New Principal at Oyster Adams? Whoa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have NOT cancelled international trips. They have cancelled international exchange trips because of liability and as dictated by DCPS. Stop stirring things up here. If you have something to say, talk to her. Her doors are wide open. Don't be a coward and try to create some sort of scandal here. The new principal is great. I have faith in her. You can go ahead and schedule your own student exchange trip if it's so important to you. The students will still go on trips. Which, btw, NOBODY is entitled to have. Get over it!

Not an OA family, but do you mean that she's replaced international exchange trips with international not-exchange trips?

The 7th grade Spain trip was an exchange program, as in students stayed in the home of a Spain student and then the Spanish students came to the US and stayed with a family. It’s a very long and complicated story in this case, and there are other factors, but DCPS basically said the liability of having 7th graders do this was too risky. And the organization of the trip and exchange program was all on teachers and parent volunteers, meaning the liability was solely on DCPS if anything happened. DCPS is releasing new rules about these international trips that require schools to use a travel agent.

The 7th grade teachers are putting together a Puerto Rico trip where kids will stay in a hotel rather than in homes.

There are a lot of feelings and anger over this and it seems like people want to blame the principal rather than understand the nuances of how DCPS operates and how much control the principal had in the decision.

Just get out of the s*itshow that is DCPS.

No issues with DCI and their exchange programs in middle school. Then high school they offer and support opportunities for study abroad semesters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have NOT cancelled international trips. They have cancelled international exchange trips because of liability and as dictated by DCPS. Stop stirring things up here. If you have something to say, talk to her. Her doors are wide open. Don't be a coward and try to create some sort of scandal here. The new principal is great. I have faith in her. You can go ahead and schedule your own student exchange trip if it's so important to you. The students will still go on trips. Which, btw, NOBODY is entitled to have. Get over it!

Not an OA family, but do you mean that she's replaced international exchange trips with international not-exchange trips?

The 7th grade Spain trip was an exchange program, as in students stayed in the home of a Spain student and then the Spanish students came to the US and stayed with a family. It’s a very long and complicated story in this case, and there are other factors, but DCPS basically said the liability of having 7th graders do this was too risky. And the organization of the trip and exchange program was all on teachers and parent volunteers, meaning the liability was solely on DCPS if anything happened. DCPS is releasing new rules about these international trips that require schools to use a travel agent.

The 7th grade teachers are putting together a Puerto Rico trip where kids will stay in a hotel rather than in homes.

There are a lot of feelings and anger over this and it seems like people want to blame the principal rather than understand the nuances of how DCPS operates and how much control the principal had in the decision.

+1

This is not the only school where this issue has come up. Honestly from DCPS and DC government perspective they were taking on a lot of liability for trips planned by teachers and parents. They would be the ones sued if something happened. I don’t blame DCPS for this one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have NOT cancelled international trips. They have cancelled international exchange trips because of liability and as dictated by DCPS. Stop stirring things up here. If you have something to say, talk to her. Her doors are wide open. Don't be a coward and try to create some sort of scandal here. The new principal is great. I have faith in her. You can go ahead and schedule your own student exchange trip if it's so important to you. The students will still go on trips. Which, btw, NOBODY is entitled to have. Get over it!

Not an OA family, but do you mean that she's replaced international exchange trips with international not-exchange trips?

The 7th grade Spain trip was an exchange program, as in students stayed in the home of a Spain student and then the Spanish students came to the US and stayed with a family. It’s a very long and complicated story in this case, and there are other factors, but DCPS basically said the liability of having 7th graders do this was too risky. And the organization of the trip and exchange program was all on teachers and parent volunteers, meaning the liability was solely on DCPS if anything happened. DCPS is releasing new rules about these international trips that require schools to use a travel agent.

The 7th grade teachers are putting together a Puerto Rico trip where kids will stay in a hotel rather than in homes.

There are a lot of feelings and anger over this and it seems like people want to blame the principal rather than understand the nuances of how DCPS operates and how much control the principal had in the decision.

Just get out of the s*itshow that is DCPS.

No issues with DCI and their exchange programs in middle school. Then high school they offer and support opportunities for study abroad semesters.

DCI is not the utopia you seem to be describing z. They also don’t have the deep pockets DCPS has if something goes wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have NOT cancelled international trips. They have cancelled international exchange trips because of liability and as dictated by DCPS. Stop stirring things up here. If you have something to say, talk to her. Her doors are wide open. Don't be a coward and try to create some sort of scandal here. The new principal is great. I have faith in her. You can go ahead and schedule your own student exchange trip if it's so important to you. The students will still go on trips. Which, btw, NOBODY is entitled to have. Get over it!

Not an OA family, but do you mean that she's replaced international exchange trips with international not-exchange trips?

The 7th grade Spain trip was an exchange program, as in students stayed in the home of a Spain student and then the Spanish students came to the US and stayed with a family. It’s a very long and complicated story in this case, and there are other factors, but DCPS basically said the liability of having 7th graders do this was too risky. And the organization of the trip and exchange program was all on teachers and parent volunteers, meaning the liability was solely on DCPS if anything happened. DCPS is releasing new rules about these international trips that require schools to use a travel agent.

