Documentary on DC METROPOLITAN Airing Tonight on PBS
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Anonymous
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Bill Turke article on the principal(s) who were not renewed last year:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-schools-insider/post/dc-principals-class-of-08-continues-to-dwindle/2012/06/05/gJQAdLYqGV_blog.html |
Anonymous
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And the WAMU piece:
http://wamu.org/news/13/03/24/dc_school_featured_in_documentary_airing_monday |
Anonymous
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Anybody watch?
Your thoughts? |
Anonymous
Great WAMU piece. The full radio version is even more telling. She said she wouldn't change one thing if she was to be principal again, that she believes her contract was not renewed because she didn't "play the game, or as they call it in the urban world 'Running for Prez". In other words, she didn't always say the right things or manipulate data to make herself look like a rockstar. She's in NY now, and apparently she didn't make it till the end of the year??!!! This despite the fact that 100% of her seniors graduated and were accepted at 4 year colleges. (Yeah, I know I know, acceptance does not equal graduate but for this population, 100% acceptance is HUGE!) And all of the students made some type of progress. Interestingly enough, she now works training principals. Yet, DCPS didn't think she was good enough to be one. 
And it sucks that she was never given a reason for not having her contract removed. Not one conversation about it. Just 'Nonrenewal'. DC sucks ass in the way it treats its employees. |
Anonymous
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My .02:
Minor seemed to be a good principal, and all seemed well (teachers, school culture, etc.) It's an innercity school with innercity issues, but nothing outrageous. I don't understand why she would be fired unless something shocking happens in Part 2. Or, it could've been her refusal to drink the koolaid. She admitted she might not agree with Impact and some of the things Central office was doing, but she was willing to comply and asked her staff to do so as well. I think they were all (teachers, social workers, admin, etc.) doing the best they could with what they had. And their best was darned good! |
Anonymous
| This was so interesting and so depressing - how can this school be in a city with a median income of 105k? Everyone should be ashamed of what is going on in this city |
Anonymous
The true shame is that this school looked much cleaner, more structured, better run and with better teachers and instruction than A LOT of DC public schools. |
Anonymous
| It just had my mouth opened. I am wondering and hoping it would get better. The faculty was not the best, the facilities were not the best, the school climate was not thes best and what's the 2nd portion is going to portray. |
Anonymous
| Really good show. I was shocked at how dumb and unfocused the kids are. |
Anonymous
| Are any of the kids at Wilson and SWW like this? |
Anonymous
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I thought Ms. Minor was downright inspirational -- and I NEVER say things like that. Perhaps she could have been hamming it up for the camera, but she seemed sincere to me.
I was intrigued by Rufus, one of the basketball players. He seems way too smart to be dicking around in the way he described. |
Anonymous
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I didn't see the first half hour -- is DC Met a relatively new school? The principal spoke about how the kids asked her for a basketball team and a cheer squad, which led me to believe it was a new school.
Anyway, I also was taken by some of the words of the Vice Principal. He said something to the effect of, "I just don't get how these kids can't SEE what they're doing to themselves." I cannot even imagine his frustration. You just want to shake these kids. If only it were that simple. I was in tears when Raven's mom moved her and the baby to Texas. The poor teen dad, who actually seemed to be involved with the baby and supportive of Raven's work at the parenting center. He loses his kid and the baby loses her father, repeating the fatherless child cycle. Such hard, hard life circumstances to overcome. |
Anonymous
| All the talk about poor, disadvantaged urban youth when they showed one kid after another wearing $200 North Face jackets, et cetera. |
Anonymous
I would bet Wilson has some kids like this. It's a feeder school after all and doesent have total control over who is able to attend. SWW probably not since it's an application only HS and you have to be one of higher achieving middle school students to get in. You can't even apply to SWW unless you have a 3.0 GPA. |
Anonymous
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Anyone know when part 2 is going to air?
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