Am I expecting too much from school administration?

[Anonymous]

We are early in the process of deciding whether to go private or public for K next year. I called our local public school and asked whether we could talk with someone about the school generally, what it offers, the gifted and talented program, etc. Unhelpful response of they will have parent meetings (I assume open houses) but she didn't know when, couldn't give me any information, didn't take a message, ask me to call back, tell me to call her back, etc. Then I tried to contact the g&t teacher from the website, asking (very politely) if we could get any information/meet/talk whatever was most convenient. No response. A week or so later I forwarded that to the school principal and said I think maybe the link from the website goes to the wrong place, can you please redirect my inquiry. A couple of days later I got an e-mail from someone else saying the first e-mail went to cyberspace, she would forward to the new G&T teacher (though not cc'd on the e-mail). Nothing. A couple of days ago I sent a separate e-mail to several people saying, nicely, we're just looking for info for next year, would it be possible to meet/talk/send me info. Still nothing. Is it too much to ask that someone respond with something like "this is a super busy time, please call/write in Jan/Feb/March" or "we will have an open house..." or something? I know teachers are busy with current students who are properly their focus. I don' tthink I'm asking for too much, but I would appreciate some feedback so I can get rid of this bad taste in my mouth about what everyone says is a great (Arlington) school. Thanks

[Anonymous]

My experience is that public schools do not try or even put the slightest effort into "selling" themselves. You as the parent are thinking, "I'm trying to decide if I should entrust you with my child for hours and hours every day....and I want info. on what you are going to do with my child."

The public school administrators look at it like, "if you show up, fine. If you don't, it doesn't matter to me."

OP, do not take their lacksidaisical (?) attitude/effort as a representation of how good the education will be. Public schools simply don't market themselves AT ALL. If I were you, I would call the office and make an appointment to talk to the principal. If they won't give you the appointment, ask for the vice principal. Forget about the GT stuff -- it will just make you look like another over-eager/pushy parent. You can broach that subject in your meeting with the principal/VP.

I know how you are feeling, but don't get turned off just by the lack of a coordinated effort to communicate with you. Talk to parents or go to the PTA meeting -- principal might be there too.

[Anonymous]

Also, depending on what school district you are in, G&T really isn't relevant to someone who's entering kindergarten. In MCPS, kids get tested in second grade and then apply for a slot. There aren't G&T programs for kindergarteners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My experience is that public schools do not try or even put the slightest effort into "selling" themselves. You as the parent are thinking, "I'm trying to decide if I should entrust you with my child for hours and hours every day....and I want info. on what you are going to do with my child."

The public school administrators look at it like, "if you show up, fine. If you don't, it doesn't matter to me."

I agree with this. By contrast, part of the mission of a well-run private school is (or should be) to be a service provider. They should want parents to be happy and engaged and involved, and should work to keep parents happy.

[Anonymous]

If you're debating public vs. private for next year (as in Aug/Sept. 2012), then you need to get your act together and start figuring out which private school open houses you want to be attending NOW.

Public schools typically have their K registration/open houses later more like March/April. Ours was in May, actually.

[Anonymous]

I agree with this. By contrast, part of the mission of a well-run private school is (or should be) to be a service provider. They should want parents to be happy and engaged and involved, and should work to keep parents happy.

You are kidding right? Private schools are their own little fiefdom. They don't give a shit if parents are happy or not. There are plenty of kids (well, parents) who are ready to take the place of anyone who dares to question them. They only care if the check is on time.

[Anonymous]

Definitely drop the approach of exploring the G&T program - they won't even test for several years. I would call the office and ask for an appt with the principal or vice principal. Emails clearly aren't working.

[Anonymous]

Good question but ask this one of yourself, can I give all that it is required of me for my child to attend this school? Sometimes getting in the school of choice is one-tenth the problem. What is your threshold of yielding incompetency from adults who are tasked to teach your child.

[Anonymous]

Good question but ask this one of yourself, can I give all that it is required of me for my child to attend this school? Sometimes getting in the school of choice is one-tenth the problem. What is your threshold of yielding incompetency from adults who are tasked to teach your child.

