Can we get MCPS to allow fundraising for staff positions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No one's asking the school system to pay for smaller class sizes. ALL KIDS NEED SMALLER CLASS SIZES. Jesus. You really would not let one kid eat because another is starving when there's only enough to feed one. Better they both starve.

Who is starving?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You can find it funny if you want, but at least in the DCPS classrooms in the JKLMM's, they don't have 27 kindergarteners and one teacher in a classroom. You're kidding yourself if you think we have it better. Now, is there a vast imbalance in the schools from NW to NE in DC? Yes. Of course there is. But there's a vast imbalance in the schools in Potomac versus Eastern Moco too. This rule isn't preventing that. All it's doing is making sure the classrooms in the "popular" schools are overcrowded. Way to go.

"Popular" schools? Most students in MCPS do not go to schools in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, or Potomac. They are not the popular schools; they are the schools in places where you can't live unless you're affluent.

Use whatever term you want. You know what I mean -- the schools where they fill the classes right up to the cap limit. Some schools that doesn't happen because they don't have the same population.

This does not happen only in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Potomac.

NO ONE SAID IT DOES. No one's arguing that only B, CC ,and Potomac should be allowed to do this.

People are, however, saying that kindergarten class sizes in the schools in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Potomac -- or, if you want, the affluent areas in general -- are uniquely large. They're not. There are schools in much less affluent areas that have the same kindergarten class sizes.

OMG. No. That is not what people are saying. People are saying "I live in Bethesda, and my K classes are too large, why am I not allowed to do anything about that when I am willing to do something about that?" I am sure there are schools in less affluent areas that also have large K classes (though not in the TItle 1 and Focus schools). I am ALL FOR letting anyone in any area fundraise for aides/teachers. Not as the ideal or best solution. The ideal or best solution is lowering class sizes for everyone, across the board, without having it be done by parent donations. But that ain't happening.

Oh yes, that solves it. Because the families of children at Weller Road Elementary and Broad Acres Elementary will easily fork over $2,000 each to buy additional teachers. Right?

Weller Road is Title 1. It already has extra teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+1. Let's do what we can to attract high-income people to MCPS. It's a win-win for all. Let's allow parents to donate to aides in the classroom.

Attracting high-income people to MCPS is a win-win for all. In contrast, letting high-income people buy themselves better public schools is a win for high-income people. It's not a win for everybody else, though.

Actually, in my matching funds idea, it was a "win" for everyone, but you still rejected it, because it was MORE of a win for the people doing the donating.
I guess you think it's a win for everyone when the reputation of MCPS schools continues to decline and more high-SES families move either into DC and go private (or JKLMM for early years) or move elsewhere.

I will worry about this when I see data that show that it's actually occurring in meaningful numbers.

That sounds about right. Ignore the obvious, wait for it to happen, and then deal with it. I see how we got where we are.

If it's obvious, there should be data. Do you have any data on this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No one's asking the school system to pay for smaller class sizes. ALL KIDS NEED SMALLER CLASS SIZES. Jesus. You really would not let one kid eat because another is starving when there's only enough to feed one. Better they both starve.

Who is starving?

I can't help you if you're that dense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Weller Road is Title 1. It already has extra teachers.

No fair that those poor kids get smaller class sizes! Poor kids get all the good stuff!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+1. Let's do what we can to attract high-income people to MCPS. It's a win-win for all. Let's allow parents to donate to aides in the classroom.

Attracting high-income people to MCPS is a win-win for all. In contrast, letting high-income people buy themselves better public schools is a win for high-income people. It's not a win for everybody else, though.

Actually, in my matching funds idea, it was a "win" for everyone, but you still rejected it, because it was MORE of a win for the people doing the donating.
I guess you think it's a win for everyone when the reputation of MCPS schools continues to decline and more high-SES families move either into DC and go private (or JKLMM for early years) or move elsewhere.

I will worry about this when I see data that show that it's actually occurring in meaningful numbers.

That sounds about right. Ignore the obvious, wait for it to happen, and then deal with it. I see how we got where we are.

If it's obvious, there should be data. Do you have any data on this?

Oh, right! Because anything that's true has data collected about it! Especially across two different school systems (actually more -- migration to other areas like Arlington and Fairfax as well would be relevant).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No one's asking the school system to pay for smaller class sizes. ALL KIDS NEED SMALLER CLASS SIZES. Jesus. You really would not let one kid eat because another is starving when there's only enough to feed one. Better they both starve.

Who is starving?

I can't help you if you're that dense.

You are comparing a kindergarten class size of 26 to starvation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You can find it funny if you want, but at least in the DCPS classrooms in the JKLMM's, they don't have 27 kindergarteners and one teacher in a classroom. You're kidding yourself if you think we have it better. Now, is there a vast imbalance in the schools from NW to NE in DC? Yes. Of course there is. But there's a vast imbalance in the schools in Potomac versus Eastern Moco too. This rule isn't preventing that. All it's doing is making sure the classrooms in the "popular" schools are overcrowded. Way to go.

