Horace Mann: K-5?

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the update, PP. It's impressive that the principal was able to prevail upon Rhee and make that happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was announced today that Mann will keep its 6th grade.

Can someone explain to me what the justification for this is? Who benefits, aside from a small group of kids at one school (and their parents), many of whom won't stay in DCPS past grade 6? Isn't there an additional burden on Deal/Hardy, having to accommodate a new group of 7th graders when virtually all other students start together in grade 6? Is this really helping the kids who do stay in DCPS, making them "new kids" in 7th gradeand potentially complicating a transition that's already difficult given the age, etc.? What is the rationale?

[Anonymous]

I am under the impression that hardly any Mann students go on to public middle school in DC. The rumor I heard was that a couple of years ago, zero Mann 6th graders were headed to Deal or Hardy. If this is indeed the case, at least it keeps... maybe 25 kids in DCPS for another (their 6th grade) year.

[Anonymous]

That is truly amazing. Can we assume that the 6th graders of over-educated, affluent, upper-middle class parents in the Murch, Lafayette, Janney and Key zones will also be bestowed with this same gift?

If it's not a safe assumption, please disclose whose schlong must be serviced in order for this to happen.

[Anonymous]

If Mann 6th graders aren't going to DCPS middle school (and my anectodal information is that most, if not all of them don't), then what's the big deal?

[Anonymous]

All similarly situated 6th graders in DCPS should be given the same opportunity to stay with their elementary schools, tuition free.

It is a big deal to choose just a few heading-to-private-anyway 6th graders and give them this perk, but not others. Don't you imagine that dozens, maybe hundreds? of similar students in Key, Lafayette, Janney, etc would like the same perk? And that their parents would like to pocket that extra $28,500 for the 6th grade year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All similarly situated 6th graders in DCPS should be given the same opportunity to stay with their elementary schools, tuition free.

It is a big deal to choose just a few heading-to-private-anyway 6th graders and give them this perk, but not others. Don't you imagine that dozens, maybe hundreds? of similar students in Key, Lafayette, Janney, etc would like the same perk? And that their parents would like to pocket that extra $28,500 for the 6th grade year?

I'm all for treating people equally-- but providing an extra 'perk' to the other rich kids in the District is not treating everyone equally-- just favoring a greater number of the luckiest 10% over the other 90% who are already getting screwed. And having the city foot the bill to save the wealthiest people their tuition dollars when the city already offers them the best middle schools-- Deal and Hardy-- tuition-free is not fair either.

[Anonymous]

Key only goes up to 5th grade (and a large percentage of their students go on to Hardy).

[Anonymous]

Lafayette is also only going to 5th starting next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All similarly situated 6th graders in DCPS should be given the same opportunity to stay with their elementary schools, tuition free.

It is a big deal to choose just a few heading-to-private-anyway 6th graders and give them this perk, but not others. Don't you imagine that dozens, maybe hundreds? of similar students in Key, Lafayette, Janney, etc would like the same perk? And that their parents would like to pocket that extra $28,500 for the 6th grade year?

I'm all for treating people equally-- but providing an extra 'perk' to the other rich kids in the District is not treating everyone equally-- just favoring a greater number of the luckiest 10% over the other 90% who are already getting screwed. And having the city foot the bill to save the wealthiest people their tuition dollars when the city already offers them the best middle schools-- Deal and Hardy-- tuition-free is not fair either.

Exactly. Why is DCPS going to pay to educate these lucky students for an extra year when those resources are desperately needed elsewhere? All ESs, MSs, and HSs in the city have had to accommodate the broad shift to K-5/K-8, 6-8, and 9-12. What possible reason could there be for excusing one school from this broad change? The optimist in me who wants to believe in Michelle Rhee really hopes there's some good reason for this decision beyond quieting down a bunch of loud and influential parents. That no one has weighed in with one makes me think the decision was just as craven and convenient as it seems.

[Anonymous]

the decision was just as craven and convenient as it seems.

Of course it is!

[Anonymous]

Which schools are slated to go K-8? Oyster is the only one of the "good" schools that's already K-8. Are there any others going that route?

[Anonymous]

Horace Mann is in the most affluent and least diversified section of the city. Of course they get to keep 6th for as long as they like. Money talks.

[Anonymous]

All the people that are fighting to keep 6th at Mann will take their kids out of the system beginning with seventh grade and go to private schools - without exception. (some will move to Montgomery or Fairfax) Is it fair to the rest of the school(s) to keep 6th when the resources could be used so much more effectively elsewhere or even within Mann?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the people that are fighting to keep 6th at Mann will take their kids out of the system beginning with seventh grade and go to private schools - without exception. (some will move to Montgomery or Fairfax) Is it fair to the rest of the school(s) to keep 6th when the resources could be used so much more effectively elsewhere or even within Mann?

How about using all the resources those Mann kids won't use in grades 7-12?