Another Brent question

[Anonymous]

You would absolutely have to be insane to think that if there was a test in middle-school on Cap Hill that AA would not be the majority. Why hell , the students from Potmac Gardens would over-whelm your school population in-a-minute. Remember it is easy to say test-in but the kicker will be the "test" and unfortunately that wouldn't be left up to Cap-Hill parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You would absolutely have to be insane to think that if there was a test in middle-school on Cap Hill that AA would not be the majority. Why hell , the students from Potmac Gardens would over-whelm your school population in-a-minute. Remember it is easy to say test-in but the kicker will be the "test" and unfortunately that wouldn't be left up to Cap-Hill parents.

I disagree. The test would be vital. I wouldn't care if the school was majority AA. I would like my academically advanced kid to be with other above grade level kids for the academic classes in middle school.

[Anonymous]

Why do you think that this issue has never arisen before? What makes the idea of having a test-in middle school so intriguing and warranted at this stage of the game.


I guess when we had [decades ago] the school population to fill such a school to the rafters, why is it a need to have one now. Considering that small schools can't and don't survive per the data being shared?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would absolutely have to be insane to think that if there was a test in middle-school on Cap Hill that AA would not be the majority. Why hell , the students from Potmac Gardens would over-whelm your school population in-a-minute. Remember it is easy to say test-in but the kicker will be the "test" and unfortunately that wouldn't be left up to Cap-Hill parents.

I disagree. The test would be vital. I wouldn't care if the school was majority AA. I would like my academically advanced kid to be with other above grade level kids for the academic classes in middle school.

+1

The test could just be DC-CAS. Admission could just be limited to those that score "advanced" on DC-CAS. Easy-peasy.

[Anonymous]

The idea that the DC-CAS should be used to screen for GT admission is truly, truly awful. So awful in fact, that it will probably happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do you think that this issue has never arisen before? What makes the idea of having a test-in middle school so intriguing and warranted at this stage of the game.


I guess when we had [decades ago] the school population to fill such a school to the rafters, why is it a need to have one now. Considering that small schools can't and don't survive per the data being shared?

Maybe it could be a large middle school with a test-in portion? The kids eat and play together, but have different classes? Advanced for some, grade level for others? I'd love that at either SH or at EH. But isn't this just a matter of making the JEfferson Academy admission stricter? It already has separate classes from "regular" JEfferson, so the basis of having something higher level is already there-- it just needs to actually follow through with it by restricting admission to those that can do higher level work.)

Not sure that my kid would get into advanced classes in middle school, but it would give him an option if he was willing to put in the work and has the aptitude. Brent has something like that right now and I'd like to continue that in middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The idea that the DC-CAS should be used to screen for GT admission is truly, truly awful. So awful in fact, that it will probably happen.

Geez, not GT-- just "above grade level". Baby steps, dude! Capitol Hill doesn't even have a middle school that effectively provides education to advanced students, let alone GT! First you get advanced level classes and once that it established, then start lobbying for GT. Which would likely not involve tests so much as teacher recommendations.

[Anonymous]

This separate but equal portion is as divisive as the academies and the comprehensive students that are at Wilson. It causes resentment and it starts with the teachers. I have been around a long time, the notion of the haves versus the have nots is prevalent. Why hell, the DCPS cluster school employees resent the mess out of the DCPS central office employees.

Common goal of educating students with a confrontational undertone/undertaking.

A fish stinks from the head to the tail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This separate but equal portion is as divisive as the academies and the comprehensive students that are at Wilson. It causes resentment and it starts with the teachers. I have been around a long time, the notion of the haves versus the have nots is prevalent. Why hell, the DCPS cluster school employees resent the mess out of the DCPS central office employees.

Wilson and its academies have not cornered the market on teacher and parental resentment in DCPS. I'm sure just as many (if not more) non-Wilson parents resent the fact that their advanced learner isn't allowed to receive appropriately challenging education vs. Wilson parents that resent that some Wilson kids get more challenging instruction than their kids.

