Too much student choice in our public school

[Anonymous]

Also add classical schools, nova ones include Dominion Christian, Ad Fontes, Potomac Classical, Immanuel Lutheran, etc. We had similar concerns as OP and moved the kids, feel much better about the foundation they are getting.

[Anonymous]

We live in a highly desirable school district with lots of $$$ and the parents put up a big fuss over Chromebook use (some teachers were literally just parking kids in front of them for hours at a time in Kindergarten). The district relented and banned use of them outside of testing until 4th grade (and will no longer send them home with students). There are lot of things a group of determined parents can get done with enough calls and e-mails.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why we moved our child to Catholic school, which has been phenomenal. I work in a public school as a reading specialist, and things are honestly a mess. A big part of the problem is the school systems’ large contracts with ed tech companies, as well as low standards for student work output. In many “top” public schools, the parents are happy because the kids get good grades and the teachers cater to the parents. The parents are not looking behind the curtain or realizing that the kids are not leaning much at all.

+1. Wish I had started my kid in Catholic (not incidentally because they stayed open during Covid …) Not only are the standards in public for student outcomes low, but they literally do not believe that the teacher’s role is to teach and ensure the kids to focused practice. As far as I can discern, the current teaching philosophy is that the act of completing the computerized lesson and clicking through it IS learning and that teachers don’t have to do anything else.

We are seeing this, plus we have the workshop model, which I think is ridiculous at the elementary ages. 7 and 8 year olds need guided writing prompts, models of written work, and they need teacher corrections, not comments made by other 7 year olds reading their work. Don't get me started on uncorrected spelling and ungraded math problems.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't call that student choice. I'd call it poor teaching style, lack of standards, lack of curriculum and textbooks, etc.

Your best bet is to supplement at home or get cheap online tutors.

[Anonymous]

Complain to your school board.