DC Public Education Candidate Forum starting now

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Honestly Janice Lewis George is my pick -she is the only one who talked about actually structural changes.
My second is Gary Goodweather, who talks about classroom changes and training for teacher but to me it’s also a red flag. If you know Michelle Rhee, she did a number on DCPS and helped ruin it. Teachers don’t need MORE training, we need GOOD training and planning time.

I find it interesting McDuffie is ALWAYS declining debates involving education. I also recently discovered his plan is to get kids ‘AI ready.’ Just no, we don’t need more tech. The research clearly shows this is not the way and let’s be honest most dummies can utilize AI -to use it well should be an elective a kid in HS can take IF they are interested.

Thanks for this - what structural changes is JLG supporting?

DP- overall? The debate was pretty short.
But universal childcare (little kids), more aftercare slots,actually addressing truancy and how kids get to school. As well as how we can address challenging behaviors.
Changing who is in charge not just the chancellor but possibly deputy of education, superintendents.
More listening to what teachers, parents, and students are saying.

I think no one is offering the huge changes teachers and parents would really want.

But I also agree that of all the candidates Janice and Gary are the best but Gary’s answers were way less polished and he admitted he has no expertise in running education. I know I will not be voting for McDuffie either, I do need the next mayor to not just care about businesses and crime (well I’d like them to actually care about crime more) but also education.

I'm always surprised when people here rip JLG on education because she has been incredibly engaged on education during her time on Council. People see DSA and lose their minds but she's from Ward 4, went to Deal and Wilson, and she and her staff have shown up and pushed for school improvements even outside of just her constituents. I'm sure there are things we disagree on but the blanket "she's DSA and hates standards" is so reductive.

I also believe she may be in favor of relinquishing mayoral control of DCPS which would be huge and one of Bowser's worst decisions. It makes everything at the school level, even small things, a political fight which is not how we should view education.

I agree. I'm not sure what baggage people have that cause them to be negative about her but Janeese understands what's going on and can speak to the issues competently. It's refreshing compared to the usual political hacks that are just trying to tell us what we want to hear but clearly don't understand the issues.

Janeese would be a major step down from Bowser. At least Bowser is willing to stand up to the teachers union. We remember how hard Janeese fought to keep schools closed during the pandemic, even after they had been open for months. We also know how adamantly she opposes raising academic standards or any form of accountability with schools. Nobody cares or should care about this nothing burger she's selling re: mayoral control of DCPS. It's meaningless.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it true JLG has promised to defund charter schools?

No.

McDuffie will defund all public schools. He loves big business and private schools.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly Janice Lewis George is my pick -she is the only one who talked about actually structural changes.
My second is Gary Goodweather, who talks about classroom changes and training for teacher but to me it’s also a red flag. If you know Michelle Rhee, she did a number on DCPS and helped ruin it. Teachers don’t need MORE training, we need GOOD training and planning time.

I find it interesting McDuffie is ALWAYS declining debates involving education. I also recently discovered his plan is to get kids ‘AI ready.’ Just no, we don’t need more tech. The research clearly shows this is not the way and let’s be honest most dummies can utilize AI -to use it well should be an elective a kid in HS can take IF they are interested.

Thanks for this - what structural changes is JLG supporting?

Janeese is a vote for the status quo. She will slavishly do whatever the teacher's union wants (she was trying to re-close schools during the pandemic for months after they had finally opened for good). Her answer to every problem is throwing more money at it. Let's face it. These schools are extremely well funded. What they need are higher academic standards. She is the last person on Earth who will support making schools more rigorous.

This is what worries me too. A PP stated that JLG would be "changing who is in charge not just the chancellor but possibly deputy of education, superintendents." That's what new Mayors do but the people in consideration for those jobs by JLG are the DSA, not focused on higher standards, set. It's a real drawback IMO for her as a candidate.

She's also a sworn enemy of charters. Don't be shocked if she slashes funding for them if elected. Charters already get screwed under the current way DC funds schools.

Yea, she’s not gonna slash the great charters. Also you are an idiot. The mayor alone cannot slash ONLY charter funds, it’d be illegal.

There is a fair amount of discretion in the budget to fund charters lower than DCPS (whether you consider it slashing or not probably depends, but the mayor has room to hurt charters financially). This can happen in two main ways.

