Magnets, Regions, and the Future of MCPS Gifted Kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:This thread is so hilariously myopic. There are more schools in MCPS than just Whitman and DCC.

I could easily whine, "why does your DCC kid get to have school choice when mine has to stay at our high FARMS school if they don't get into RMIB/Blair?"

But I don't. Because I'm not a selfish toddler.

People are posting about how the regional program model will affect their own kids. I don't pretend to speak for other families, that's why I don't post about how families in other parts of the county will be impacted.

I'm not going to shut up because you hate the DCC and call us names in an effort to shut down advocacy.

But that's not what you're doing. Your "advocacy" comes at the expense of opportunities for other kids while deriding "equity." You are asking for exactly what you are mocking.

+100 People are advocating for equity they are complaining about Whitman and the DCC as though those are the only schools and kids that MCPS Central Office must consider.

How does this advocacy hurt other kids and who does it hurt?

They have already been asked this question multiple times and cannot answer because they are completely full of it and just want to shut us up

How does keeping the DCC help poor students in other parts of the county? Forget Whitman for a second.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:They need a program if only to say that they aren’t excluding kids from other schools. If they don’t have one it looks exclusionary.

This statement implies an equality mindset, not an equity mindset. If they were taking an equity approach, their goal would not be to create a system that looks uniform, because they would be acknowledging that different school communities need different things. Having low income kids travel the Bethesda for criteria based programs is not equity, it's inequity.

While I agree with you, you absolutely know that would be a complaint leveled against MCPS if they didn’t put a program at all schools.

It is incorrect and offensive to imply that Whitman would not have any programs given the wealth of coursework they office, including a local engineering program and many more AP courses than most other schools.

Why is that potential complaint being considered more important than the complaint about the inequity of forcing low income students to travel to access programs that rich students have access to at their home schools?

Let me try again, since my point is apparently being lost: if whitman did not have a program that enabled students at other schools in the region to go to Whitman, there would be a complaint that Whitman is being exclusionary (bc it is a rich white school that doesn’t want unwashed outsiders, or something). So MCPS needs to avoid that likely complaint and put something there. I agree that they could put an unwanted, underdeveloped program there such that no one would ACTUALLY go there (and the academic program could go to a higher-FARMS school).

It’s just optics.

Whitman already has a countywide program (LASJ) that they will keep except will become regional. They already have lots of language classes that kids who desperately want uncommon languages can go there to take and it can be called the languages program. Why should they need anything else?

+1 can someone tell me which genius at CO thinks it looks BETTER for them to put an academic magnet program in the wealthiest MCPS school? It is disgraceful.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Fyi I find it telling that when I asked what specific things DCC families have advocated for that take things away from other kids, there was no answer. There was name-calling and vague attacks.

Taking it away? You lose access to the magnet. No big deal. You have the classes at your home schools. DCC schools lose the DCC, access to advanced classes via lottery and magnets. You win, we lose. Your kids get opportunities, ours get the absolute minimum.

You shouldn't need a lottery to get advanced classes. All schools should have advanced classes. That is the problem with consortia.

I feel we are just arguing in circles or it’s a chicken egg problem. High farm schools tend to have less needs for advanced classes, and truly advanced kids will get hurt for being the only few that need those MVC classes. That’s why magnet programs should be prioritized in high-FARM schools. But meanwhile, because MCPS doesn’t have additional budget for hiring new teachers, they have to rely on existing resources that rich schools have, which will only exacerbate the problems in poor schools when those high-achievers fly away. So the most rationale way should be expanding another one or two programs in poor schools with relatively better staffing and logistic support.

High farms schools have a mix of kids as the communities are very diverse in the schools they serve. So they need classes for struggling kids up to students who need MVC and Linear Algebra as well as AP science and other stem. How hard is that for you to understand? Now the kids who could take advantage of Wheaton and Blair, get nothing.

Yes, so as suggested before, MCPS should conduct a thorough analysis to understand the population of each group in every HS, so to best understand how to assign an additional program location that can gather enough students for advanced classes, right? I just saw only one parent from Einstein complaining about not having MVC, while Blair SMCS has 80 students each year taking MVC. In that case, the Einstein student should be giving a COSA to Wheaton or Blair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so hilariously myopic. There are more schools in MCPS than just Whitman and DCC.

I could easily whine, "why does your DCC kid get to have school choice when mine has to stay at our high FARMS school if they don't get into RMIB/Blair?"

