Tell me about Lafayette and Murch

[Anonymous]

Why is Lafayette’s administration considered to be so bad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is Lafayette’s administration considered to be so bad?

She's very controlling. This can be a good thing, like when she forced out a number of do-nothing teachers when she first arrived who should have retired years ago. But some of the best, most creative teachers are not allowed to be autonomous professionals, and so they leave too. Essentially, her controlling-Ness moves everything to the middle, and in a school as big as Lafayette, there are a lot of kids for whom the bland middle doesn't work. (I don't mean middle in terms of academic achievement, but in terms of instruction and discipline techniques.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is Lafayette’s administration considered to be so bad?

She's very controlling. This can be a good thing, like when she forced out a number of do-nothing teachers when she first arrived who should have retired years ago. But some of the best, most creative teachers are not allowed to be autonomous professionals, and so they leave too. Essentially, her controlling-Ness moves everything to the middle, and in a school as big as Lafayette, there are a lot of kids for whom the bland middle doesn't work. (I don't mean middle in terms of academic achievement, but in terms of instruction and discipline techniques.)

I think this is a generous description. She also fails to act with removing very problematic teachers, ignores teachers unfair treatments of kids, and rules with an iron fist without acknowledging facts, even when confronted with them. It seems if you are on her good side or never have to deal with her directly, then your child will do fine. Many kids fit this description. If you don't though, its a terrible experience.

[Anonymous]

The long-time principal who was there beforehand was very happy to be controlled by parents who wanted to be in charge. This is no longer the case, and people resent it. It's a very UMC problem to have - and that group of parents is small and LOUD. Easy to ignore. I think the administration is pretty admirable. Not perfect, but doing a pretty good job for most of the kids. Which is what you get with 1,000 kids!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The long-time principal who was there beforehand was very happy to be controlled by parents who wanted to be in charge. This is no longer the case, and people resent it. It's a very UMC problem to have - and that group of parents is small and LOUD. Easy to ignore. I think the administration is pretty admirable. Not perfect, but doing a pretty good job for most of the kids. Which is what you get with 1,000 kids!

I've lost track of time, but I think anyone there under the former principal has graduated already.

Special ed is a mess at Lafayette, but I don't know if it's any better elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you'll be fine either way. As others have noted, Lafayette is huge, Murch is a little smaller. Murch is a bit more diverse, including economically, because the catchment includes a larger number of condo and apartment buildings.

Both are good schools, with more in common than different.

+1 both are great options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you'll be fine either way. As others have noted, Lafayette is huge, Murch is a little smaller. Murch is a bit more diverse, including economically, because the catchment includes a larger number of condo and apartment buildings.

Both are good schools, with more in common than different.

+1 both are great options.

I don't disagree, but I do think teachers are much happier at Murch.

[Anonymous]

honestly- it is online now and won't be changing for a long time to come. just find your house and don't worry- they are so similar....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is Lafayette’s administration considered to be so bad?

She's very controlling. This can be a good thing, like when she forced out a number of do-nothing teachers when she first arrived who should have retired years ago. But some of the best, most creative teachers are not allowed to be autonomous professionals, and so they leave too. Essentially, her controlling-Ness moves everything to the middle, and in a school as big as Lafayette, there are a lot of kids for whom the bland middle doesn't work. (I don't mean middle in terms of academic achievement, but in terms of instruction and discipline techniques.)

I think this is a generous description. She also fails to act with removing very problematic teachers, ignores teachers unfair treatments of kids, and rules with an iron fist without acknowledging facts, even when confronted with them. It seems if you are on her good side or never have to deal with her directly, then your child will do fine. Many kids fit this description. If you don't though, its a terrible experience.

Unfortunately, she has forced out some of the best teachers many of whom has been there for years and contributed to earning Lafayette the reputation it had for so long. There are also some truly bad teachers, some of whom were brought in to replace the excellent teachers who left. Last year one the shining star teachers wrote an article in an academic journal about how he was forced to teach in ways he felt were harmful to his students’ age and developmental level. He wrote about how he shut his door and hoped the administration did not see when he was teaching according to what was best for the kids rather than what the administration demanded. I know other teachers have shut their doors for the same reason. No matter what your views are on the administration the fact that teachers are so unhappy and more good ones leave every year should be concerning to every Lafayette parent. It’s just not possible to have a good school with unhappy teachers and as much turnover as Lafayette has see the past few years. And as the PP said the experienced teachers who do remain are not permitted to teach in way that made them really desired in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is Lafayette’s administration considered to be so bad?

She's very controlling. This can be a good thing, like when she forced out a number of do-nothing teachers when she first arrived who should have retired years ago. But some of the best, most creative teachers are not allowed to be autonomous professionals, and so they leave too. Essentially, her controlling-Ness moves everything to the middle, and in a school as big as Lafayette, there are a lot of kids for whom the bland middle doesn't work. (I don't mean middle in terms of academic achievement, but in terms of instruction and discipline techniques.)

I think this is a generous description. She also fails to act with removing very problematic teachers, ignores teachers unfair treatments of kids, and rules with an iron fist without acknowledging facts, even when confronted with them. It seems if you are on her good side or never have to deal with her directly, then your child will do fine. Many kids fit this description. If you don't though, its a terrible experience.

