Can anyone shed light on what is likely to change at Norwood with new leadership?

[Anonymous]

Norwood and Beauvoir seem to have a common philosophy and problem with regard to academics. Beauvoir is doing something about it, I hear.

We considered transferring to Norwood two years ago when we moved to Montgomery County. But DC loves science and said of visiting day, "I really liked it and the kids were all so nice. But I looked through x's (host student) lab book and they're doing stuff we did two years ago. Science class there seems boring."

[Anonymous]

And Montgomery County students are failing Math (and science?) by the busloads.....it's all in the news.

[Anonymous]

Montgomery County students are failing their finals. Did you read the article? They way the grading is set up students are disincentivized to study for finals. Night want to work on your reading comprehension.

[Anonymous]

Excuses, excuses. Where I come from, a failing grade is a failing grade—and excuses such as the students were not “incentivized” to study for the finals are simply not acceptable. What kind of work ethic are we teaching our students that it is OK to fail the finals (and still get a passing grade for the course)? No wonder US students cannot compete with students from other countries.

And the failure rates are not low, suggesting a widespread problem: "For June final exams, about 70 percent of high school students failed in Algebra 1 and geometry”, and up to 32 percent (!!) in honors math classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Excuses, excuses. Where I come from, a failing grade is a failing grade—and excuses such as the students were not “incentivized” to study for the finals are simply not acceptable. What kind of work ethic are we teaching our students that it is OK to fail the finals (and still get a passing grade for the course)? No wonder US students cannot compete with students from other countries.

And the failure rates are not low, suggesting a widespread problem: "For June final exams, about 70 percent of high school students failed in Algebra 1 and geometry”, and up to 32 percent (!!) in honors math classes.

Didn't they say that was the cohort of kids who were pushed too far too fast? They did not grasp the basics?

[Anonymous]

So, to the Norwood critics, would you say thatNorwood's math is weaker or stronger than moco public? Understand if you have not basis of comparison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, to the Norwood critics, would you say thatNorwood's math is weaker or stronger than moco public? Understand if you have not basis of comparison.

Same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, to the Norwood critics, would you say thatNorwood's math is weaker or stronger than moco public? Understand if you have not basis of comparison.

Stronger, not because of any differences in curriculum, but because the school knows my child and will work with me to address any potential issues, or challenge him/her with more advanced material as needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, to the Norwood critics, would you say thatNorwood's math is weaker or stronger than moco public? Understand if you have not basis of comparison.

Stronger, not because of any differences in curriculum, but because the school knows my child and will work with me to address any potential issues, or challenge him/her with more advanced material as needed.

You're joking right? By now everyone on DCUM sees "X school knows my child" as a red flag.

[Anonymous]

No, I am not joking. How can a school that understands your kid be a red flag? Would you rather your child be a faceless number in Montgomery County?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, I am not joking. How can a school that understands your kid be a red flag? Would you rather your child be a faceless number in Montgomery County?

The teachers know the kids in those schools too. But anyway, it is just an overused phrase.
The people who have their kids in MCPS know their 30K. It is theirs.

[Anonymous]

It's your choice to keep your $30,000 but then don't knock other people's choices.

[Anonymous]

Agreed, my kids are my most precious investment, so in my mind, well worth the money. Not for every one...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, I am not joking. How can a school that understands your kid be a red flag? Would you rather your child be a faceless number in Montgomery County?

The teachers know the kids in those schools too. But anyway, it is just an overused phrase.
The people who have their kids in MCPS know their 30K. It is theirs.

Right, the teachers in Montgomery County know their students so well yet were caught by surprise at the high failure rate in the math finals, do not know what the underlying causes might be for the alarming failure, and the poor student performance had apparently been going on for sometime. Hmm...very reassuring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, I am not joking. How can a school that understands your kid be a red flag? Would you rather your child be a faceless number in Montgomery County?

The teachers know the kids in those schools too. But anyway, it is just an overused phrase.
The people who have their kids in MCPS know their 30K. It is theirs.

Right, the teachers in Montgomery County know their students so well yet were caught by surprise at the high failure rate in the math finals, do not know what the underlying causes might be for the alarming failure, and the poor student performance had apparently been going on for sometime. Hmm...very reassuring.

I did not say that MCPS was good. The teachers do know the students, but they were powerless to stop all the advancing. Now that the rapid advancing has stopped, parents are complaining that it moves too slowly.
Anyway, Norwood is a different model. What seems to keep coming up is the teachers in K-3, maybe 4, are not effective.