Kensington Parkwood Elementary

[Anonymous]

Hi, We are thinking of buying a house in the KP area of Kensington, but when I visited the school, I saw what appeared to be an overly strict disciplinary measure for a kindergarten student by one the teachers. He was yelled at harshly and sent into the hallway to sit by himself for quite a length of time. I was watching when this occurred and couldn't see something happen that should elicit that kind of response. I heard later that this teacher is known to be very strict. I have a very active and very sweet and sensitive boy, and I am concerned about what I saw. I'd be interested in any feedback about KP, especially for kindergarten, both positive and negative. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I can see that that sort of experience on a visit would be worrisome! For our part, we've had two very different kids at KP and feel that the teachers have done a great job with them. This includes some disciplinary issues--nothing major, but in talking with the teachers after the fact, I felt good about their readings of my kids and what sort of responses would work best with them as individuals. I also have great confidence in the principal. If I had concerns about a teacher, I would have no problem going to talk with her, and I feel that she would be responsive to what I had to say.

[Anonymous]

Just curious, were you walking around on your own or being escorted by a staff member? If being escorted, did you ask the staff member about the incident? My son is in Kindergarten at KP and I am happy with the teacher he has. I volunteer in the classrooms, the media center, the lunchroom and the playground so I see and/or hear a bit of what goes on and I'm comfortable with KP for my son.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I was being escorted by an admin assistant from the principal's office. I didn't ask her about it. To be honest I was speechless, but I did later speak on the phone to the principal a few days later. Her response was that she has excellent kindergarten teachers and is sure that whatever happened was appropriate. I spoke with someone on the PTA, as well. I asked the PTA member if she thought I could get another tour, a second look. She inquired of the principal, but the principal's response was that it isn't their policy to give individual tours in the first place, the answer being no. My realtor is an active PTA member at his kids' school and suggested that I ask to speak with a parent who volunteers in this classroom and perhaps that would provide some context, but this request was also denied.

PS - I mistakenly hit "report" instead of reply before I figured out how to submit this posting. My apologies for any confusion...

[Anonymous]

You wouldn't buy a house in a neighborhood due to one incident you saw in passing in a tour you took of the local public school? Here's something to know about schools--public and private. There are good teachers and bad teachers. (Usually more good than bad.) Don't choose a house based on one "bad" teacher. And that is assuming that what you actually observed was behavior common to this one teacher.