WSJ - To Increase Equity, School Districts Eliminate Honors Classes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is this on MCPS forum? The right wingers are trying hard to create chaos and destroy public schools.

Yes, they're been pushing the tired narrative that society is in free-fall decline for a while, and unless we embrace their agenda of turning schools into prisons, it's only going to get worse.

Allowing honors classes to be largely made up of kids who have displayed a propensity or interest in higher rigor work now and maintaining that distinction = prison?

Make it make sense.

Using funds allocated for teachers to hire SROs is sure is ... but maybe you haven't noticed the 1000x posts which they seem to start daily on this topic

What does this topic, which is about the elimination of honors classes, have anything to do with security or SROs? Can you read?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is this on MCPS forum? The right wingers are trying hard to create chaos and destroy public schools.

Yes, they're been pushing the tired narrative that society is in free-fall decline for a while, and unless we embrace their agenda of turning schools into prisons, it's only going to get worse.

Allowing honors classes to be largely made up of kids who have displayed a propensity or interest in higher rigor work now and maintaining that distinction = prison?

Make it make sense.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has pretty much done this, though rather than "eliminating" honors, they made it honors-for-all, which accomplishes the same thing. I'm with the critics on this approach. It's wrongheaded and doesn't work.

That's always been the case, though. Even when I was in HS 30 years ago, parents would force the school into admitting kids who didn't belong in these classes forcing them to be dumbed down. Nothing new here.

I think having a few kids who didn't belong forced into an honors class is wildly different from eliminating any qualifier for honors, which basically turns all classes into on-level classes without regard to student aptitude and performance.

In the former, those few students whose parents pushed them in suffer, but the rest of the class who is focuses and interested in learning doesn't. But in the latter, the kids who want to learn and be challenged suffer because now instead of 1 or 2 kids not being able to handle the class, now there's 10 or 15. Those are not the same issues at all.

+1 As usual, MCPS takes a decent idea (eliminate gatekeeping measures for Honors classes) and manages to take it too far.

I'd argue the same is true for the CES and MS magnet admissions. They were correct to eliminate gatekeeping measures like the at-home essay and teacher recommendations, but moving to a lottery that includes kids in the 65th percentile is just lunacy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is this on MCPS forum? The right wingers are trying hard to create chaos and destroy public schools.

Yes, they're been pushing the tired narrative that society is in free-fall decline for a while, and unless we embrace their agenda of turning schools into prisons, it's only going to get worse.

Allowing honors classes to be largely made up of kids who have displayed a propensity or interest in higher rigor work now and maintaining that distinction = prison?

Make it make sense.

Using funds allocated for teachers to hire SROs is sure is ... but maybe you haven't noticed the 1000x posts which they seem to start daily on this topic

What does this topic, which is about the elimination of honors classes, have anything to do with security or SROs? Can you read?

It looks like this was accidentally posted to the wrong thread. Let’s not start attacking people and give them the benefit of the doubt. Very un-dcum I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is this on MCPS forum? The right wingers are trying hard to create chaos and destroy public schools.

Yes, they're been pushing the tired narrative that society is in free-fall decline for a while, and unless we embrace their agenda of turning schools into prisons, it's only going to get worse.

Allowing honors classes to be largely made up of kids who have displayed a propensity or interest in higher rigor work now and maintaining that distinction = prison?

Make it make sense.

Using funds allocated for teachers to hire SROs is sure is ... but maybe you haven't noticed the 1000x posts which they seem to start daily on this topic

What does this topic, which is about the elimination of honors classes, have anything to do with security or SROs? Can you read?

More far-right talking points like replacing teachers with prison guards? Maybe you haven't been paying much attention to this forum lately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has pretty much done this, though rather than "eliminating" honors, they made it honors-for-all, which accomplishes the same thing. I'm with the critics on this approach. It's wrongheaded and doesn't work.

That's always been the case, though. Even when I was in HS 30 years ago, parents would force the school into admitting kids who didn't belong in these classes forcing them to be dumbed down. Nothing new here.

I think having a few kids who didn't belong forced into an honors class is wildly different from eliminating any qualifier for honors, which basically turns all classes into on-level classes without regard to student aptitude and performance.

In the former, those few students whose parents pushed them in suffer, but the rest of the class who is focuses and interested in learning doesn't. But in the latter, the kids who want to learn and be challenged suffer because now instead of 1 or 2 kids not being able to handle the class, now there's 10 or 15. Those are not the same issues at all.

+1 As usual, MCPS takes a decent idea (eliminate gatekeeping measures for Honors classes) and manages to take it too far.

I'd argue the same is true for the CES and MS magnet admissions. They were correct to eliminate gatekeeping measures like the at-home essay and teacher recommendations, but moving to a lottery that includes kids in the 65th percentile is just lunacy.

The only reason they moved to a lottery as you may recall was the makers of the CogAT wouldn't allow them to administer their test during the deadly global pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has pretty much done this, though rather than "eliminating" honors, they made it honors-for-all, which accomplishes the same thing. I'm with the critics on this approach. It's wrongheaded and doesn't work.

