negativity surrounding school from parents

[Anonymous]

OP:

Part of what you are experiencing is that teacher bashing is very in style right now. Society has decided it can blame teachers for every ill, and it's become something of a parlor game for parents. Even Obama has gotten in on the act.

Public schools have a responsibility to be all things to all people. Teachers have a responsibility to serve every student. But this is not really what parents want. What parents really want is for schools and teachers to favor THEIR children. So this tension--between what the school/teacher must do and what individual families want-- is there from the very beginning. If parents don't think their snowflakes are being favored, they will have complaints, even if teachers and schools are doing a magnificent job of serving its community.

Remember that the public schools in this area, particularly FCPS and MCPS, are among the finest in the nation. Public school teachers in this area are highly trained, and teaching jobs here are intensely competitive. Nonetheless, there will always be whiners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is someone with no ES age kids even posting this? What a waste of time. Post back when you have some actual experience of your own. Real life just might surprise you.

NP here. We live in Alexandria (FFX) and have stressed for 2+ years about the poor Alexandria schools. We live on the FFX County side and FFX is supposedly one of the best school districts in the country. My child started kindergarten two weeks ago and I could not be more pleased. My child and I love the school, the teachers and the community. I wish I did not listen to all the negative chatter. [/quote

FCPS is one of the better districts in the STATE but it's been a while (pre mid 90's) since it's been one of the best in the country.

[Anonymous]

FCPS is one of the better districts in the STATE but it's been a while (pre mid 90's) since it's been one of the best in the country.

Then how do you account for TJ being the number 1 school in the country, as well as a number of other FCPS schools (Langley, McLean, Madison, Woodson, Oakton, etc) consistently ranking in the top 100 or 200 in the nation? This doesn't happen by accident.

[Anonymous]

OP:

Part of what you are experiencing is that teacher bashing is very in style right now. Society has decided it can blame teachers for every ill, and it's become something of a parlor game for parents. Even Obama has gotten in on the act.

Public schools have a responsibility to be all things to all people. Teachers have a responsibility to serve every student. But this is not really what parents want. What parents really want is for schools and teachers to favor THEIR children. So this tension--between what the school/teacher must do and what individual families want-- is there from the very beginning. If parents don't think their snowflakes are being favored, they will have complaints, even if teachers and schools are doing a magnificent job of serving its community.

Remember that the public schools in this area, particularly FCPS and MCPS, are among the finest in the nation. Public school teachers in this area are highly trained, and teaching jobs here are intensely competitive. Nonetheless, there will always be whiners.

This is very true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP:

Part of what you are experiencing is that teacher bashing is very in style right now. Society has decided it can blame teachers for every ill, and it's become something of a parlor game for parents. Even Obama has gotten in on the act.

Public schools have a responsibility to be all things to all people. Teachers have a responsibility to serve every student. But this is not really what parents want. What parents really want is for schools and teachers to favor THEIR children. So this tension--between what the school/teacher must do and what individual families want-- is there from the very beginning. If parents don't think their snowflakes are being favored, they will have complaints, even if teachers and schools are doing a magnificent job of serving its community.

Remember that the public schools in this area, particularly FCPS and MCPS, are among the finest in the nation. Public school teachers in this area are highly trained, and teaching jobs here are intensely competitive. Nonetheless, there will always be whiners.

This is very true.

No it's not true. I always post on these threads. I came up through MCPS and I know first hand what an excellent system it used to be. I have an older DC and a younger one. I can see the difference in just that amount of time, comparing what my older DC learned to what my younger DC is learning. This is not whining. There has been a huge change in MCPS and it is going to become more and more obvious.

It also has nothing to do with wanting MY CHILD to get attention, as another PP said. What I want is for them to get a rigorous education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

FCPS is one of the better districts in the STATE but it's been a while (pre mid 90's) since it's been one of the best in the country.

Then how do you account for TJ being the number 1 school in the country, as well as a number of other FCPS schools (Langley, McLean, Madison, Woodson, Oakton, etc) consistently ranking in the top 100 or 200 in the nation? This doesn't happen by accident.

Studies after studies show that HHI is the #1 predictor of school success - sorry, teachers or a "great school district" can't take all or even most the credit for the high ranking of the schools you bragged about as so many low SES schools are struggling.

