Curriculum 2.0, the New Report Cards and Other Points of Displeasure: What Can We Do as Parents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:18:08, we do not have an election coming up. YOU need to wake the eff up. What shall we do while waiting around for another chance to vote for incumbents and ineffectual candidates?

Good luck working with the school system. Elections matter. There is not much individual parents can do, IMHO.

Okay, so in the meantime, what can be done to educate ourselves before the next election?

http://www.nsba.org/SchoolLaw/Issues/Governance/electionschart.pdf

According to this chart, board members are elected in Montgomery County in even years the first Tuesday in November and in July. I'm a little confused by the July part. Every July or just even years? Does anyone know more about this? Can the PTA bring more awareness to the parents about upcoming elections?

[Anonymous]

Even with new board members, you'll still have Starr and all the MCPS overreaction to common core.

[Anonymous]

How long can a superintendent be in office?

[Anonymous]

Frustrated parent here. I've been following all these 2.0 threads (and contributing to some).

Two things is clear from many of the posts: 1) many parents don't support 2.0 and 2) many parents believe there is noting they can do.

Ok. So where does that leave us if we want action that will happen quickly enough to benefit our children? Do we start protests at the schools (not at the central MCPS offices, but at our neighborhood schools)? Do we reach out to media outlets? What do we do that will shine the spotlight on this deeply flawed curriculum?

I happen to believe that what we need is publicity. When feeling disempowered, the best action is to find power in numbers and and to shine light on the problems. Sometimes "speaking truth to power" seems impossible at the beginning, but with enough committed parents speaking together on this topic, there is no BOA and no superintendent and no bureaucracy that can withstand that pressure and that negative publicity.

[Anonymous]

Would an article in the Gazette be a start?

[Anonymous]

http://www.change.org/petitions/no-time-to-waste-3

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would an article in the Gazette be a start?

Yes, but I think we'll need a bigger stage to really get to MCPS. I think it needs to be the Wasington Post. We need to really shake things up - both to let MCPS know this is serious but also to put the truth about 2.0 out there for the parents who haven't paid attention (or who think opposition to it is a "parent of a smart kid" issue.

The flaws of 2.0 are many and they hurt all kiss --an in depth report about that (conducted by someone who doesn't have a child in the schools) needs to happen.

The Gazette is a good start, but we need a bigger platform.

[Anonymous]

They have invested too much time, money and energy in 2.0. so an article in the gazette won't do anything. The only way to get Starrs attn is to yank our kids out of school and stage a well organized protest in front of Starr's office. But this only works if you have a significant number of parents and students. With signs, t shirts, and speakers.

[Anonymous]

Agree with 9:30. Here's another thought. It seems that this entire curriculum is centered around "teaching to the test." In the case of 2.0, I believe it is geared toward the new standardized test which focuses on the common core standards. That test basically replaces the MSA.

Ok, so here's the idea:

1) parents simply refuse to have their kids take the MSA or the new standardized test

2) parents instruct their kids to simply answer "A" on each and every standardized test question.

If we simply refuse to participate (either by not taking the test or skewing the test answers so they do not reflect well on the county), these tests will be rendered meaningless.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Keeping your kids home or going on vacation during testing will definitely irritate the principal. It will not make a real difference unless a significant number of parents do this. My friends who are mcps teachers have told me stories about how their principals have called and even driven to homes to get the parents to bring their kids to school during testing bc the scores matter to the school. If a kid doesn't take the test, then his zero is factored into the ultimate numbers.

[Anonymous]

My DS is in 4th grade now. Just heard from a parent of a 3rd grader yesterday that my son's 3rd grade math teacher now teaches both math and reading and science and social study. The kids stayed withe one teacher in the same room all day. I cannot believe a teacher has been teaching math for many years now has to handle all the subjects. I am so glad my son is ahead of the Curruculum 2.0. Why doesn"t PTA voice the concerns from all the parents? Or the parent should start from their PTA since a lot of schools in the green zone get funding from PTA.

[Anonymous]

Here's an article that was in Bethesda Magazine last month. It seems Starr is not going to budge about grouping students together in math. Previously he was the superintendent in Stamford, Connecticut. I'd be curious to know what has happened up there now that he is gone. Did their school system go back to grouping by abilities or not. Here's a section pulled from the article I linked to below:

"Once again, he was defending his opposition to the grouping of students by academic ability—an issue that defined his tenure as superintendent of Stamford public schools, where he ended the longstanding practice known as tracking despite protests from some parents."

I'm going to see if I can find an online forum for Stamford public schools and ask parents what is happening now that he is no longer there.



http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Blogs/Education-Matters/January-February-2013/MCPS-Superintendent-Says-Mixed-Ability-Grouping-is-Here-to-Stay/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is in 4th grade now. Just heard from a parent of a 3rd grader yesterday that my son's 3rd grade math teacher now teaches both math and reading and science and social study. The kids stayed withe one teacher in the same room all day. I cannot believe a teacher has been teaching math for many years now has to handle all the subjects. I am so glad my son is ahead of the Curruculum 2.0. Why doesn"t PTA voice the concerns from all the parents? Or the parent should start from their PTA since a lot of schools in the green zone get funding from PTA.

Your kid is only ahead of it this year. 2.0 is being implemented in 4th and 5th in the fall.

[Anonymous]

In fact, if you watch the cable rebroadcast of the math 2.0 meeting this week, you'll really worry for your current 4th grader. I also have a 4th grader and thought he was also ahead of the wave of 2.0. Boy was I wrong.

Actually, next year the new 2.0 5th grade curriculum will be rolled out for you child and mine (next year's 5th grade). Then when our kids are 6th graders, the new 6th grade curriculum will be rolled out and so on until high school.

I have a child who has been in the "guinea pig" year of 2.0 roll out this year. Based on our experience this year, the roll out years are a disaster. The curriculum is written as they go - so teacher's don't have all of the curriculum - it is given to them as the year goes alone. Teachers and principals don't regroup kids (b/c they can't under 2.0) but then MCPS officials tell you that kids can be regrouped (but they can't articulate the criteria that would need to be met in order to regroup). Translation: heterogeneous classes of all levels, working on a brand new curriculum, with teachers who are just learning the curriculum and principals that don't want to upset MCPS officials.

This year's current 4th grade parents would do well to realize that our kids with be the trial or "guinea pig" grade for year after year after year of 2.0 roll out. That is frightening.

[Anonymous]

What do think the school system makes a teacher who has been teaching math/science or reading/social for year to teach all the subject after one summer? I feel sorry for the students and the teacher!