WTF is happening at HARDY??????????

[Anonymous]

Hardy parents unhappy with the current mess are hardly a cabal. The teachers are upset and many are searching for new jobs. The teachers met with the new assistant principals to offer advice regarding the schedule. There advice was ignored and as a result, the current schedule is not working. They did not know how to adjust schedules to accommodate the different music ensembles, and now they don't exist. No winter concert either. At the end of last year, Pope removed the teacher accused of corporal punishment and this teacher is still here this year. Really? How hard is it to deal with this? Fights, fires, unruly students are just the tip of the iceberg, just ask the 12 families who have left so far this year. The current administration is inept at running a middle school. While DCPS digs in deeper to support what is not working, students suffer and families leave. What a shame.

[Anonymous]

Hardy parents, PTA and LSRT members HAVE met with the principal, assistant superintendent and Kaya Henderson and nothing has changed. Of course they have turned to the Post, or whomever else will listen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I missed the part of the story where the parents were unable to get a meeting with the principal, were unable to engage DCPS, were not listened to--except for being told that Pope is returning. Otherwise, running to the Post is nothing more than a petty cry for attention. And the poster who mentioned the impact parents' attitudes have on their children is right on. It's no wonder kids are copping attitude toward the Hardy leadership when they see their parents doing it every night.

But it's not up to the parents to make this right. DCPS screwed up big time, and needs to bend over backward to make it up to them. Instead, they're just trying to paste a band-aid on it. Even if you think they share the blame it doesn't matter. This is turning into a case of "the customer is always right." Because as long as the customer has options (leaving the school, complaining loudly to the Post and making the school look bad) they will exercise those options until you make them happy.

Fair or not, that's just the way it is.

[Anonymous]

Please, current Hardy families, LIST the things that have happened this year! Maybe having a comprehensive and detailed list of problems this year would help some of us understand the magnitude of all of this turmoil.
I can say that plenty of Key School families with 5th graders (well, at least those with no other options) are listening with interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I missed the part of the story where the parents were unable to get a meeting with the principal, were unable to engage DCPS, were not listened to--except for being told that Pope is returning. Otherwise, running to the Post is nothing more than a petty cry for attention. And the poster who mentioned the impact parents' attitudes have on their children is right on. It's no wonder kids are copping attitude toward the Hardy leadership when they see their parents doing it every night.

But it's not up to the parents to make this right. DCPS screwed up big time, and needs to bend over backward to make it up to them. Instead, they're just trying to paste a band-aid on it. Even if you think they share the blame it doesn't matter. This is turning into a case of "the customer is always right." Because as long as the customer has options (leaving the school, complaining loudly to the Post and making the school look bad) they will exercise those options until you make them happy.

Fair or not, that's just the way it is.

No, you've got it backwards. The strength of the school, and the school system overall is the critical factor here. DCPS has to have the best interests of the kids, the school, and the school system first. In this case the "customer" is not always right. It's sad that it's come down to this, but it sounds like it might be best if the situation were actually resolved by the disgruntled parents leaving the school. They're poisoning the atmosphere there, and it's clear they're never going to be happy unless there's a return to the situation ante. Which we've already decided doesn't make for the strongest DCPS.

[Anonymous]

That's what school reform means: making the tough choices that will strengthen the system, not only for current students, but for all the generations of students to come.

Soothing the ruffled feathers of a subset of angry parents is so far down from the surface, it can't be reached without a bathyscaphe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please, current Hardy families, LIST the things that have happened this year! Maybe having a comprehensive and detailed list of problems this year would help some of us understand the magnitude of all of this turmoil.
I can say that plenty of Key School families with 5th graders (well, at least those with no other options) are listening with interest.

Not a Hardy parent, but here's what's been in the news:

Popular principal removed from position

1/2 principal (only there half the time) installed in position

students and families lobbied and were ignored

selective admission criteria eliminated

instrumental music program damaged or effectively destroyed

corporal punishment teacher (whom the popular principal had fired) is still in place

families with options are leaving the school, diluting diversity of the school population

none of the parents demands or concerns have been addressed

That's pretty bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I missed the part of the story where the parents were unable to get a meeting with the principal, were unable to engage DCPS, were not listened to--except for being told that Pope is returning. Otherwise, running to the Post is nothing more than a petty cry for attention. And the poster who mentioned the impact parents' attitudes have on their children is right on. It's no wonder kids are copping attitude toward the Hardy leadership when they see their parents doing it every night.

But it's not up to the parents to make this right. DCPS screwed up big time, and needs to bend over backward to make it up to them. Instead, they're just trying to paste a band-aid on it. Even if you think they share the blame it doesn't matter. This is turning into a case of "the customer is always right." Because as long as the customer has options (leaving the school, complaining loudly to the Post and making the school look bad) they will exercise those options until you make them happy.

Fair or not, that's just the way it is.

No, you've got it backwards. The strength of the school, and the school system overall is the critical factor here. DCPS has to have the best interests of the kids, the school, and the school system first. In this case the "customer" is not always right. It's sad that it's come down to this, but it sounds like it might be best if the situation were actually resolved by the disgruntled parents leaving the school. They're poisoning the atmosphere there, and it's clear they're never going to be happy unless there's a return to the situation ante. Which we've already decided doesn't make for the strongest DCPS.

When did we make that decision?

And what, again, made us decide it was in the best interests of the school to get rid of a popular principal, popular instrumental music program, and selective admissions? How again did we think that would improve the school?

[Anonymous]

Why did we think lowering our standards and only having half a principal to enforce them could be in any way classified as an improvement over the status quo?