That's always been the case, though. Even when I was in HS 30 years ago, parents would force the school into admitting kids who didn't belong in these classes forcing them to be dumbed down. Nothing new here.

I think having a few kids who didn't belong forced into an honors class is wildly different from eliminating any qualifier for honors, which basically turns all classes into on-level classes without regard to student aptitude and performance.

In the former, those few students whose parents pushed them in suffer, but the rest of the class who is focuses and interested in learning doesn't. But in the latter, the kids who want to learn and be challenged suffer because now instead of 1 or 2 kids not being able to handle the class, now there's 10 or 15. Those are not the same issues at all.

+1 As usual, MCPS takes a decent idea (eliminate gatekeeping measures for Honors classes) and manages to take it too far.

I'd argue the same is true for the CES and MS magnet admissions. They were correct to eliminate gatekeeping measures like the at-home essay and teacher recommendations, but moving to a lottery that includes kids in the 65th percentile is just lunacy.

The only reason they moved to a lottery as you may recall was the makers of the CogAT wouldn't allow them to administer their test during the deadly global pandemic.

Okay, but kids have been back in person for two years. What's the excuse now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Article from WSJ today. Too bad for the schools doing this, it's much better to have all honors so all can have inflated grades.


https://www.wsj.com/articles/to-increase-equity-school-districts-eliminate-honors-classes-d5985dee

Doesn't Fox News own the WSJ?

Yep. More Faux News propaganda

ugh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has pretty much done this, though rather than "eliminating" honors, they made it honors-for-all, which accomplishes the same thing. I'm with the critics on this approach. It's wrongheaded and doesn't work.

That's always been the case, though. Even when I was in HS 30 years ago, parents would force the school into admitting kids who didn't belong in these classes forcing them to be dumbed down. Nothing new here.

I think having a few kids who didn't belong forced into an honors class is wildly different from eliminating any qualifier for honors, which basically turns all classes into on-level classes without regard to student aptitude and performance.

In the former, those few students whose parents pushed them in suffer, but the rest of the class who is focuses and interested in learning doesn't. But in the latter, the kids who want to learn and be challenged suffer because now instead of 1 or 2 kids not being able to handle the class, now there's 10 or 15. Those are not the same issues at all.

+1 As usual, MCPS takes a decent idea (eliminate gatekeeping measures for Honors classes) and manages to take it too far.

I'd argue the same is true for the CES and MS magnet admissions. They were correct to eliminate gatekeeping measures like the at-home essay and teacher recommendations, but moving to a lottery that includes kids in the 65th percentile is just lunacy.

The only reason they moved to a lottery as you may recall was the makers of the CogAT wouldn't allow them to administer their test during the deadly global pandemic.

Okay, but kids have been back in person for two years. What's the excuse now?

I guess you haven't been paying attention, but when this started they announced a 3 year trial which ends this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has pretty much done this, though rather than "eliminating" honors, they made it honors-for-all, which accomplishes the same thing. I'm with the critics on this approach. It's wrongheaded and doesn't work.

That's always been the case, though. Even when I was in HS 30 years ago, parents would force the school into admitting kids who didn't belong in these classes forcing them to be dumbed down. Nothing new here.

I think having a few kids who didn't belong forced into an honors class is wildly different from eliminating any qualifier for honors, which basically turns all classes into on-level classes without regard to student aptitude and performance.

In the former, those few students whose parents pushed them in suffer, but the rest of the class who is focuses and interested in learning doesn't. But in the latter, the kids who want to learn and be challenged suffer because now instead of 1 or 2 kids not being able to handle the class, now there's 10 or 15. Those are not the same issues at all.

+1 As usual, MCPS takes a decent idea (eliminate gatekeeping measures for Honors classes) and manages to take it too far.

I'd argue the same is true for the CES and MS magnet admissions. They were correct to eliminate gatekeeping measures like the at-home essay and teacher recommendations, but moving to a lottery that includes kids in the 65th percentile is just lunacy.

Yup! Exactly. Open up the OPPORTUNITY for all, but then put some measures in place to ensure those who don't uphold the standard are removed and put back into on-level courses. This maintains a higher-quality learning environment AND creates space for someone else to have a shot in the honors classes instead of allowing someone who repeatedly struggles or doesn't care to take up a seat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is this on MCPS forum? The right wingers are trying hard to create chaos and destroy public schools.

Right wingers? No the lob school and board are destroying it themselves

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is this on MCPS forum? The right wingers are trying hard to create chaos and destroy public schools.

They've never been big on tax spending for the public good.

[Anonymous]

Imagine paying billions into a school system that can't even have honors classes. LMAO. So glad I live in nova

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Imagine paying billions into a school system that can't even have honors classes. LMAO. So glad I live in nova

Fortunately, MCPS has tons of these honors classes at every school even.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has pretty much done this, though rather than "eliminating" honors, they made it honors-for-all, which accomplishes the same thing. I'm with the critics on this approach. It's wrongheaded and doesn't work.

Agreed. It doesn't benefit anyone. It makes the public school system weaker as a whole.