First, facilities funding is very different for charters; the per pupil allotment they get already doesn’t keep pace with DC prices, and the three-year budget last year froze it. Because this looks so different from how DCPS facilities are funded, it is essentially decoupled and you can hurt charters here. In fact, the charter sector is extremely worried about this area for this year’s budget already.

Next, there is the fund for teacher pay above and beyond what schools can do with PPF. Now, you can argue that this bucket should only be for DCPS since it relates to the WTU negotiated contract, but last year the mayor put some money aside for charters for equity with this funding bucket for DCPS teachers. Again, the charter sector is very worried about this bucket this year already; without, they will either be at more of a disadvantage for recruitment or have to cut elsewhere. Again, regardless of what you think about this bucket, the mayor has a lot of sway depending on whether they put it on a proposed budget and it would harm charters.

Unions are bad when they want to protect their teachers but good when they make the city give charter teachers benefits that the DCPS union worked for

Huh unions are bad when they want to protect teachers from harassment, fraud, discrimination, or the like? When they tell members to remember their contractual rights?

Tell me famous DCPS case where the union protected a corrupt teacher?
I mean there was fraud in 1995-2002 but that lady was stealing from WTU MEMBERS.

I can name plenty of cases where DCPS itself protected corrupt admin. From double dipping, to sexual scandals, to embezzlement…

+1

[Anonymous]

Bowser did nothing but build palaces and delegate to the DME. Would McDuffie do different? Sure seems not.

At minimum JLG seems interested in driving the ship. Would it be better? Seems like we have split opinions.

But generally I'd like to see someone focused on making the lives of the bottom quarter of DC more livable. My theory of the case is that if they are, the lives of the rest of us will be better too. Beyond that, I guess I'll take it off of this specific forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it true JLG has promised to defund charter schools?

Someone needs to ask her about charter schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bowser did nothing but build palaces and delegate to the DME. Would McDuffie do different? Sure seems not.

At minimum JLG seems interested in driving the ship. Would it be better? Seems like we have split opinions.

But generally I'd like to see someone focused on making the lives of the bottom quarter of DC more livable. My theory of the case is that if they are, the lives of the rest of us will be better too. Beyond that, I guess I'll take it off of this specific forum.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it true JLG has promised to defund charter schools?

Someone needs to ask her about charter schools.

Someone needs to get McDuffie to answer anything about schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bowser did nothing but build palaces and delegate to the DME. Would McDuffie do different? Sure seems not.

At minimum JLG seems interested in driving the ship. Would it be better? Seems like we have split opinions.

But generally I'd like to see someone focused on making the lives of the bottom quarter of DC more livable. My theory of the case is that if they are, the lives of the rest of us will be better too. Beyond that, I guess I'll take it off of this specific forum.

Agree

[Anonymous]

McDuffie would be such a step down from changing the city towards something greater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it true JLG has promised to defund charter schools?

Someone needs to ask her about charter schools.

Someone needs to get McDuffie to answer anything about schools.

What's Janeese's plans? Aside from slash funding for charter schools? Oh yeah, she opposes raises academic standards. Some platform.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it true JLG has promised to defund charter schools?

Someone needs to ask her about charter schools.

Someone needs to get McDuffie to answer anything about schools.

What's Janeese's plans? Aside from slash funding for charter schools? Oh yeah, she opposes raises academic standards. Some platform.

Please post the article, interview, or the like that has stated this.

You’re just a big business loving soulless fool, who’d rather children suffer than try anything new.
McDuffie has not done any interviews on education in recent months. He’s refused this interview and others.

It’s ok if you don’t like JLG but stop posting nonsense like everyone on this forum is a dumbass like you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it true JLG has promised to defund charter schools?

Someone needs to ask her about charter schools.

Someone needs to get McDuffie to answer anything about schools.

Por que no los dos?

[Anonymous]

FYI

McDuffie was previously a registered independent, not a Democrat , which makes him more likely to have a broader donor base that could include Trump-aligned contributors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FYI

McDuffie was previously a registered independent, not a Democrat , which makes him more likely to have a broader donor base that could include Trump-aligned contributors.

It's very annoying how Janeese's office has taken over this thread with this dumb nonsense. We want to talk about their positions on education. It's like she won't let anyone talk.

[Anonymous]

So . . . I'm not from anyone's office and I haven't tied anyone's hands. I'm also not the only one commenting here.

What seems to be the reason for more pro Lewis-George comments appears to be McDuffie skipping events and not offering positions relevant to this forum. So it's hard to argue his side if he doesn't say anything.