But I don't. Because I'm not a selfish toddler.

People are posting about how the regional program model will affect their own kids. I don't pretend to speak for other families, that's why I don't post about how families in other parts of the county will be impacted.

I'm not going to shut up because you hate the DCC and call us names in an effort to shut down advocacy.

But that's not what you're doing. Your "advocacy" comes at the expense of opportunities for other kids while deriding "equity." You are asking for exactly what you are mocking.

+100 People are advocating for equity they are complaining about Whitman and the DCC as though those are the only schools and kids that MCPS Central Office must consider.

How does this advocacy hurt other kids and who does it hurt?

They have already been asked this question multiple times and cannot answer because they are completely full of it and just want to shut us up

Because other non-DCC kids who are currently limited to their home-schools will now have the opportunity to go to a different school within their region in the proposed model. You are tying to take that opportunity away just because you don’t like the commute for your own kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fyi I find it telling that when I asked what specific things DCC families have advocated for that take things away from other kids, there was no answer. There was name-calling and vague attacks.

Taking it away? You lose access to the magnet. No big deal. You have the classes at your home schools. DCC schools lose the DCC, access to advanced classes via lottery and magnets. You win, we lose. Your kids get opportunities, ours get the absolute minimum.

You shouldn't need a lottery to get advanced classes. All schools should have advanced classes. That is the problem with consortia.

I feel we are just arguing in circles or it’s a chicken egg problem. High farm schools tend to have less needs for advanced classes, and truly advanced kids will get hurt for being the only few that need those MVC classes. That’s why magnet programs should be prioritized in high-FARM schools. But meanwhile, because MCPS doesn’t have additional budget for hiring new teachers, they have to rely on existing resources that rich schools have, which will only exacerbate the problems in poor schools when those high-achievers fly away. So the most rationale way should be expanding another one or two programs in poor schools with relatively better staffing and logistic support.

High farms schools have a mix of kids as the communities are very diverse in the schools they serve. So they need classes for struggling kids up to students who need MVC and Linear Algebra as well as AP science and other stem. How hard is that for you to understand? Now the kids who could take advantage of Wheaton and Blair, get nothing.

Kids at my W school who want linear algebra have to go to MC, which is fair given how advanced a class that is. I think MVC is a debatable component of a core math curriculum. All high schools should have BC, Stats, Bio, Chem, Phys 1 and C, and ES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so hilariously myopic. There are more schools in MCPS than just Whitman and DCC.

I could easily whine, "why does your DCC kid get to have school choice when mine has to stay at our high FARMS school if they don't get into RMIB/Blair?"

But I don't. Because I'm not a selfish toddler.

People are posting about how the regional program model will affect their own kids. I don't pretend to speak for other families, that's why I don't post about how families in other parts of the county will be impacted.

I'm not going to shut up because you hate the DCC and call us names in an effort to shut down advocacy.

But that's not what you're doing. Your "advocacy" comes at the expense of opportunities for other kids while deriding "equity." You are asking for exactly what you are mocking.

+100 People are advocating for equity they are complaining about Whitman and the DCC as though those are the only schools and kids that MCPS Central Office must consider.

How does this advocacy hurt other kids and who does it hurt?

They have already been asked this question multiple times and cannot answer because they are completely full of it and just want to shut us up

Because other non-DCC kids who are currently limited to their home-schools will now have the opportunity to go to a different school within their region in the proposed model. You are tying to take that opportunity away just because you don’t like the commute for your own kids.

I disagree with you that school choice is a good way to increase opportunity. It has been shown time and again that it does not help the kids that most need a better education. I am one of multiple posters that doesn't think the DCC is perfect and would rather they get rid of the DCC and focus on improving the home schools.

I am not trying to take away anyone's opportunities and do not agree with you that not moving forward with the regional program model would have that impact. In fact, I think the regional program model will likely take away opportunities from many kids. Therefore, by your logic, I could accuse you of "trying to take opportunities away from kids" - but I am a grown up who realizes we can disagree about which model provides more opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so hilariously myopic. There are more schools in MCPS than just Whitman and DCC.

I could easily whine, "why does your DCC kid get to have school choice when mine has to stay at our high FARMS school if they don't get into RMIB/Blair?"

But I don't. Because I'm not a selfish toddler.

People are posting about how the regional program model will affect their own kids. I don't pretend to speak for other families, that's why I don't post about how families in other parts of the county will be impacted.

