Bad grades? Let's teach them less

[Anonymous]

The report shows an increase in kids who are failing but is there mention of kids who are doing better? I'd more likely believe there's a wider chasm before I believe all kids are doing worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about dialing up support (academic and emotional) for those who are struggling? Or breaking kids into different sections based on how well they are doing?

That would make too much sense. Instead MCPS keeps trying the same approaches and wondering why it’s not working for students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The report shows an increase in kids who are failing but is there mention of kids who are doing better? I'd more likely believe there's a wider chasm before I believe all kids are doing worse.

Some people claim kids are getting all-time high scores on MAPs. Others say they were at an all-time low. With so many contradictory reports here, I'm not sure what to think anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:My kid loves DL. He always complained to me about the kids in class who misbehaved and occupied the teacher's time. Now those kids either don't log on turn on their cameras. He says that school is good now. No wasted time. They also don't spend a lot of time in small groups doing busy work waiting for the teacher to meet with their group. He logs on three times a week for his small group time. The other two days, he can work on his classwork offline. I think the teachers are just getting back to teaching the material instead of the three-ring circus. The PITA kids don't show up and waste class time. He doesn't want to go back this year.

Same here. My kids actually are learning better with DL too.

And? What's your point? Curriculum is going to be further slowed and expectations lowered to accommodate the students you're writing off. It sounds like the pandemic has been a wonderful educational boon for you and you'll hate to see it go...but the bill is coming due.

-Distance learning is a disaster for all kids!
-It's not a disaster for my kid.
-It's not a disaster for my kid either.
-It will be a disaster for your kids too, you egotistical hater!

Yes, DL has been a district-wide disaster.

You know, it's possible to believe that distance learning has been a disaster for many kids, or most kids, without insisting that it has been a disaster for each and every student in MCPS without exception.

It's saying the same thing. If it were a disaster for "many/most kids", then it's a district-wide disaster. Just because some or many kids are thriving doesn't change that.

But it has not been a disaster for most kids.
More than usual are failing but not most.
DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid loves DL. He always complained to me about the kids in class who misbehaved and occupied the teacher's time. Now those kids either don't log on turn on their cameras. He says that school is good now. No wasted time. They also don't spend a lot of time in small groups doing busy work waiting for the teacher to meet with their group. He logs on three times a week for his small group time. The other two days, he can work on his classwork offline. I think the teachers are just getting back to teaching the material instead of the three-ring circus. The PITA kids don't show up and waste class time. He doesn't want to go back this year.

Same here. My kids actually are learning better with DL too.

And? What's your point? Curriculum is going to be further slowed and expectations lowered to accommodate the students you're writing off. It sounds like the pandemic has been a wonderful educational boon for you and you'll hate to see it go...but the bill is coming due.

-Distance learning is a disaster for all kids!
-It's not a disaster for my kid.
-It's not a disaster for my kid either.
-It will be a disaster for your kids too, you egotistical hater!

Yes, DL has been a district-wide disaster.

You know, it's possible to believe that distance learning has been a disaster for many kids, or most kids, without insisting that it has been a disaster for each and every student in MCPS without exception.

It's saying the same thing. If it were a disaster for "many/most kids", then it's a district-wide disaster. Just because some or many kids are thriving doesn't change that.

But it has not been a disaster for most kids.
More than usual are failing but not most.
DP

It depends on how you define disaster. How is academic/curriculum progression compared to a traditional year? Are they teaching the full curriculum in general?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid loves DL. He always complained to me about the kids in class who misbehaved and occupied the teacher's time. Now those kids either don't log on turn on their cameras. He says that school is good now. No wasted time. They also don't spend a lot of time in small groups doing busy work waiting for the teacher to meet with their group. He logs on three times a week for his small group time. The other two days, he can work on his classwork offline. I think the teachers are just getting back to teaching the material instead of the three-ring circus. The PITA kids don't show up and waste class time. He doesn't want to go back this year.

Same here. My kids actually are learning better with DL too.

And? What's your point? Curriculum is going to be further slowed and expectations lowered to accommodate the students you're writing off. It sounds like the pandemic has been a wonderful educational boon for you and you'll hate to see it go...but the bill is coming due.

-Distance learning is a disaster for all kids!
-It's not a disaster for my kid.
-It's not a disaster for my kid either.
-It will be a disaster for your kids too, you egotistical hater!

Yes, DL has been a district-wide disaster.

You know, it's possible to believe that distance learning has been a disaster for many kids, or most kids, without insisting that it has been a disaster for each and every student in MCPS without exception.

It's saying the same thing. If it were a disaster for "many/most kids", then it's a district-wide disaster. Just because some or many kids are thriving doesn't change that.

But it has not been a disaster for most kids.
More than usual are failing but not most.
DP

It depends on how you define disaster. How is academic/curriculum progression compared to a traditional year? Are they teaching the full curriculum in general?

Attempts to teach the full curriculum were rejected by DCUM parents who felt it was too much work for their children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:-Distance learning is a disaster for all kids!
-It's not a disaster for my kid.
-It's not a disaster for my kid either.
-It will be a disaster for your kids too, you egotistical hater!

Yep! DCUM gotta DCUM

DP. I see you are happily ignoring the data and press that is pouring out about the disproportionate numbers of disadvantaged kids who have simply disappeared from the education system altogether.

Of course, it is true that not even thinking about disadvantaged kids is indeed classic DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid loves DL. He always complained to me about the kids in class who misbehaved and occupied the teacher's time. Now those kids either don't log on turn on their cameras. He says that school is good now. No wasted time. They also don't spend a lot of time in small groups doing busy work waiting for the teacher to meet with their group. He logs on three times a week for his small group time. The other two days, he can work on his classwork offline. I think the teachers are just getting back to teaching the material instead of the three-ring circus. The PITA kids don't show up and waste class time. He doesn't want to go back this year.

