Is there an advocate that works on behalf of the parents in MCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She can't drop the class it's required for graduation. There is an opening in the same period with another teacher, I"m not understanding why it's this huge ordeal just to quietly put her in the other class.

This seems very rigid at the high school level. What is the rationale? Are switches like this ever allowed for others (to your knowledge)?

Why did the class just start yesterday

Yesterday was the first day of the second semester. All HS classes are semester classes.

[Anonymous]

1. No. There is no advocate who works on behalf of parents in MCPS. MCPS's goal is to stifle and oppress parents as much as possible. Parents are a threat to be contained in the system's view.

2. You need to grow a pair and file the appropriate bullying reports. You can't claim these so-called bullies are terrorizing your child and ruining her life, but you're scared to name them on paper because you share social circles with their parents. You need to grow up and choose your child over your friendships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of these parents are not my friends but we travel in similar social circles. The one "friend" I am referring to, I have been distancing myself from since this incident took place.

When you file a bullying report is the kid called down to the office? Are the parents notified? Does it go on their permanent record and/or college transcript in some way?

If I could file a report where the school knew just to keep DD separate from a list of kids that's one thing. But if the kids are going to be told and reprimanded we all know what will happen behind the scenes and on social media. Things will get exponentially worse.

How do you know that they will harrass her on social media? I think once they get caught, that will likely end it. And if they do continue on social media, then you have written proof that it's happening. You need to stop worrying about your own social reprecussions and worry about your child. The solution here is pretty simple. It sounds like the kids and the parents are pretty awful so its time to teach both of them a lesson.

[Anonymous]

So you are prioritizing your social life for your daughter’s well being? Got it. Great message you are sending her.

[Anonymous]

So the school system is to blame and yet you won’t file the bullying report the the school system has told you to file.Not to mention the principal is meeting with you to discuss. Seems the either this is not as bad as you say and just a case of kids growing apart OR you trying to protect your social circle over your daughter.

Which is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Insane that you won't suffer social consequences on your own to protect your child. File the damn report.

+1billion.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry your daughter is going through this and I’m sorry her school is not being helpful. I’m afraid that many people in MCPS don’t have the compassion or empathy that they should and I’m sorry.

[Anonymous]

1. You wasted the superintendent's secretary's time. The superintendent's office has more important things to do than to listen to the story you relayed to us here.

2. It sounds reasonable and realistic that your HS is telling you they can't make a schedule switch without a bullying report. HS scheduling is complicated, and if schools let anyone request schedule changes for any reason at any time, they simply couldn't make it work.

3. Go back and re-read what you wrote here. "These are people at our place of worship, that I see at the grocery store, at sporting events that prob all think their kids would never do this. One of them is one of my good friends. For the sake of our friendship we agreed not to discuss the demise of our girls friendship. In the past when I have pointed anything out that her daughter has said or done, it gets ugly real fast. She thinks her kid is an angel."

OP, filing a bullying report is *not* discussing the demise of your girls' friendship with the other mom. It's the county license to do the only real investigative work and action-taking that MCPS ever does for bullying. In a county where so much has gone so wrong in recent years, the bullying report process is one of the few systems that work decently. Let them do their jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry your daughter is going through this and I’m sorry her school is not being helpful. I’m afraid that many people in MCPS don’t have the compassion or empathy that they should and I’m sorry.

I don’t know why you say they aren’t being helpful. They are. OP just doesn’t want to do her part. Most schools require a reason to change classes and OP is refusing to provide the reason. I’m sure the school is thinking that if there really was an issue that OP would report it. It isn’t that ff base to believe that what OP is saying is a pretext for moving away from a teacher that OP’s daughter doesn’t like.

[Anonymous]

Don’t pay attention to the people telling you to grow a pair and file the report. In a few years, when your daughter is an adult, there will be no bullying reports out in the world. Teach her the emotional skills she needs to hold her head high, ignore these mean girls, and find a different group of friends. The mean girls will move on eventually if they see that their behavior is not effecting your DD. Maybe even look into a therapist to help her with some skills and strategies. I think your money would be better spent there than on an advocate. MCPS can’t stand most advocates and most advocates aren’t actually helpful from what I’ve experienced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Insane that you won't suffer social consequences on your own to protect your child. File the damn report.

+1 billion. Everyone else will forget about this. It's your kid who will carry it later

- Formerly bullied kid with lifelong social consequences

[Anonymous]

Is there no MCPS Ombudsman?

[Anonymous]

Sometimes the head counselor can make schedule changes. Can you try to see if that person is more empathetic? Sorry this happened OP.

[Anonymous]

Just come pick her up each day during that time and drop her off when class is over. You’ll make it such a headache for them that they’ll have to listen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there no MCPS Ombudsman?

There is an ombudsman position within the BOE office, but it's vacant.