Wait, aren't you talking about your neighborhood public school? Then there is nothing required of you for your child to attend the school. As for incompetence, if you are the OP, so far, you haven't experienced incompetence. You've experienced very busy people who can't afford to drop everything for someone 'just looking' a year in advance. Especially someone who is obsessed with G&T education at least 3 years ahead of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are early in the process of deciding whether to go private or public for K next year. I called our local public school and asked whether we could talk with someone about the school generally, what it offers, the gifted and talented program, etc. Unhelpful response of they will have parent meetings (I assume open houses) but she didn't know when, couldn't give me any information, didn't take a message, ask me to call back, tell me to call her back, etc. Then I tried to contact the g&t teacher from the website, asking (very politely) if we could get any information/meet/talk whatever was most convenient. No response. A week or so later I forwarded that to the school principal and said I think maybe the link from the website goes to the wrong place, can you please redirect my inquiry. A couple of days later I got an e-mail from someone else saying the first e-mail went to cyberspace, she would forward to the new G&T teacher (though not cc'd on the e-mail). Nothing. A couple of days ago I sent a separate e-mail to several people saying, nicely, we're just looking for info for next year, would it be possible to meet/talk/send me info. Still nothing. Is it too much to ask that someone respond with something like "this is a super busy time, please call/write in Jan/Feb/March" or "we will have an open house..." or something? I know teachers are busy with current students who are properly their focus. I don' tthink I'm asking for too much, but I would appreciate some feedback so I can get rid of this bad taste in my mouth about what everyone says is a great (Arlington) school. Thanks

if you're not satisfied with information on their website, talk to parents you know. most of time you'd get what you really want to know that way.

heck, just name the school and i'm sure some of us here can answer your questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are early in the process of deciding whether to go private or public for K next year. I called our local public school and asked whether we could talk with someone about the school generally, what it offers, the gifted and talented program, etc. Unhelpful response of they will have parent meetings (I assume open houses) but she didn't know when, couldn't give me any information, didn't take a message, ask me to call back, tell me to call her back, etc. Then I tried to contact the g&t teacher from the website, asking (very politely) if we could get any information/meet/talk whatever was most convenient. No response. A week or so later I forwarded that to the school principal and said I think maybe the link from the website goes to the wrong place, can you please redirect my inquiry. A couple of days later I got an e-mail from someone else saying the first e-mail went to cyberspace, she would forward to the new G&T teacher (though not cc'd on the e-mail). Nothing. A couple of days ago I sent a separate e-mail to several people saying, nicely, we're just looking for info for next year, would it be possible to meet/talk/send me info. Still nothing. Is it too much to ask that someone respond with something like "this is a super busy time, please call/write in Jan/Feb/March" or "we will have an open house..." or something? I know teachers are busy with current students who are properly their focus. I don' tthink I'm asking for too much, but I would appreciate some feedback so I can get rid of this bad taste in my mouth about what everyone says is a great (Arlington) school. Thanks

if you're not satisfied with information on their website, talk to parents you know. most of time you'd get what you really want to know that way.

heck, just name the school and i'm sure some of us here can answer your questions.

also make sure you visit the PTA's website and its publications. i know mine put at least a year's worth of monthlies online. tons of info in the cyberspace these days.

[Anonymous]

NP here - Thank you so much to 13:42. I've been very nervous about our public school for K next year, the administration has been very unwelcoming. I just checked out the PTA website for my school and learned so much more than I ever imagined!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, depending on what school district you are in, G&T really isn't relevant to someone who's entering kindergarten. In MCPS, kids get tested in second grade and then apply for a slot. There aren't G&T programs for kindergarteners.

I don't agree with this advice. You are placing your kid in school for the duration, so in K you want to know what's available from k-5. If you think your kid will test G/T, it is important to ask what the school does. We are in a MCPS school and already in 1st grade, some gifted kids are accelerated in math (doing 1 or 2 years ahead) and all classes have reading groups that are sorted by ability. This is not true for all MCPS schools, especially as these options are being narrowed as the new Curriculum 2.0 comes in (and it is in force at the K-2 level already).

But it's better not to ask about "g/t". Better to ask whether different math options are offered (accelerated, compacted, skips, etc.), whether there are reading groups and what the ability range is in, say, K, 3rd and 5th. Look carefully at test scores and see what proportion of the school is testing advanced. This will affect the general pitch of teaching. Ask if the school does William and Mary reading, and if so how much/how often. Or Great Books or other advanced reading programs. How does the school handle a child who already knows the material in a social studies or science unit -- can teachers assign individual projects for advanced learners, etc. Ask to see book lists and look at the quality of writing displayed on the walls at school. This will tell you a lot about general ability level/pitch of the school.