"Popular" schools? Most students in MCPS do not go to schools in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, or Potomac. They are not the popular schools; they are the schools in places where you can't live unless you're affluent.

Use whatever term you want. You know what I mean -- the schools where they fill the classes right up to the cap limit. Some schools that doesn't happen because they don't have the same population.

This does not happen only in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Potomac.

NO ONE SAID IT DOES. No one's arguing that only B, CC ,and Potomac should be allowed to do this.

People are, however, saying that kindergarten class sizes in the schools in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Potomac -- or, if you want, the affluent areas in general -- are uniquely large. They're not. There are schools in much less affluent areas that have the same kindergarten class sizes.

OMG. No. That is not what people are saying. People are saying "I live in Bethesda, and my K classes are too large, why am I not allowed to do anything about that when I am willing to do something about that?" I am sure there are schools in less affluent areas that also have large K classes (though not in the TItle 1 and Focus schools). I am ALL FOR letting anyone in any area fundraise for aides/teachers. Not as the ideal or best solution. The ideal or best solution is lowering class sizes for everyone, across the board, without having it be done by parent donations. But that ain't happening.

Oh yes, that solves it. Because the families of children at Weller Road Elementary and Broad Acres Elementary will easily fork over $2,000 each to buy additional teachers. Right?

Weller Road is Title 1. It already has extra teachers.

Do you sincerely believe that all of the families in the county can fundraise to buy additional teachers to the same extent that those in the most affluent schools can?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Weller Road is Title 1. It already has extra teachers.

No fair that those poor kids get smaller class sizes! Poor kids get all the good stuff!

I know, right? They don't need extra teachers - that is why they are succeeding in school and life in such high numbers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Weller Road is Title 1. It already has extra teachers.

No fair that those poor kids get smaller class sizes! Poor kids get all the good stuff!

Nobody said that. Literally NOT ONE PERSON ON THIS THREAD. I'm arguing we should be able to use *our own money* *in addition to our taxes* to get aides in the classroom. With a smile on my face, I will happily subsidize extra teachers at Title 1 / Focus schools. I would chip in for more for those schools if I was allowed to hire an aide for my kid's class. But instead, since I can't, I'm going to scrimp and save and send her to some private school as soon as I have enough $ to do it.
I am NOT alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If it's obvious, there should be data. Do you have any data on this?

Oh, right! Because anything that's true has data collected about it! Especially across two different school systems (actually more -- migration to other areas like Arlington and Fairfax as well would be relevant).

OK, do you have any evidence of this happening? I'm sincerely curious. As far as I can tell, people are still paying plenty to live in the wealthy/white clusters, and at least on DCUM, it's still accepted wisdom that the schools in the wealthy/white clusters are the best in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No one's asking the school system to pay for smaller class sizes. ALL KIDS NEED SMALLER CLASS SIZES. Jesus. You really would not let one kid eat because another is starving when there's only enough to feed one. Better they both starve.

Who is starving?

I can't help you if you're that dense.

You are comparing a kindergarten class size of 26 to starvation.

Yes, it's what's called a metaphor. And when I referenced "crabs in a bucket", I was comparing humans to crabs. Are you okay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If it's obvious, there should be data. Do you have any data on this?

Oh, right! Because anything that's true has data collected about it! Especially across two different school systems (actually more -- migration to other areas like Arlington and Fairfax as well would be relevant).

OK, do you have any evidence of this happening? I'm sincerely curious. As far as I can tell, people are still paying plenty to live in the wealthy/white clusters, and at least on DCUM, it's still accepted wisdom that the schools in the wealthy/white clusters are the best in MCPS.

That used to be accepted wisdom. If you talk to the parents at those schools, it no longer is. And look at those threads. Things are changing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Weller Road is Title 1. It already has extra teachers.

No fair that those poor kids get smaller class sizes! Poor kids get all the good stuff!

I know, right? They don't need extra teachers - that is why they are succeeding in school and life in such high numbers!

Red herrings are fun, but intellectually dishonest. You're disagreeing with a point no one made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Weller Road is Title 1. It already has extra teachers.

No fair that those poor kids get smaller class sizes! Poor kids get all the good stuff!

Nobody said that. Literally NOT ONE PERSON ON THIS THREAD. I'm arguing we should be able to use *our own money* *in addition to our taxes* to get aides in the classroom. With a smile on my face, I will happily subsidize extra teachers at Title 1 / Focus schools. I would chip in for more for those schools if I was allowed to hire an aide for my kid's class. But instead, since I can't, I'm going to scrimp and save and send her to some private school as soon as I have enough $ to do it.
I am NOT alone.

Yes, you are arguing that you should be able to use your own money to buy your child a better education. If you want to do that, then you should do it, if you can -- in a private school. That is exactly what private schools exist for.