I'm not going to shut up because you hate the DCC and call us names in an effort to shut down advocacy.

But that's not what you're doing. Your "advocacy" comes at the expense of opportunities for other kids while deriding "equity." You are asking for exactly what you are mocking.

+100 People are advocating for equity they are complaining about Whitman and the DCC as though those are the only schools and kids that MCPS Central Office must consider.

How does this advocacy hurt other kids and who does it hurt?

They have already been asked this question multiple times and cannot answer because they are completely full of it and just want to shut us up

Because other non-DCC kids who are currently limited to their home-schools will now have the opportunity to go to a different school within their region in the proposed model. You are tying to take that opportunity away just because you don’t like the commute for your own kids.

I disagree with you that school choice is a good way to increase opportunity. It has been shown time and again that it does not help the kids that most need a better education. I am one of multiple posters that doesn't think the DCC is perfect and would rather they get rid of the DCC and focus on improving the home schools.

I am not trying to take away anyone's opportunities and do not agree with you that not moving forward with the regional program model would have that impact. In fact, I think the regional program model will likely take away opportunities from many kids. Therefore, by your logic, I could accuse you of "trying to take opportunities away from kids" - but I am a grown up who realizes we can disagree about which model provides more opportunities.

The numerous posters on here trying to preserve the DCC would disagree with you.

This is an anonymous forum. How am I to tell if I’m responding to the DCC “advocates” or a person who is suggesting that they get rid of it. Of course the best solution is for all schools to have the same quality and rigor as Whitman, but 1) that’s not an option on the table, and 2) that’s not within the realm of possibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so hilariously myopic. There are more schools in MCPS than just Whitman and DCC.

I could easily whine, "why does your DCC kid get to have school choice when mine has to stay at our high FARMS school if they don't get into RMIB/Blair?"

But I don't. Because I'm not a selfish toddler.

People are posting about how the regional program model will affect their own kids. I don't pretend to speak for other families, that's why I don't post about how families in other parts of the county will be impacted.

I'm not going to shut up because you hate the DCC and call us names in an effort to shut down advocacy.

But that's not what you're doing. Your "advocacy" comes at the expense of opportunities for other kids while deriding "equity." You are asking for exactly what you are mocking.

+100 People are advocating for equity they are complaining about Whitman and the DCC as though those are the only schools and kids that MCPS Central Office must consider.

How does this advocacy hurt other kids and who does it hurt?

They have already been asked this question multiple times and cannot answer because they are completely full of it and just want to shut us up

Because other non-DCC kids who are currently limited to their home-schools will now have the opportunity to go to a different school within their region in the proposed model. You are tying to take that opportunity away just because you don’t like the commute for your own kids.

I disagree with you that school choice is a good way to increase opportunity. It has been shown time and again that it does not help the kids that most need a better education. I am one of multiple posters that doesn't think the DCC is perfect and would rather they get rid of the DCC and focus on improving the home schools.

I am not trying to take away anyone's opportunities and do not agree with you that not moving forward with the regional program model would have that impact. In fact, I think the regional program model will likely take away opportunities from many kids. Therefore, by your logic, I could accuse you of "trying to take opportunities away from kids" - but I am a grown up who realizes we can disagree about which model provides more opportunities.

The numerous posters on here trying to preserve the DCC would disagree with you.

This is an anonymous forum. How am I to tell if I’m responding to the DCC “advocates” or a person who is suggesting that they get rid of it. Of course the best solution is for all schools to have the same quality and rigor as Whitman, but 1) that’s not an option on the table, and 2) that’s not within the realm of possibility.

Do you realize how unhinged it is to tell random people you don't know that they are trying to take opportunities away from kids because you have decided to conflate multiple people who have said a lot of different things? Your behavior here is bizarre.

[Anonymous]

Btw, yes it is terrible to take away the DCC "for equity" but give Whitman and BCC more programs that siphon off DCC kids. That is called making INEQUITY worse.

[Anonymous]

But don't worry Thomas Taylor The Racist is pushing this forward!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so hilariously myopic. There are more schools in MCPS than just Whitman and DCC.

I could easily whine, "why does your DCC kid get to have school choice when mine has to stay at our high FARMS school if they don't get into RMIB/Blair?"

But I don't. Because I'm not a selfish toddler.

People are posting about how the regional program model will affect their own kids. I don't pretend to speak for other families, that's why I don't post about how families in other parts of the county will be impacted.

