What exactly are you trying to accomplish by posting here? If you are so concerned why not set up a meeting with the principal to discuss your concerns or dig deeper to get more information?

Trying to elicit a group response against the principal on an anonymous board is hardly the way to go about things.

I wonder if the OP is really a Wilson parent. Could possibly someone connected to the previous principal, who was very bitter when he left.

OP here. At that time I was indeed a prospective Wilson parent. I am now a Wilson parent. Please believe me, had you been at that open house, you would have understood the reason why I was seeking other parents' input and views. It was disconcerting, really.

Later this week, when I'll have time, I will post an update on this conversation, regarding the "welcome" letter Principal Martin sent us before the beginning of the school year (attached to my son's schedule). Again, very disconcerting letter, to us and to all new parents I had the chance to talk to, in tone, content and phrasing. And, if that was not enough, the attached schedule was all wrong (did not even include any of the four mandatory classes!!!).

Again, bad start. First make sure schedules are ok, then invest time drafting a long and convoluted letter where your main message is that , during the current school year, the priority at Wilson will be reducing the disparities within the school, the "school within a school" clusterization, and the "unconscious racial biases within the school". "...While there's no consensus on how to deal with these issues, we will devote time and efforts withing the faculty and students/parents community to find ways to address the problem.

Does this letter, together with the PARCC results, mean that the new Wilson way is to reduce disparities by levelling all down?

So, pleeeeease, be intelligent and see through things. I am not the one who's interested in playing the racial card here (to me Ms Martin did not even look African American!!!!! ) Look elsewhere. I am definetly already looking elsewhere (at condos in zip codes 20814, 20815, Montgomery County).

Not a wilson parent but I would be highly concerend by this letter about "clusterization"--the school within a school is pretty much the only reason high SES families even take a chance on wilson with their college bound kids. You continue to dumb that down and Wilson will be no better than Dunbar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's move away from race. I have a question for the original poster.

What exactly are you trying to accomplish by posting here? If you are so concerned why not set up a meeting with the principal to discuss your concerns or dig deeper to get more information?

Trying to elicit a group response against the principal on an anonymous board is hardly the way to go about things.

I wonder if the OP is really a Wilson parent. Could possibly someone connected to the previous principal, who was very bitter when he left.

OP here. At that time I was indeed a prospective Wilson parent. I am now a Wilson parent. Please believe me, had you been at that open house, you would have understood the reason why I was seeking other parents' input and views. It was disconcerting, really.

Later this week, when I'll have time, I will post an update on this conversation, regarding the "welcome" letter Principal Martin sent us before the beginning of the school year (attached to my son's schedule). Again, very disconcerting letter, to us and to all new parents I had the chance to talk to, in tone, content and phrasing. And, if that was not enough, the attached schedule was all wrong (did not even include any of the four mandatory classes!!!).

Again, bad start. First make sure schedules are ok, then invest time drafting a long and convoluted letter where your main message is that , during the current school year, the priority at Wilson will be reducing the disparities within the school, the "school within a school" clusterization, and the "unconscious racial biases within the school". "...While there's no consensus on how to deal with these issues, we will devote time and efforts withing the faculty and students/parents community to find ways to address the problem.

Does this letter, together with the PARCC results, mean that the new Wilson way is to reduce disparities by levelling all down?

So, pleeeeease, be intelligent and see through things. I am not the one who's interested in playing the racial card here (to me Ms Martin did not even look African American!!!!! ) Look elsewhere. I am definetly already looking elsewhere (at condos in zip codes 20814, 20815, Montgomery County).

Not a wilson parent but I would be highly concerend by this letter about "clusterization"--the school within a school is pretty much the only reason high SES families even take a chance on wilson with their college bound kids. You continue to dumb that down and Wilson will be no better than Dunbar.

Prospective parent here, and couldn't agree more. Either there's a magical plan to quickly improve the academic performance of all 2,000 students...or maintaining some grouping by ability is critical.

[Anonymous]

Current demographic shifts will render this a moot point within 10 years, i.e. 'more Yale, less jail'.

[Anonymous]

I'm always a little baffled by the battles about Wilson. I'm the parent of a senior this year. I think I have a pretty realistic picture of what Wilson is and is not. I'm underwhelmed by many things that I wish were different or better, but I'm also constantly appreciative of the many dedicated and high quality teachers, counselors and others who go the extra mile and have inspired my teen. My teen's friends and classmates are also really good, smart, talented, but regular kids trying to figure out who they are and what they want to do and be in the world. Mostly they are happy to be in a school that allows them both the structure and freedom to be challenged academically, but also to explore lots of interests and other sides of themselves. That's what you hope for in a school. Is it like a private school? Of course not. Are there kids that are not interested in school, get in trouble or are struggling? Yes, there are and Wilson could do more to engage and support those students. And, we as parents in the school community, could also get engaged to help more than we do. I know I could have been more involved. Wilson is big and diverse and you have to want that in order to find it a good fit for your family. Because we are a multi-racial family, that was really important to us. In our family's experience, Wilson has been a school where a student can be supported to get a quality education that prepares them well for college or other next steps, as well as a school community that helps prepare kids to navigate other aspects of life. But clearly the new test scores show that not all kids are benefiting. However, needing to continue to improve doesn't negate the core of what is good and strong about the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Current demographic shifts will render this a moot point within 10 years, i.e. 'more Yale, less jail'.