Same here. My kids actually are learning better with DL too.

And? What's your point? Curriculum is going to be further slowed and expectations lowered to accommodate the students you're writing off. It sounds like the pandemic has been a wonderful educational boon for you and you'll hate to see it go...but the bill is coming due.

-Distance learning is a disaster for all kids!
-It's not a disaster for my kid.
-It's not a disaster for my kid either.
-It will be a disaster for your kids too, you egotistical hater!

Yes, DL has been a district-wide disaster.

You know, it's possible to believe that distance learning has been a disaster for many kids, or most kids, without insisting that it has been a disaster for each and every student in MCPS without exception.

It's saying the same thing. If it were a disaster for "many/most kids", then it's a district-wide disaster. Just because some or many kids are thriving doesn't change that.

But it has not been a disaster for most kids.
More than usual are failing but not most.
DP

It depends on how you define disaster. How is academic/curriculum progression compared to a traditional year? Are they teaching the full curriculum in general?

Attempts to teach the full curriculum were rejected by DCUM parents who felt it was too much work for their children.

DCUM parents don't have the power to do anything. But anyway, this just means that even kids who are "thriving" are really just better at navigating a highly compromised learning curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:-Distance learning is a disaster for all kids!
-It's not a disaster for my kid.
-It's not a disaster for my kid either.
-It will be a disaster for your kids too, you egotistical hater!

Yep! DCUM gotta DCUM

DP. I see you are happily ignoring the data and press that is pouring out about the disproportionate numbers of disadvantaged kids who have simply disappeared from the education system altogether.

Of course, it is true that not even thinking about disadvantaged kids is indeed classic DCUM.

Maybe if people would stop shout-posting DISTANCE LEARNING IS A DISASTER FOR LITERALLY EVERYONE! then other people would stop response-posting "It's not a disaster for my kid, actually."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

DCUM parents don't have the power to do anything. But anyway, this just means that even kids who are "thriving" are really just better at navigating a highly compromised learning curriculum.

Poster: My kid is thriving.
You: I, an anonymous person on the Internet, know better about your kid than you do, and no, your kid is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

DCUM parents don't have the power to do anything. But anyway, this just means that even kids who are "thriving" are really just better at navigating a highly compromised learning curriculum.

Poster: My kid is thriving.
You: I, an anonymous person on the Internet, know better about your kid than you do, and no, your kid is not.

What do you mean by "thriving"? Have you been able to compare expected learning outcomes this year versus what a traditional year looks like? Or are they just getting A's and say they're happy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

DCUM parents don't have the power to do anything. But anyway, this just means that even kids who are "thriving" are really just better at navigating a highly compromised learning curriculum.

Poster: My kid is thriving.
You: I, an anonymous person on the Internet, know better about your kid than you do, and no, your kid is not.

What do you mean by "thriving"? Have you been able to compare expected learning outcomes this year versus what a traditional year looks like? Or are they just getting A's and say they're happy?

Poster: My kid is thriving.
You: You, as a parent, are not qualified to assess whether or not your kid is thriving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:-Distance learning is a disaster for all kids!
-It's not a disaster for my kid.
-It's not a disaster for my kid either.
-It will be a disaster for your kids too, you egotistical hater!

Yep! DCUM gotta DCUM

DP. I see you are happily ignoring the data and press that is pouring out about the disproportionate numbers of disadvantaged kids who have simply disappeared from the education system altogether.

Of course, it is true that not even thinking about disadvantaged kids is indeed classic DCUM.

+1

As for whether it's appropriate to call DL a "disaster" or a "district-wide disaster" or "a tragicomic sh!tstorm of epic proportions" even when some students are happy and thriving, DCUM can knock itself out splitting those hairs.

However, it is very clear that, taken together, both on average, or as measured by those who are worst-off (some weirdos suggest that the measure of civilization is taken by those at "the bottom," but they are probably communist snowflake trash,) when we account for academic outcomes, and mental health outcomes for the group as a whole: this is un-great.

I think that most of us will at least agree that what is so incredibly frustrating about the current moment is that, will all of the system's weaknesses and flaws on full display, there is little hope that we MCPS will manage to do much more than revert to the prior system once all of this is over. Alas.

P.S. It's great that some kids are thriving! Individual experiences are important. It's also at the same time to look at the experience of the group, of the community, and to look at it in different ways. I hear a lot of parents talking about "their kids," and all I can ask is: Aren't we responsible for one another more broadly than that? It's such a weird way to organize ourselves, as humans: My offspring, and my offspring only. Obviously all of us -- really everyone here -- cares about the good of the student-body at large, even if only to avoid future systemic problems -- though probably in deeper and more caring ways that just that.

[Anonymous]

I could definitely see where some kids would thrive in the DL environment. Particularly kids who prefer independent learning or tend to be more introverted.

My 2nd and 4th graders are doing well. Consistent/better Map scores and good grades. I wouldn't say they are thriving though because they both do best with a lot of social interaction. Particularly my 4th grader. I want them back in school for their social-emotional well-being.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:-Distance learning is a disaster for all kids!
-It's not a disaster for my kid.
-It's not a disaster for my kid either.
-It will be a disaster for your kids too, you egotistical hater!

Yep! DCUM gotta DCUM

DP. I see you are happily ignoring the data and press that is pouring out about the disproportionate numbers of disadvantaged kids who have simply disappeared from the education system altogether.

Of course, it is true that not even thinking about disadvantaged kids is indeed classic DCUM.

No, classic DCUM is disparaging disadvantaged kids. Or extolling them and disparaging the families of more advantaged kids. Or blaming Jack Smith for all their woes.