And if we were assinine enough to have arrived at this decision, why aren't we allowed to change our minds now that we've seen the error of our ways?

[Anonymous]

# Popular principal removed from position

A subjective complaint--not evidence of a problem.

# 1/2 principal (only there half the time) installed in position

Again, not a problem by itself. Capital Hill Cluster School has a 1/3 of a principal.

# students and families lobbied and were ignored

On whether to have Pope reinstated. What else has been ignored?

# selective admission criteria eliminated

You mean illegal selective criteria eliminated unless you see it as a problem that the school can no longer simply remove any kid with issues. That's called private school and it costs $30,000 a year.

# instrumental music program damaged or effectively destroyed

Yes, there was no Winter Concert. My God, the humanity. The fact is every kid in the school plays an instrument or sings in the chorus.

# corporal punishment teacher (whom the popular principal had fired) is still in place.

I have seen no details (nor should I have) on this issue so how anyone can draw conclusions I do not know.

# families with options are leaving the school, diluting diversity of the school population

Not sure the first half is a problem, and not sure the second half has anything to with reality.

# none of the parents demands or concerns have been addressed

Again, the only demand not met or addressed is the return of Pope. I have seen no other demand ignored.

[Anonymous]

No, you've got it backwards. The strength of the school, and the school system overall is the critical factor here. DCPS has to have the best interests of the kids, the school, and the school system first. In this case the "customer" is not always right. It's sad that it's come down to this, but it sounds like it might be best if the situation were actually resolved by the disgruntled parents leaving the school. They're poisoning the atmosphere there, and it's clear they're never going to be happy unless there's a return to the situation ante. Which we've already decided doesn't make for the strongest DCPS.

When the scope and mission of the school was changed under Rhee. why was this not considered. The children of Hardy were never the first priority under Rhee and apprently they are still not the first priority. There is a reason there is so much disruption and turmoil going on in that school. Why do you think that these children must now leave the school because they are reacting to a bad situation that was forced on them, without any of their considerations. Perhpas they are acting out because noone is listening to them, or do you buy into the adage that children should be seen and not heard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:# Popular principal removed from position

A subjective complaint--not evidence of a problem.

# 1/2 principal (only there half the time) installed in position

Again, not a problem by itself. Capital Hill Cluster School has a 1/3 of a principal.

# students and families lobbied and were ignored

On whether to have Pope reinstated. What else has been ignored?

# selective admission criteria eliminated

You mean illegal selective criteria eliminated unless you see it as a problem that the school can no longer simply remove any kid with issues. That's called private school and it costs $30,000 a year.

# instrumental music program damaged or effectively destroyed

Yes, there was no Winter Concert. My God, the humanity. The fact is every kid in the school plays an instrument or sings in the chorus.

# corporal punishment teacher (whom the popular principal had fired) is still in place.

I have seen no details (nor should I have) on this issue so how anyone can draw conclusions I do not know.

# families with options are leaving the school, diluting diversity of the school population

Not sure the first half is a problem, and not sure the second half has anything to with reality.

# none of the parents demands or concerns have been addressed

Again, the only demand not met or addressed is the return of Pope. I have seen no other demand ignored.

Wrong on all counts. What you're missing is that this was a top-down decision made by one person at DCPS without seeking consensus or buy-in from all the stakeholders. Without even the pretense of extending courtesy. It's a phenomenal leadership fuck-up if I've ever seen one. Seriously this should be a B-school case study on how NOT to effect change.

[Anonymous]

I am not missing it at all. You are correct about the decision to replace Pope being a top down decision by one person. Now, while the rest of us are discussing what is happening at Hardy and how best to address parent concerns, you are stuck in the past discussing a decision made a year ago. I realize you are upset about that and if it makes you feel better to simply repeat how upset you are about it over and over, go for it, but that will have little impact on how best to address current issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:# Popular principal removed from position

A subjective complaint--not evidence of a problem.

# 1/2 principal (only there half the time) installed in position

Again, not a problem by itself. Capital Hill Cluster School has a 1/3 of a principal.

# students and families lobbied and were ignored

On whether to have Pope reinstated. What else has been ignored?

# selective admission criteria eliminated

You mean illegal selective criteria eliminated unless you see it as a problem that the school can no longer simply remove any kid with issues. That's called private school and it costs $30,000 a year.

# instrumental music program damaged or effectively destroyed

Yes, there was no Winter Concert. My God, the humanity. The fact is every kid in the school plays an instrument or sings in the chorus.

# corporal punishment teacher (whom the popular principal had fired) is still in place.

I have seen no details (nor should I have) on this issue so how anyone can draw conclusions I do not know.

# families with options are leaving the school, diluting diversity of the school population

Not sure the first half is a problem, and not sure the second half has anything to with reality.

# none of the parents demands or concerns have been addressed

Again, the only demand not met or addressed is the return of Pope. I have seen no other demand ignored.

You are a denier. Deny, deny, deny. Eventually my denials will make someone a believer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not missing it at all. You are correct about the decision to replace Pope being a top down decision by one person. Now, while the rest of us are discussing what is happening at Hardy and how best to address parent concerns, you are stuck in the past discussing a decision made a year ago. I realize you are upset about that and if it makes you feel better to simply repeat how upset you are about it over and over, go for it, but that will have little impact on how best to address current issues.

Until DCPS does something to satisfy all the affected families, don't expect anything unrest. The onus is not on the families to just get over it. The burden is on DCPS's doorstep. They trashed the school and expect everybody else to pick up and rebuild their mess. It's not going to happen.