ACPS magic wand wishes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMC parents who voted for this mayor, city council and school board should have to send their kids to ACPS. Abolishment of TAG, honors and AP classes.

Need to live their truth (and voting habits).

What would getting rid of TAG, Honors and AP do? Why do these kids not deserve a quality education? I would never send my kids to ACPS if that was the case. Thank goodness they are graduated and benefitted from an excellent education It was a few years ago but these comments baffle me.

That is ACPS' vision of equity as defined by Hutchings and still supported by the SB and ACPS.

It's what these parents voted for and support. They should have to live it. Also, no more police in schools and the weapons detectors need to go away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you had a magic wand, what would you wish for ACPS?

1. Better use of resources: look at Central Office office usage and FTEs and see how it could be better utilized
2. Address K-12 literacy and math and make focus
3. Provide special education students with resources they need
4. Pay the teacher's compensation that reinstates steps
5. Smaller class sizes and hire more teachers
6. Address facilities and infrastructure: everyone should have access to clean bathroom facilities, basic classroom supplies, they should plant some landscaping and make better use of outdoor spaces
7. Vocational programs for high school students and better placement of average students who are not college or military bound

Good list. I also agree with disbanding PTAC.

[Anonymous]

The only thing that will fix the schools is to limit the amount of affordable housing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMC parents who voted for this mayor, city council and school board should have to send their kids to ACPS. Abolishment of TAG, honors and AP classes.

Need to live their truth (and voting habits).

What would getting rid of TAG, Honors and AP do? Why do these kids not deserve a quality education? I would never send my kids to ACPS if that was the case. Thank goodness they are graduated and benefitted from an excellent education It was a few years ago but these comments baffle me.

TAG doesn't matter. The TAG Director doesn't even send her kids to ACPS so she must know something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A new middle school and high school to reduce overcrowding at each. More qualified, motivated and motivating teachers, and more rigorous academics. Give schools the capability to actually enforce behavior rules with consequences.

All of the above would go a long way toward preventing and addressing the bathroom issues.

I think you're getting your wish of a new middle school. SB has been discussing adding one to George Mason.

Well, that will be too late for us, but overall good for the city.

[Anonymous]

A second high school. They can assign kids to them randomly, or in any other reasonable way. But at least the smaller size will make it easier to make sports teams and get involved in activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A second high school. They can assign kids to them randomly, or in any other reasonable way. But at least the smaller size will make it easier to make sports teams and get involved in activities.

Unfortunately, the city recently voted against a second high school, which I will never understand. A second high school is so needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A second high school. They can assign kids to them randomly, or in any other reasonable way. But at least the smaller size will make it easier to make sports teams and get involved in activities.

Unfortunately, the city recently voted against a second high school, which I will never understand. A second high school is so needed.

It wasn't the city exactly. The School Board voted not to have a second high school. Hutchings was quite the bully during that time (well...all the time to be fair) and was doing the rounds telling everyone that if they wanted a second high school there were racist. While the SB was with him almost all of the time during his time as superintendent (the new SB chair michelle Reif is still a really big fan), the few times they weren't he'd just tell them they were racist and they'd crumble.

Of course the city votes for these incredibly weak school boards (and re-elects them) so it is the fault of the voters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A new middle school and high school to reduce overcrowding at each. More qualified, motivated and motivating teachers, and more rigorous academics. Give schools the capability to actually enforce behavior rules with consequences.

All of the above would go a long way toward preventing and addressing the bathroom issues.

I think you're getting your wish of a new middle school. SB has been discussing adding one to George Mason.

Well, that will be too late for us, but overall good for the city.

It will be really good but I bet the parents and the neighborhood tries to kill it. I hope they've all come to accept that everything is getting razed and paved for the new school, otherwise this fall is going to be very amusing as they try to fight it.

[Anonymous]

1) Build more schools. Including high schools.
2) Offer more enrichment classes like foreign language in elementary.
3) Take pride in educating for all children's needs.
4) Aim higher than just having an "accredited" school. That should be a given. Aim for good schools that people want to send their children to.
5) Take student safety seriously. Expel the violent bullies.

[Anonymous]

Equity for All 2025 is working. Alexandria doesn't need anything else.

[Anonymous]

Amen. Especially #5!

Anonymous wrote:1) Build more schools. Including high schools.
2) Offer more enrichment classes like foreign language in elementary.
3) Take pride in educating for all children's needs.
4) Aim higher than just having an "accredited" school. That should be a given. Aim for good schools that people want to send their children to.
5) Take student safety seriously. Expel the violent bullies.

[Anonymous]

More differentiation in classrooms even in early elementary. If your kid is middle of the road or above average they get next to no help from the teacher. Teachers are only focused on the bottom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More differentiation in classrooms even in early elementary. If your kid is middle of the road or above average they get next to no help from the teacher. Teachers are only focused on the bottom.

Because that is equitable. The bottom needs the teacher more than middle of the road and certainly above average. This is the way you achieve equal outcomes i.e. equity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More differentiation in classrooms even in early elementary. If your kid is middle of the road or above average they get next to no help from the teacher. Teachers are only focused on the bottom.

Because that is equitable. The bottom needs the teacher more than middle of the road and certainly above average. This is the way you achieve equal outcomes i.e. equity.

That snark is well deserved by our school district. Regardless of what ACPS may have led you to believe, however, that is not what equity is. All students deserve to be supported, and in some case that means more challenging, differentiated work.