Unfortunately, she has forced out some of the best teachers many of whom has been there for years and contributed to earning Lafayette the reputation it had for so long. There are also some truly bad teachers, some of whom were brought in to replace the excellent teachers who left. Last year one the shining star teachers wrote an article in an academic journal about how he was forced to teach in ways he felt were harmful to his students’ age and developmental level. He wrote about how he shut his door and hoped the administration did not see when he was teaching according to what was best for the kids rather than what the administration demanded. I know other teachers have shut their doors for the same reason. No matter what your views are on the administration the fact that teachers are so unhappy and more good ones leave every year should be concerning to every Lafayette parent. It’s just not possible to have a good school with unhappy teachers and as much turnover as Lafayette has see the past few years. And as the PP said the experienced teachers who do remain are not permitted to teach in way that made them really desired in the past.

Not sure if you heard but he left and is not returning. It’s a loss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The long-time principal who was there beforehand was very happy to be controlled by parents who wanted to be in charge. This is no longer the case, and people resent it. It's a very UMC problem to have - and that group of parents is small and LOUD. Easy to ignore. I think the administration is pretty admirable. Not perfect, but doing a pretty good job for most of the kids. Which is what you get with 1,000 kids!

I've lost track of time, but I think anyone there under the former principal has graduated already.

Special ed is a mess at Lafayette, but I don't know if it's any better elsewhere.

This is probably the person who posts this every time Lafayette comes up. I doubt it’s true in the first place but even if it were few to no families at Lafayette were there under the former Principal to be able to compare. And it’s actually a very large group of parents who are unhappy. Some are loud. Some are not. Those who can leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is Lafayette’s administration considered to be so bad?

She's very controlling. This can be a good thing, like when she forced out a number of do-nothing teachers when she first arrived who should have retired years ago. But some of the best, most creative teachers are not allowed to be autonomous professionals, and so they leave too. Essentially, her controlling-Ness moves everything to the middle, and in a school as big as Lafayette, there are a lot of kids for whom the bland middle doesn't work. (I don't mean middle in terms of academic achievement, but in terms of instruction and discipline techniques.)

I think this is a generous description. She also fails to act with removing very problematic teachers, ignores teachers unfair treatments of kids, and rules with an iron fist without acknowledging facts, even when confronted with them. It seems if you are on her good side or never have to deal with her directly, then your child will do fine. Many kids fit this description. If you don't though, its a terrible experience.

Unfortunately, she has forced out some of the best teachers many of whom has been there for years and contributed to earning Lafayette the reputation it had for so long. There are also some truly bad teachers, some of whom were brought in to replace the excellent teachers who left. Last year one the shining star teachers wrote an article in an academic journal about how he was forced to teach in ways he felt were harmful to his students’ age and developmental level. He wrote about how he shut his door and hoped the administration did not see when he was teaching according to what was best for the kids rather than what the administration demanded. I know other teachers have shut their doors for the same reason. No matter what your views are on the administration the fact that teachers are so unhappy and more good ones leave every year should be concerning to every Lafayette parent. It’s just not possible to have a good school with unhappy teachers and as much turnover as Lafayette has see the past few years. And as the PP said the experienced teachers who do remain are not permitted to teach in way that made them really desired in the past.

Not sure if you heard but he left and is not returning. It’s a loss.

I'm not surprised. I wonder whether he was forced out or decided to take his talents somewhere he will be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Murch is terrific--lots of happy students and teachers.

Agree! I know many families at both schools. The Murch families are just happier people. I would pick Murch.

If you can, speak to the kids as well. It was really eye opening to me when my kids started Deal. They were surprised to hear from kids from other schools (including Murch) that they liked their elementary school experience since the kids from Lafayette mostly ranged from it being an okay experience they got through to outright being unhappy. They didn't realize there was another way and I found that so sad.

[Anonymous]

Murch is more diverse and smaller which is nice for not getting swallowed up. However, a higher percentage of Murch kids go private rather than to Deal so there is more friend group shuffling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is Lafayette’s administration considered to be so bad?

She's very controlling. This can be a good thing, like when she forced out a number of do-nothing teachers when she first arrived who should have retired years ago. But some of the best, most creative teachers are not allowed to be autonomous professionals, and so they leave too. Essentially, her controlling-Ness moves everything to the middle, and in a school as big as Lafayette, there are a lot of kids for whom the bland middle doesn't work. (I don't mean middle in terms of academic achievement, but in terms of instruction and discipline techniques.)

I think this is a generous description. She also fails to act with removing very problematic teachers, ignores teachers unfair treatments of kids, and rules with an iron fist without acknowledging facts, even when confronted with them. It seems if you are on her good side or never have to deal with her directly, then your child will do fine. Many kids fit this description. If you don't though, its a terrible experience.

Unfortunately, she has forced out some of the best teachers many of whom has been there for years and contributed to earning Lafayette the reputation it had for so long. There are also some truly bad teachers, some of whom were brought in to replace the excellent teachers who left. Last year one the shining star teachers wrote an article in an academic journal about how he was forced to teach in ways he felt were harmful to his students’ age and developmental level. He wrote about how he shut his door and hoped the administration did not see when he was teaching according to what was best for the kids rather than what the administration demanded. I know other teachers have shut their doors for the same reason. No matter what your views are on the administration the fact that teachers are so unhappy and more good ones leave every year should be concerning to every Lafayette parent. It’s just not possible to have a good school with unhappy teachers and as much turnover as Lafayette has see the past few years. And as the PP said the experienced teachers who do remain are not permitted to teach in way that made them really desired in the past.

Not sure if you heard but he left and is not returning. It’s a loss.

I'm not surprised. I wonder whether he was forced out or decided to take his talents somewhere he will be appreciated.

He’s teaching at a private school that believes in what he does.