I'm not going to shut up because you hate the DCC and call us names in an effort to shut down advocacy.

But that's not what you're doing. Your "advocacy" comes at the expense of opportunities for other kids while deriding "equity." You are asking for exactly what you are mocking.

+100 People are advocating for equity they are complaining about Whitman and the DCC as though those are the only schools and kids that MCPS Central Office must consider.

How does this advocacy hurt other kids and who does it hurt?

They have already been asked this question multiple times and cannot answer because they are completely full of it and just want to shut us up

Because other non-DCC kids who are currently limited to their home-schools will now have the opportunity to go to a different school within their region in the proposed model. You are tying to take that opportunity away just because you don’t like the commute for your own kids.

Huh? How does asking MCPS to slow down and make a smart regional program plan rather than rush to implement a dumb regional program plan take opportunities away from kids?

(Except I guess for this year's 7th graders who wouldn't get the new programs as freshmen and would have to transfer in as sophomores if they want them. I guess that is a loss of opportunity. But do we really want to be stuck with a half-baked plan for potentially decades just to make sure that one class of kids gets the programs a little faster?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What is the purpose of a magnet school?

The purpose of a magnet school is to attract white students to schools full of black students, in order to desegregate the school district, increase political power for gaining resources for that school and to game the "schoolwide" performance metrics to show "equity".

A "gifted program" is no the same as a "magnet school"

Considering that two of the schools have fewer Black than white students, your definition doesn’t really work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so hilariously myopic. There are more schools in MCPS than just Whitman and DCC.

I could easily whine, "why does your DCC kid get to have school choice when mine has to stay at our high FARMS school if they don't get into RMIB/Blair?"

But I don't. Because I'm not a selfish toddler.

People are posting about how the regional program model will affect their own kids. I don't pretend to speak for other families, that's why I don't post about how families in other parts of the county will be impacted.

I'm not going to shut up because you hate the DCC and call us names in an effort to shut down advocacy.

But that's not what you're doing. Your "advocacy" comes at the expense of opportunities for other kids while deriding "equity." You are asking for exactly what you are mocking.

+100 People are advocating for equity they are complaining about Whitman and the DCC as though those are the only schools and kids that MCPS Central Office must consider.

How does this advocacy hurt other kids and who does it hurt?

They have already been asked this question multiple times and cannot answer because they are completely full of it and just want to shut us up

Because other non-DCC kids who are currently limited to their home-schools will now have the opportunity to go to a different school within their region in the proposed model. You are tying to take that opportunity away just because you don’t like the commute for your own kids.

I disagree with you that school choice is a good way to increase opportunity. It has been shown time and again that it does not help the kids that most need a better education. I am one of multiple posters that doesn't think the DCC is perfect and would rather they get rid of the DCC and focus on improving the home schools.

I am not trying to take away anyone's opportunities and do not agree with you that not moving forward with the regional program model would have that impact. In fact, I think the regional program model will likely take away opportunities from many kids. Therefore, by your logic, I could accuse you of "trying to take opportunities away from kids" - but I am a grown up who realizes we can disagree about which model provides more opportunities.

Getting rid of it means school’s without advanced access will continue not to have them and kids are stuck. This does not provide opportunities, it decreases them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Btw, yes it is terrible to take away the DCC "for equity" but give Whitman and BCC more programs that siphon off DCC kids. That is called making INEQUITY worse.

The racial and academic divide will increase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They need a program if only to say that they aren’t excluding kids from other schools. If they don’t have one it looks exclusionary.

That is because they are telling everyone how unfair it is that the DCC schools "get to" share a bunch of programs that rich schools have at their home schools

Well the DCC have program that other poor schools don’t which is the issue.

Whitman can have their special programs that only Whitman students can partake in, but the poors in DCC absolutely cannot have special programs.

+1

"It's so unfair that some kids, like those at wealthy school and the DCC have access to special programs and others do not!"
"Okay, let's reduce access for DCC kids. For equity."

lol, exactly. And that's the proposed regional model in a nutshell.

"Also for equity we need to give the wealthy schools more programs so they aren't left out from getting more programs. But the DCC has to have less, for equity"

Well, you also have to force the poors to stay within their region with other poors, and give them a fake SMCS (which is actually a regular science class with the same teacher. just reclassified) so they can have something to celebrate.

Yes, bingo. Regional model = the ghettoization of MCPS... for equity