The 7th grade teachers are putting together a Puerto Rico trip where kids will stay in a hotel rather than in homes.

There are a lot of feelings and anger over this and it seems like people want to blame the principal rather than understand the nuances of how DCPS operates and how much control the principal had in the decision.

+1

This is not the only school where this issue has come up. Honestly from DCPS and DC government perspective they were taking on a lot of liability for trips planned by teachers and parents. They would be the ones sued if something happened. I don’t blame DCPS for this one.

Yeah, I gotta say this is a reasonable stance by DCPS…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have NOT cancelled international trips. They have cancelled international exchange trips because of liability and as dictated by DCPS. Stop stirring things up here. If you have something to say, talk to her. Her doors are wide open. Don't be a coward and try to create some sort of scandal here. The new principal is great. I have faith in her. You can go ahead and schedule your own student exchange trip if it's so important to you. The students will still go on trips. Which, btw, NOBODY is entitled to have. Get over it!

Not an OA family, but do you mean that she's replaced international exchange trips with international not-exchange trips?

The 7th grade Spain trip was an exchange program, as in students stayed in the home of a Spain student and then the Spanish students came to the US and stayed with a family. It’s a very long and complicated story in this case, and there are other factors, but DCPS basically said the liability of having 7th graders do this was too risky. And the organization of the trip and exchange program was all on teachers and parent volunteers, meaning the liability was solely on DCPS if anything happened. DCPS is releasing new rules about these international trips that require schools to use a travel agent.

The 7th grade teachers are putting together a Puerto Rico trip where kids will stay in a hotel rather than in homes.

There are a lot of feelings and anger over this and it seems like people want to blame the principal rather than understand the nuances of how DCPS operates and how much control the principal had in the decision.

+1

This is not the only school where this issue has come up. Honestly from DCPS and DC government perspective they were taking on a lot of liability for trips planned by teachers and parents. They would be the ones sued if something happened. I don’t blame DCPS for this one.

Yeah, I gotta say this is a reasonable stance by DCPS…

No it’s not a reasonable stance. DCPS is just dysfunctional and central office people making these stupid decisions don’t care and have no understanding of what goes on at the school or classroom. It’s easy to say no due to liability. It’s harder to say yes we will find a way to continue. So they are going to cancel a long standing program where hundreds of kids, even thousands have gone and had no “liability” issue.

There are ways to address it, liability forms, etc…. I imagine that’s how both DCI and WIS does it and so many other immersion schools who offer these programs throughout the country

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have NOT cancelled international trips. They have cancelled international exchange trips because of liability and as dictated by DCPS. Stop stirring things up here. If you have something to say, talk to her. Her doors are wide open. Don't be a coward and try to create some sort of scandal here. The new principal is great. I have faith in her. You can go ahead and schedule your own student exchange trip if it's so important to you. The students will still go on trips. Which, btw, NOBODY is entitled to have. Get over it!

Not an OA family, but do you mean that she's replaced international exchange trips with international not-exchange trips?

The 7th grade Spain trip was an exchange program, as in students stayed in the home of a Spain student and then the Spanish students came to the US and stayed with a family. It’s a very long and complicated story in this case, and there are other factors, but DCPS basically said the liability of having 7th graders do this was too risky. And the organization of the trip and exchange program was all on teachers and parent volunteers, meaning the liability was solely on DCPS if anything happened. DCPS is releasing new rules about these international trips that require schools to use a travel agent.

The 7th grade teachers are putting together a Puerto Rico trip where kids will stay in a hotel rather than in homes.

There are a lot of feelings and anger over this and it seems like people want to blame the principal rather than understand the nuances of how DCPS operates and how much control the principal had in the decision.

+1

This is not the only school where this issue has come up. Honestly from DCPS and DC government perspective they were taking on a lot of liability for trips planned by teachers and parents. They would be the ones sued if something happened. I don’t blame DCPS for this one.

Yeah, I gotta say this is a reasonable stance by DCPS…

No it’s not a reasonable stance. DCPS is just dysfunctional and central office people making these stupid decisions don’t care and have no understanding of what goes on at the school or classroom. It’s easy to say no due to liability. It’s harder to say yes we will find a way to continue. So they are going to cancel a long standing program where hundreds of kids, even thousands have gone and had no “liability” issue.

There are ways to address it, liability forms, etc…. I imagine that’s how both DCI and WIS does it and so many other immersion schools who offer these programs throughout the country

Yeah they have families fill out liability forms but it doesn’t actually prevent them from being sued. The kids will be fine- find an immersion program on your own for your child. And you take on the liability if something happens. This is absolutely not a priority for a school system where a shockingly low percent of students read on grade level.

[Anonymous]

OA families are living in such a different world than most dcps families. It's amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OA families are living in such a different world than most dcps families. It's amazing.

