Does anyone like Curriculum 2.0?

[Anonymous]

OK, to the couple of posters (maybe the same person) who say that the purpose of 2.0 is to *intentionally* slow down the prodigies, what possible motive could a school system have for that? Don't you think that sounds a little paranoid? You can disagree with the educational theory at play here that children need more depth in math and less acceleration, but do you really think administrators are sitting in meeting rooms trying to figure out how to mess with your child, with no other productive goals?

[Anonymous]

Naivete is bliss. It's not the recent immigrants and their children who are the MCPS leadership and teachers in our schools. At least in the schools my kids attend the leadership and teachers do not reflect the race and ethnicity of the students being led and taught. There is a tremendous lag. The traditional leadership of MCPS and her schools are run still run by the old generation. They teach an increasing multi-cultural and diverse student body many of whom out perform their own children and thus get the "entitled" spoils: prizes, awards, magnet slots, Ivy slots and other prize college admissions ...

[Anonymous]

OK, to the couple of posters (maybe the same person) who say that the purpose of 2.0 is to *intentionally* slow down the prodigies, what possible motive could a school system have for that? Don't you think that sounds a little paranoid? You can disagree with the educational theory at play here that children need more depth in math and less acceleration, but do you really think administrators are sitting in meeting rooms trying to figure out how to mess with your child, with no other productive goals?

I always thought the education sector or industry was unique from other sectors (e.g., law, medicine, wall street, finance, corporate America) and immune to these political forces?

[Anonymous]

My child hasn't started in MCPS yet but I was under the impression that "not being allowed to accelerate" was the norm in elementary school. When I was in school the acceleration I got was moving me to a class with children in higher grades in subjects that I was well ahead of the other students in.. But I just never imagined the teacher in elementary school separating kids based on math ability and giving them different work but again I've been out of school a long time.

Don't get me wrong I like the idea of "acceleration" but I was prepared to provide help outside of school in the event she is advanced.

[Anonymous]

My child was allowed to accelerate in math in early elementary school. That move alone improved his behavior and kept me out of the Principals office for discipline issues. He has done remarkable well in school and later magnet programs that also permitted acceleration in math. This was clearly the best solution for him in hindsight. And I disagree with any decision to a priori eliminate that pathway for kids who have mastered the subject matter. It does not matter if this is curriculum 2.0 or curriculum X. If kids have mastered the material in curriculum X there should be other avenues to move on. Presently, there are none in my experience with my own children in their schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Naivete is bliss. It's not the recent immigrants and their children who are the MCPS leadership and teachers in our schools. At least in the schools my kids attend the leadership and teachers do not reflect the race and ethnicity of the students being led and taught. There is a tremendous lag. The traditional leadership of MCPS and her schools are run still run by the old generation. They teach an increasing multi-cultural and diverse student body many of whom out perform their own children and thus get the "entitled" spoils: prizes, awards, magnet slots, Ivy slots and other prize college admissions ...

Wow, can we specify where all the recent immigrants are from? Asia I'm guessing? Because in my part of MoCo parents seem to be trying to get out of the schools because they think there are too many UNDERperforming immigrants from Central America.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Naivete is bliss. It's not the recent immigrants and their children who are the MCPS leadership and teachers in our schools. At least in the schools my kids attend the leadership and teachers do not reflect the race and ethnicity of the students being led and taught. There is a tremendous lag. The traditional leadership of MCPS and her schools are run still run by the old generation. They teach an increasing multi-cultural and diverse student body many of whom out perform their own children and thus get the "entitled" spoils: prizes, awards, magnet slots, Ivy slots and other prize college admissions ...

+100000

[Anonymous]

I think we must be talking about a different Montgomery County than the one I live in. I have to get off of DCUM. C'mon people, a conspiracy to hold back your kids? Do you think that sounds even a little crazy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think we must be talking about a different Montgomery County than the one I live in. I have to get off of DCUM. C'mon people, a conspiracy to hold back your kids? Do you think that sounds even a little crazy?

I would agree that it is crazy, but, sadly this is what is happening. Apparently MCPS believes that "social justice" mandates that we must teach to the middle and keep high achieving students from moving ahead.