Only true if in-boundary families stay.

If they leave, bye bye Wilson as a great urban HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm always a little baffled by the battles about Wilson. I'm the parent of a senior this year. I think I have a pretty realistic picture of what Wilson is and is not. I'm underwhelmed by many things that I wish were different or better, but I'm also constantly appreciative of the many dedicated and high quality teachers, counselors and others who go the extra mile and have inspired my teen. My teen's friends and classmates are also really good, smart, talented, but regular kids trying to figure out who they are and what they want to do and be in the world. Mostly they are happy to be in a school that allows them both the structure and freedom to be challenged academically, but also to explore lots of interests and other sides of themselves. That's what you hope for in a school. Is it like a private school? Of course not. Are there kids that are not interested in school, get in trouble or are struggling? Yes, there are and Wilson could do more to engage and support those students. And, we as parents in the school community, could also get engaged to help more than we do. I know I could have been more involved. Wilson is big and diverse and you have to want that in order to find it a good fit for your family. Because we are a multi-racial family, that was really important to us. In our family's experience, Wilson has been a school where a student can be supported to get a quality education that prepares them well for college or other next steps, as well as a school community that helps prepare kids to navigate other aspects of life. But clearly the new test scores show that not all kids are benefiting. However, needing to continue to improve doesn't negate the core of what is good and strong about the school.

The same can be said for Deal where many of these kids come from, they are also struggling to support these same students... the shit hits the fan when they get to high school, but the intervention needs to happen much earlier. The churn and burn, lack of curriculum, insistence on "one size fits all" instruction has clearly hurt not helped the most vulnerable students, as PARCC results most clearly demonstrate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm always a little baffled by the battles about Wilson. I'm the parent of a senior this year. I think I have a pretty realistic picture of what Wilson is and is not. I'm underwhelmed by many things that I wish were different or better, but I'm also constantly appreciative of the many dedicated and high quality teachers, counselors and others who go the extra mile and have inspired my teen. My teen's friends and classmates are also really good, smart, talented, but regular kids trying to figure out who they are and what they want to do and be in the world. Mostly they are happy to be in a school that allows them both the structure and freedom to be challenged academically, but also to explore lots of interests and other sides of themselves. That's what you hope for in a school. Is it like a private school? Of course not. Are there kids that are not interested in school, get in trouble or are struggling? Yes, there are and Wilson could do more to engage and support those students. And, we as parents in the school community, could also get engaged to help more than we do. I know I could have been more involved. Wilson is big and diverse and you have to want that in order to find it a good fit for your family. Because we are a multi-racial family, that was really important to us. In our family's experience, Wilson has been a school where a student can be supported to get a quality education that prepares them well for college or other next steps, as well as a school community that helps prepare kids to navigate other aspects of life. But clearly the new test scores show that not all kids are benefiting. However, needing to continue to improve doesn't negate the core of what is good and strong about the school.

The same can be said for Deal where many of these kids come from, they are also struggling to support these same students... the shit hits the fan when they get to high school, but the intervention needs to happen much earlier. The churn and burn, lack of curriculum, insistence on "one size fits all" instruction has clearly hurt not helped the most vulnerable students, as PARCC results most clearly demonstrate.

+1.

Students need challenge and results, not BS promises.

[Anonymous]

"the least articulated speaker"

Articulate people say "least articulate."

[Anonymous]

Thought this thread was beyond rude last year. Sorry to see it dredged up again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm always a little baffled by the battles about Wilson. I'm the parent of a senior this year. I think I have a pretty realistic picture of what Wilson is and is not. I'm underwhelmed by many things that I wish were different or better, but I'm also constantly appreciative of the many dedicated and high quality teachers, counselors and others who go the extra mile and have inspired my teen. My teen's friends and classmates are also really good, smart, talented, but regular kids trying to figure out who they are and what they want to do and be in the world. Mostly they are happy to be in a school that allows them both the structure and freedom to be challenged academically, but also to explore lots of interests and other sides of themselves. That's what you hope for in a school. Is it like a private school? Of course not. Are there kids that are not interested in school, get in trouble or are struggling? Yes, there are and Wilson could do more to engage and support those students. And, we as parents in the school community, could also get engaged to help more than we do. I know I could have been more involved. Wilson is big and diverse and you have to want that in order to find it a good fit for your family. Because we are a multi-racial family, that was really important to us. In our family's experience, Wilson has been a school where a student can be supported to get a quality education that prepares them well for college or other next steps, as well as a school community that helps prepare kids to navigate other aspects of life. But clearly the new test scores show that not all kids are benefiting. However, needing to continue to improve doesn't negate the core of what is good and strong about the school.

Some great insights there, but not sure they are very relevant. This thread is not about the school itself, but about the leadership by Principal Martin. In fact, it is some people who appreciate the school the most, given all those things you say, the ones baffled by her.

Time will well. And I'm sure next year's PARCC results will be amazing compared to this year's -- worse, it's impossible.