'

That may be true, but most dcps families live in a different world than the average American. DCPS has to serve all its students, not just the highest needs students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OA families are living in such a different world than most dcps families. It's amazing.

'

That may be true, but most dcps families live in a different world than the average American. DCPS has to serve all its students, not just the highest needs students.

An international stay in someone’s home is not a need.

I get that people are upset, and I was too when I initially heard about it because it’s frustrating watching DCPS cut things… but I get upset that they’re cutting advanced math options, or trimming extracurriculars. This is not the same. This is changing an international trip to stay in someone’s home, to an international trip. I am often critical of DCPS, but not with this. There are bigger priorities, even within OA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OA families are living in such a different world than most dcps families. It's amazing.

'

That may be true, but most dcps families live in a different world than the average American. DCPS has to serve all its students, not just the highest needs students.

Average Americans do not send their kids on international school trips, homestay or not.

[Anonymous]

People the liability excuse is just a cover for the real reason - equity.

If all kids can’t have it then no kids can.

BTW a PR trip at a hotel is not immersion and not anywhere close to the same experience. Also watch and wait if there is even approval for this since there is a cost and it’s not equitable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have NOT cancelled international trips. They have cancelled international exchange trips because of liability and as dictated by DCPS. Stop stirring things up here. If you have something to say, talk to her. Her doors are wide open. Don't be a coward and try to create some sort of scandal here. The new principal is great. I have faith in her. You can go ahead and schedule your own student exchange trip if it's so important to you. The students will still go on trips. Which, btw, NOBODY is entitled to have. Get over it!

Not an OA family, but do you mean that she's replaced international exchange trips with international not-exchange trips?

The 7th grade Spain trip was an exchange program, as in students stayed in the home of a Spain student and then the Spanish students came to the US and stayed with a family. It’s a very long and complicated story in this case, and there are other factors, but DCPS basically said the liability of having 7th graders do this was too risky. And the organization of the trip and exchange program was all on teachers and parent volunteers, meaning the liability was solely on DCPS if anything happened. DCPS is releasing new rules about these international trips that require schools to use a travel agent.

The 7th grade teachers are putting together a Puerto Rico trip where kids will stay in a hotel rather than in homes.

There are a lot of feelings and anger over this and it seems like people want to blame the principal rather than understand the nuances of how DCPS operates and how much control the principal had in the decision.

Just get out of the s*itshow that is DCPS.

No issues with DCI and their exchange programs in middle school. Then high school they offer and support opportunities for study abroad semesters.

DCI is not the utopia you seem to be describing z. They also don’t have the deep pockets DCPS has if something goes wrong.

Different poster- no one was describing dci as a utopia. Chill out.

This is a huge downgrade for OA. We are very angry about this and making our views known.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People the liability excuse is just a cover for the real reason - equity.

If all kids can’t have it then no kids can.

BTW a PR trip at a hotel is not immersion and not anywhere close to the same experience. Also watch and wait if there is even approval for this since there is a cost and it’s not equitable.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have NOT cancelled international trips. They have cancelled international exchange trips because of liability and as dictated by DCPS. Stop stirring things up here. If you have something to say, talk to her. Her doors are wide open. Don't be a coward and try to create some sort of scandal here. The new principal is great. I have faith in her. You can go ahead and schedule your own student exchange trip if it's so important to you. The students will still go on trips. Which, btw, NOBODY is entitled to have. Get over it!

Not an OA family, but do you mean that she's replaced international exchange trips with international not-exchange trips?

The 7th grade Spain trip was an exchange program, as in students stayed in the home of a Spain student and then the Spanish students came to the US and stayed with a family. It’s a very long and complicated story in this case, and there are other factors, but DCPS basically said the liability of having 7th graders do this was too risky. And the organization of the trip and exchange program was all on teachers and parent volunteers, meaning the liability was solely on DCPS if anything happened. DCPS is releasing new rules about these international trips that require schools to use a travel agent.

The 7th grade teachers are putting together a Puerto Rico trip where kids will stay in a hotel rather than in homes.

There are a lot of feelings and anger over this and it seems like people want to blame the principal rather than understand the nuances of how DCPS operates and how much control the principal had in the decision.

Just get out of the s*itshow that is DCPS.

No issues with DCI and their exchange programs in middle school. Then high school they offer and support opportunities for study abroad semesters.

DCI is not the utopia you seem to be describing z. They also don’t have the deep pockets DCPS has if something goes wrong.

Different poster- no one was describing dci as a utopia. Chill out.

This is a huge downgrade for OA. We are very angry about this and making our views known.

I need to chill out but you are very angry your middle schooler can’t do a homestay through their school? Seems like one of us needs to chill out and it isn’t me. Find a different program in the summer to send your kid on a homestay. Problem solved. Find something that matters to actually be very angry about.

[Anonymous]

I agree OA parents should find a way to do this outside of DCPS. It would likely go smoother that way with fewer roadblocks.

It really is not on DCPS to provide a homestay experience. The liability of having kids stay in homes, in a foreign country, is so high. DCPS may also be driven by equity… but the liability argument makes complete sense on its own.