Show me high FARMs schools in FCPS that rate as high as Langley, McLean, Madison etc and THAT will be the indicator of a great district and great teachers.

If schools such as West Potomac, Stuart, Falls Church, Edison, Annandale, South Lakes, Herndon, ranked just as high FCPS would indeed be great - but they are not.

Sorry but FCPS is average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

FCPS is one of the better districts in the STATE but it's been a while (pre mid 90's) since it's been one of the best in the country.

Then how do you account for TJ being the number 1 school in the country, as well as a number of other FCPS schools (Langley, McLean, Madison, Woodson, Oakton, etc) consistently ranking in the top 100 or 200 in the nation? This doesn't happen by accident.

Studies after studies show that HHI is the #1 predictor of school success - sorry, teachers or a "great school district" can't take all or even most the credit for the high ranking of the schools you bragged about as so many low SES schools are struggling.

Show me high FARMs schools in FCPS that rate as high as Langley, McLean, Madison etc and THAT will be the indicator of a great district and great teachers.

If schools such as West Potomac, Stuart, Falls Church, Edison, Annandale, South Lakes, Herndon, ranked just as high FCPS would indeed be great - but they are not.

Sorry but FCPS is average.

+1 For the amount of $$$$$$$$ in this area, there are lots of low performing schools - especially at the elementary level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
No it's not true. I always post on these threads. I came up through MCPS and I know first hand what an excellent system it used to be. I have an older DC and a younger one. I can see the difference in just that amount of time, comparing what my older DC learned to what my younger DC is learning. This is not whining. There has been a huge change in MCPS and it is going to become more and more obvious.

It also has nothing to do with wanting MY CHILD to get attention, as another PP said. What I want is for them to get a rigorous education.

I'm also in MCPS, I also have an older child and a younger child, and my younger child is getting the better elementary-school education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

FCPS is one of the better districts in the STATE but it's been a while (pre mid 90's) since it's been one of the best in the country.

Then how do you account for TJ being the number 1 school in the country, as well as a number of other FCPS schools (Langley, McLean, Madison, Woodson, Oakton, etc) consistently ranking in the top 100 or 200 in the nation? This doesn't happen by accident.

+1. Couldn't be happier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

FCPS is one of the better districts in the STATE but it's been a while (pre mid 90's) since it's been one of the best in the country.

Then how do you account for TJ being the number 1 school in the country, as well as a number of other FCPS schools (Langley, McLean, Madison, Woodson, Oakton, etc) consistently ranking in the top 100 or 200 in the nation? This doesn't happen by accident.

Household income and education level is the main reason for the high ranking of these schools.


Plop those schools with those same families anywhere in the US and the results will be the same - it's not the result of district policies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

FCPS is one of the better districts in the STATE but it's been a while (pre mid 90's) since it's been one of the best in the country.

Then how do you account for TJ being the number 1 school in the country, as well as a number of other FCPS schools (Langley, McLean, Madison, Woodson, Oakton, etc) consistently ranking in the top 100 or 200 in the nation? This doesn't happen by accident.

Studies after studies show that HHI is the #1 predictor of school success - sorry, teachers or a "great school district" can't take all or even most the credit for the high ranking of the schools you bragged about as so many low SES schools are struggling.

Show me high FARMs schools in FCPS that rate as high as Langley, McLean, Madison etc and THAT will be the indicator of a great district and great teachers.

If schools such as West Potomac, Stuart, Falls Church, Edison, Annandale, South Lakes, Herndon, ranked just as high FCPS would indeed be great - but they are not.

Sorry but FCPS is average.

+1 I've posted this repeatedly.

[Anonymous]

I found this to be true about myself. I was constantly complaining about the school system, so we went to a private school. Now, I have nothing but positive things to say about my sons private school. The classes are small, his teacher is great and my kid is thriving.

[Anonymous]

soooo many people still drinking the FCPS kool-aid...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:soooo many people still drinking the FCPS kool-aid...

Or maybe they're happy with their FCPS experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:soooo many people still drinking the FCPS kool-aid...

Or maybe they're happy with their FCPS experience.

and they probably live in a Langley, McLean, Madison, Woodson, Oakton pyramid.