And I'm sure many non-Wilson teachers resent the fact that advanced learners will often get so bored in grade level classes that they act out and become disruptive. I've seen this happen at Brent in the lower grades and I'm sure it happens at middle schools that are unable to provide advanced level classes.

Splitting kids into groups may cause some resentment, but I can't believe it is any more than is generated by not providing advanced instruction classes. If my kid doesn't end up in the highest level math group, I am not going resent anyone for that, as long as my child is getting appropriately challenged. And better to have those advanced kids in their own classroom rather than make things even more difficult for the teacher and cause confusion (and maybe even resentment!) to those kids just not ready yet for that level of challenge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do you think that this issue has never arisen before? What makes the idea of having a test-in middle school so intriguing and warranted at this stage of the game.


I guess when we had [decades ago] the school population to fill such a school to the rafters, why is it a need to have one now. Considering that small schools can't and don't survive per the data being shared?

Years ago, there was serious tracking and in fact entire schools like Hardy and Jefferson that ran defacto test in programs where the principals hand picked those high performers from around city. Now the current thinking is that putting all levels of students together and differentiating the lessons and the teachers is best for struggling students. But it is not best for advanced students. Parents know this instinctively and thus the call for test in programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you think that this issue has never arisen before? What makes the idea of having a test-in middle school so intriguing and warranted at this stage of the game.


I guess when we had [decades ago] the school population to fill such a school to the rafters, why is it a need to have one now. Considering that small schools can't and don't survive per the data being shared?

Maybe it could be a large middle school with a test-in portion? The kids eat and play together, but have different classes? Advanced for some, grade level for others? I'd love that at either SH or at EH. But isn't this just a matter of making the JEfferson Academy admission stricter? It already has separate classes from "regular" JEfferson, so the basis of having something higher level is already there-- it just needs to actually follow through with it by restricting admission to those that can do higher level work.)

Not sure that my kid would get into advanced classes in middle school, but it would give him an option if he was willing to put in the work and has the aptitude. Brent has something like that right now and I'd like to continue that in middle school.

Wrong wrong wrong on the Jefferson Academy set up. When the Jefferson Academy opened in the last school year it was the only 6th grade in the building. Regular Jefferson had the 7th and 8th grades. Jefferson Academy had exact same students who would have started at Regular Jefferson but a separate staff and administration. It is a slow motion restructuring of the school. This year the Jefferson Academy will have 6th and 7th grade and regular Jefferson will have only 8th grade. Assuming the school stays open into the following school year, Jefferson Academy and its staff will be the whole school. Regular Jeggerson no more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Wrong wrong wrong on the Jefferson Academy set up. When the Jefferson Academy opened in the last school year it was the only 6th grade in the building. Regular Jefferson had the 7th and 8th grades. Jefferson Academy had exact same students who would have started at Regular Jefferson but a separate staff and administration. It is a slow motion restructuring of the school. This year the Jefferson Academy will have 6th and 7th grade and regular Jefferson will have only 8th grade. Assuming the school stays open into the following school year, Jefferson Academy and its staff will be the whole school. Regular Jeggerson no more.

Damn! What a missed opportunity!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You would absolutely have to be insane to think that if there was a test in middle-school on Cap Hill that AA would not be the majority. Why hell , the students from Potmac Gardens would over-whelm your school population in-a-minute. Remember it is easy to say test-in but the kicker will be the "test" and unfortunately that wouldn't be left up to Cap-Hill parents.

Nobody cares if the majority of kids are AA or not. If it is a legitimately test of who is ready to handle advanced curriculum nobody cares if the kids are white, purple or green.

[Anonymous]

15:19, in their subconscientous, they actually do. Remember, the almighty "I don't want my child to be the one and only" issue. So until the NIMBY factors become numb to the facts, many people are worried. Really, how green are you?

[Anonymous]

subconscientous

I think this may be my favorite new word. I think it's better than Colbert's "truthiness."