[Anonymous]

I think we must be talking about a different Montgomery County than the one I live in. I have to get off of DCUM. C'mon people, a conspiracy to hold back your kids? Do you think that sounds even a little crazy?

Nope. We got the right MCPS. The move is predictable. What do you expect from the desperate? It's really about policies to maintain the old educational status quo in the County. Policies precisely devised (by the rest) to close the gap between the high performers (usually of the recent immigrant generation) and the rest. From the playbook of self-preservation,like sports, when one start losing, simply change the rules. This is not rocket science. Curriculum 2.0 is designed to "close the gap" between the high performing students in MCPS and the rest.

[Anonymous]

Now I'm about to paste in the official summary of Curriculum 2.0. You can all see what it says. It says that our children are being taught to juggle chainsaws. If you don't see it in there, it's just because they are trying to cover it up.

--New internationally driven standards in math, reading, and writing
--Renewed focus on teaching the whole child
--Nurtures skills that build confidence and success
--Engages students beyond reading and math, to spark greater interest
in science, social studies, information literacy, art, music, physical
education, and health
--Integrates thinking, reasoning, and creativity for a lifetime of learning
--Enhances learning by connecting subjects

[Anonymous]

OK, to the couple of posters (maybe the same person) who say that the purpose of 2.0 is to *intentionally* slow down the prodigies, what possible motive could a school system have for that? Don't you think that sounds a little paranoid? You can disagree with the educational theory at play here that children need more depth in math and less acceleration, but do you really think administrators are sitting in meeting rooms trying to figure out how to mess with your child, with no other productive goals?

Paranoid? By couple are you referring to one or two? Maybe 3 or greater. Sounds like you are the paranoid one. Why don't you stick with sound logical and critical thought rather than idle speculation about the identities of posters. Do I have to remind you this is an anonymous board and individuals have not signed their names -- including you (a probable sock puppet)!

[Anonymous]

Now I'm about to paste in the official summary of Curriculum 2.0. You can all see what it says. It says that our children are being taught to juggle chainsaws. If you don't see it in there, it's just because they are trying to cover it up.

--New internationally driven standards in math, reading, and writing
--Renewed focus on teaching the whole child
--Nurtures skills that build confidence and success
--Engages students beyond reading and math, to spark greater interest
in science, social studies, information literacy, art, music, physical
education, and health
--Integrates thinking, reasoning, and creativity for a lifetime of learning
--Enhances learning by connecting subjects

But, have you sat in a curriculum 2.0 classroom this year and reviewed the work of your children over this past year? Is the drivel you can cut and paste what is going on there?

[Anonymous]

Now I'm about to paste in the official summary of Curriculum 2.0. You can all see what it says. It says that our children are being taught to juggle chainsaws. If you don't see it in there, it's just because they are trying to cover it up.

--New internationally driven standards in math, reading, and writing
--Renewed focus on teaching the whole child
--Nurtures skills that build confidence and success
--Engages students beyond reading and math, to spark greater interest
in science, social studies, information literacy, art, music, physical
education, and health
--Integrates thinking, reasoning, and creativity for a lifetime of learning
--Enhances learning by connecting subjects

One critical aspect of curriculum 2.0 that you have excluded (perhaps inadvertently): students that has mastered the content of this curriculum (curriculum 2.0) will no longer be allowed to move up. Even if this mastery is ascertained at the beginning of the school year the child must remain in the assigned classroom and repeat the content. This is particularly germane for any student in mathematics. There are no longer any pathways for advancement even if the child has mastered the math content at the start of the school year.

[Anonymous]

One critical aspect of curriculum 2.0 that you have excluded (perhaps inadvertently): students that has mastered the content of this curriculum (curriculum 2.0) will no longer be allowed to move up. Even if this mastery is ascertained at the beginning of the school year the child must remain in the assigned classroom and repeat the content. This is particularly germane for any student in mathematics. There are no longer any pathways for advancement even if the child has mastered the math content at the start of the school year.

Interesting and convenient omission.